Fillmore Civic Pride volunteers have selected the 2026 June “Yard of the Month” winner. Pictured is Brett Battles, right, in front of his home in the 500 block of Kensington along with his renter Mark Ortega, who asked Brett if he could do some yardwork for him and was given free reign. Photo credit Linda Nunes.
Civic Pride volunteers have selected the home at 533 Kensington, belonging to Brett Battles, as the June “Yard of the Month”. Brett moved into the home in September of 2019.
The home needed sprucing up & the yard was sparse with a few old rose bushes, some hedges & grass.
Before I focus on the yard, I want to say that if you volunteer to help select & present the ‘Yard of the Month’, you can be assured to meet very interesting people! Brett could be called “The Stephen King” of Fillmore! He is a well-published author, having been chosen as a New York Times Best Seller multiple times for his Sci-Fi novels & articles. He was even asked to follow deceased author, Stuart Woods, in writing with his style, for some unfinished work (He gave me a book of his work, which I look forward to reading.)
As we talked, who should arrive, but Mark Ortega! I had no idea that Mark is a renter here & moved in only a month after Brett. He asked Brett, if he could do some yard work & was given “free reign.”
Most people in Fillmore know Mark is an amazing gardener, having made the Alumni Garden a show place! He told me his parents started him at five years old working in the garden in Piru & his grandfather, Albert Savala, told him to grow Roses, Dahlias & Zinnias for the hot climate in Piru & Fillmore. He said he wanted an English Cottage style appearance & added garden art from local nurseries to accent the beds with Queen Anne’s Lace in the background & Dahlias, Delphinium, Larkspur, Coleus, Petunias, three colors of Geraniums, “old fashioned Roses” like Chrysler Imperial, First Prize, & Mr. Lincoln, & Zinnias.
Mark said they put in new grass which he keeps perfectly green to showcase the flower beds.
Be sure you take a drive down Kensington, one of the oldest streets in Fillmore with the ancient, large Sycamore that was a meeting place for the local Indian tribes. It is protected by the Historical Society & homeowners must use special care not to injure or disturb it!
Brett was very pleased to receive the Otto & Sons gift card but immediately passed it over to Mark.
Civic Pride volunteers appreciate the long -standing support of Otto & Sons Nursery for this project that continues to improve the beauty of our community.
