Fillmore Civic Pride has announced the September 2023 Yard of the Month winner as Chris Webb who also received a $50 gift certificate to Otto & Sons Nursery. Photo credit Linda Nunes.

By Linda Nunes, August 29, 2023

Civic Pride Volunteers have selected the yard of Chris Webb at 625 Santa Clara St. for the September, “Yard of the Month” award. Otto & Sons Nursery has generously supported this program since it began in 2003 & now awards a $50 gift certificate to the nursery. Chris was very excited to receive the award & “loves” Otto & Sons Nursery!

Chris told us that she grew up in Ventura, but always loved Fillmore, so when she saw this home come on the market, 7 years ago, she purchased it. She showed us a framed photo of the yard with grass & large bushes hiding most of the house…”so I will remember what it looked like”, Chris said.

We learned that she has been a lifelong gardener & calls herself a “food gardener.” She also calls herself a “strictly” organic gardener.

Her vision was to have many fruiting trees & we saw loquat, two types of avocados, apricot, pomegranates, and several small citrus trees in wooden ground planters. Blueberry bushes, butterfly bush, a lovely red rose, snapdragons, & salvia along with strawberry plants grew in these planters.

Her son, Joe Anderson, of Joe Anderson Landscapes, joined his father in building a beautiful arbor entrance to the yard which has a black wrought iron fence around, created gravel walkways that surround the wooden planters, and set up a micro irrigation system with timers. Four varieties of grapes are at the front of the yard on a decorative wooden arbor. He helps maintain the yard & prunes the trees to keep them small, but Chris said she enjoys pulling weeds as a relaxing exercise.
Wildflowers are the favorite type of flower for Chris & she grows everything from seed. I saw old fashioned Cosmos & Honeysuckle Vine on a trellis. Near the porch steps, was a Europs (in Sunflower Family), plant with yellow daisy type flowers & Chris said she has this plant in every yard.

And for the first time in my life, I saw an Ashwagandha bush. I had heard of this plant from Asia being used for medical conditions. Chris said the leaves & roots can be used, but she is just allowing it to flourish. (WebMD does have some warnings about using it.)

Take a stroll along this portion of Santa Clara St. & enjoy looking into this beautiful yard with Craftsman artistry & love of gardening evident!