ATHERTON SIGN MAINTENANCE

by Joey Vilaseca

Hi Neighbors,

I wanted to share a little story after receiving a call a few weeks ago from a very thoughtful neighbor. I’m embarrassed to admit I didn’t write down her name, but she wanted to make sure everyone knew that the beautification of the Atherton median wasn’t done by garden fairies or Caltrans (okay, maybe I added the fairy part).

For years, many of us noticed beautiful and unusual plants popping up along Atherton as we drove in from Studebaker. What used to be a bare, weedy, trash-collecting stretch — occasionally featuring a random toilet, ewww — slowly transformed into something colorful and welcoming.

After asking around, I learned the mystery gardeners were our very own neighbors, Ernie and Myrna Diaz.

Ernie Diaz

I remembered seeing them at one of our annual meetings, so I stopped by to ask about the plants. Our concerned neighbor was right - no magic fairies involved. Just the Diaz family.

Ernie shared that shortly after retiring, he was cleaning out his own garden when he decided to plant a few things across the street. As time went on, he noticed how much joy it brought people driving by, so he kept going - first toward Studebaker, then eventually back toward the entrance of our tract. All of this growth has happened in just about seven years.

When I asked him why he took it upon himself to care for the area, he simply said, “I couldn’t throw away a living plant... so I planted it instead.” His love for plants - and for giving - wasn’t just in his words; it was written all over his face.

Ernie, from all of us who drive in and out of the neighborhood every day: THANK YOU for your heart, your generosity, and yes, your hard work. The ripple effect of one person’s kindness is truly something special.

So now we have the Diaz family caring for the Atherton median, and Katie Cappannelli & Dave Stankavich’s group tending to the Stearns corner. Any takers for the Los Santos sign area? It never hurts to ask, lol. Please spread the word to all the garden fairies - or gnomes - I mean neighbors. We know a spot that could use a little green-thumb love.

Many Blooming Thanks!

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