Anyone who has visited The Flower Fields in Carlsbad over the last 10 years or so has seen the work of a hall-of-fame florist.
That honor was bestowed upon Mike Mellano Sr., retired owner of Mellano & Co., which has provided flowers for the fields off Cannon Road for the last decade. Mellano was inducted into the Society of American Florists' Hall of Fame earlier this fall at the industry's awards dinner at its national convention.
Mellano also received the Allen Armitage Leadership Award from the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers at the convention. His son, Mike Jr., one of several family members now running the business, received the Outstanding Service Award from that group.
"It was very nice. It's always nice to get (an honor) like that," said Mellano of his hall of fame induction. "It was the last (award) given out. When they called my name, I was very surprised."
It's hardly the first honor for Mellano, who was named Cal State Florists Association Grower of the Year in 1980 and San Diego County Farmer of the Year in 1988. He was inducted into the California Ornamental Research Foundation's Hall of Fame in 1990.
Mellano's father started the business in 1925 after emigrating from Italy. The family has continued to grow flowers and live on the land ever since. The business moved to San Luis Rey in 1970.
"I can't ever remember not living in the nursery. I guess I was born into it," said Mellano. "That's basically how farming is."
Mellano received an engraved crystal flower vase to commemorate his induction.
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