CLUB HONORS NURSERY CO-OWNER
with memorial tree
The life and legacy of Ernesto Cariño, co-owner of Medina Garden Nursery, were celebrated on Wednesday at the West Prong Cemetery with a heartfelt Nov. 13 Arbor Day ceremony.
The Rose Garden Club of Medina planted a Chinkapin Oak in his memory, honoring Cariño’s decades-long commitment to native plants and sustainable landscaping in the Hill Country.
Ysmael Espinosa, Cariño’s long-time business partner and close friend, accepted a commemorative plaque on behalf of the nursery.
“We’re honored to continue Ernesto’s work, and we’re grateful to the community for supporting his vision,” Espinosa said.
Cariño, who co-founded the nursery in 1999 with Espinosa, was a pioneer in promoting water-conserving native plants.
Their business became a regional leader, offering unique and hardy species adapted to the challenging soils of the Hill Country.
The nursery also features a teaching garden and demonstration plots, inspiring customers to embrace native landscaping.
The Chinkapin Oak, a Texas native tree, was chosen to symbolize Cariño’s dedication to the environment and his legacy of giving back to the community.
Ysmael shared that the nursery continues to donate native plantings to surrounding areas, a tradition rooted in their shared passion for conservation.
