On Monday, September 2, 2024, Fillmore Civic Pride volunteers selected the winners of the September “Yard of the Month”, Tom and Melody Micarelli, pictured above in their award-winning yard. Photo credit By Linda Nunes.

By Linda Nunes

On Monday, September 2, 2024, Fillmore Civic Pride Volunteers selected Tom and Melody Micarelli’s yard, at 1014 First Street, to receive the September “Yard of the Month” award.
Melody said they moved into the home in 1994, which had only grass and a tree in front, and grass and weeds in the backyard. They raised their boys, Stephen and Travis there, gradually adding a few succulents and roses, such as “Betty Boop” and a yellow rose, “Eternal Flame” from Otto & Sons Nursery, as a memorial to her mother.

After painting their home in a lighter tone, they realized they were ready to do a major landscaping project in both front and backyard. In January 2024, they hired contractor, Victor Martinez of Tri-County Turf, and landscape architect, Greg Ray, asking them to incorporate their existing plants in a Xeriscape design out front. They finished in three months!
Victor put in a new driveway and Tom, who owns Tom’s Mobil Welding, in partnership with son, Stephen, built the bridge over a dry stream bed that drains water from the yard.

The yard is designed for low maintenance with weed barrier cloth, covered by rock and a hidden watering system.
Focal point trees are Toyon Berry with seasonal red berries and Palo Verde with yellow blooms. Artfully arranged around the yard are Red Yucca, Crassula varieties, several Flax varieties, purple Verbena, Jade varieties, Salvias, low growing roses, and ornamental grasses with Elephant Ears, Geraniums, Princess Flower and Azaleas near the house.

A peek into the backyard shows Tom’s amazing expertise in creating a steel welded patio cover with built-in BBQ and hanging table, a boulder surrounded firepit, vegetable planters and even a sand area with toys for their 3-year-old grandson, Wyatt!
Melody and Tom were very pleased to be selected and will enjoy using their gift card award. We appreciate Otto & Sons Nursery for making this award possible over all these years!