Beautification Award (September 2025)

All in the Family

5566 Riviera Walk

Leslie Turpin’s grandparents lived in Upstate New York in a brownstone with a spacious, beautiful yard. Her grandmother, an avid gardener, tended it with such skill that in her 80s she began painting her gardens and even held a showing at the Albright-Knox Museum. That love of gardening passed down to Leslie’s mother, Lorraine, and then to Leslie herself. Mother and daughter shared clippings, tips, and encouragement. Whenever Leslie works in her own garden, she carries with her a picture of Lorraine outside among the flowers.

Today, Leslie’s yard blooms with roses, hydrangeas, and—always—daisies in honor of her grandmother. A friendly squirrel named Petey visits daily for hand-fed treats, adding even more charm to the garden.

On a front table sits a whimsical clay flying pig. Asked about it, Leslie smiles and recalls, “We always said, ‘We’ll move to Naples when pigs fly.’” True to that promise, she and her husband, Mark, moved here in 2000. She even bought their home sight unseen, saying confidently, “Don’t worry—Mark is an architect. He can fix anything.”

You may have driven past their home on 5566 Riviera Walk, with its white picket fence, arched gate, and periwinkle-blue door—a color chosen for peace and happiness. The warmth and charm of the house are undeniable.

Behind the home lies their “Secret Garden”: a Bouquet Canyon rock patio surrounded by potted plants, trees, and flowers, with Mark’s barbecue ready for gatherings of friends and family.

Leslie grew up in the La Mirada–Whittier area, while Mark is from Redondo Beach. She has worked as credit manager for Trench Shoring for 30 years and now works from home. Mark runs his own architectural firm. Before Naples, they lived in Belmont Shore and Cal Heights.

If you’re passing by, stop to say hello—or simply admire the front yard. You’ll feel the love, time, and energy that Leslie and her special gardener, Sebastian, have poured into their landscape.

Submitted by: Patti Martin, Beautification Chair