By Linda Nunes

Civic Pride Volunteers have chosen for the June “Yard of the Month” a 75’ x 100’ lot that contains two magical cottages with a plethora of perennials, fruit trees & vegetables in a harmonious mix that makes you want to linger & explore. These properties, located at 307 & 311 Main Street, belong to Odi Martinez & her brother, Joe Martinez.

You have probably driven past hundreds of times, never knowing the floral “magic” behind the Lantana hedges with Hollyhocks & Sunflowers reaching into the sky above. I know that I noticed them for years, thinking, some day!

Odi said she has lived here “all her life” & her uncle built these homes. She does most of the yard work with her brother helping. This is her therapy, she says! This yard is a sanctuary for birds, bees, butterflies & kitties. The porch holds a safe box for a cat to climb in at night & one front window showed little white kittens peeking from a cat tower. Bird feeders line the eaves of an out-building.

Her brother planted many of the plants in large pots, so there would be less tending to garden.

There are Salvias in every color- Mystic Spires, dark blue, red & white, Foxgloves in several colors, Gerbera Daisies, Marconi Daisies, Gallardias, Marigolds, amazing Delphiniums, a variety of beautiful Pelargoniums, Larkspur, & Callibrachora with its hot pink flowers. Big sturdy A-frame trellises held string beans & other climbing vegetables, pots of onions, garlic, cilantro, corn, zucchini & tomatoes. Odi said they hardly need to go to a store.
When I mentioned the Pomegranate tree, she said they have loquats, peaches, lemons, plum & apricot--I couldn’t keep up writing fast enough!

Odi is very familiar with Otto & Sons Nursery & was so pleased to receive the award. We appreciate the Klittich family for their generous support of this project.