Manuel Hernandez has a passion for gardening and it is evident in their beautiful home located at 929 Meadowlark Drive. Their yard has been named the Yard of the Month for July 2012 by Fillmore Civic Pride/Vision 2020. Manuel and his wife Angie take pride in the little haven they have created. They spoke about their favorite part of their yard which is a cozy front porch surrounded by lovely plants and a gently bubbling water fountain. Some of their many plants include: a Cycas Revoluta palm, Roses: Gold Rush Roses, Mustard and Yellow, Tea roses, geraniums, spider plants, hanging cacti, begonias and Allysum plants. The Hernandez family is originally from the Santa Barbara area. When they moved to Fillmore 11 1/2 years ago, they brought with them the Cycas Revoluta in a 6-inch pot and it is now over 7 feet tall! Manuel comes from a long line of plant lovers. He was trained by his father Manuel Hernandez Sr. a self-taught horticulturist who planted the three Eucalyptus trees on Fernald Point in Summerland. The trees were featured on the cover of: This Week in Santa Barbara Magazine dated Oct. 5, 1956. His father also worked for Fess Parker and the Bigelow families and was instrumental in the development of the Orchid Cactus.

Manuel Jr. worked at the famous Lotus Land in Montecito and worked in the trucking industry for many years before returning to his true passion, gardening in retirement. He is a wealth of information and is happy to share all he knows. Congratulations Hernandez family enjoy your little piece of paradise.

They have received a $25 gift certificate from Otto & Sons Nursery. Fillmore Civic Pride-Vision 2020 meets on the 3rd Wed. of the month at 1:30pm in Fillmore City Hall (2nd floor). For more information please contact president Linda Nunes 805.302.7527