The Roots of An Army...
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Mi Abuelito
One of many immigrants who came to California from Mexico, Rosendo Ybarra (mi abuelito) sought a better life for his future children and one of adventure for himself.
A lover of the outdoors, he rejected the desk for the physical toll of construction; a legacy now witnessed by countless eyes who pass the Los Angeles River, a historical landmark he helped build.
The iron will of a punk rock spirit was forged; the seed blossoming through generations of our family, becoming a refusal for the easy path, and of any injustice towards our culture.
This legacy came at a brutal cost. At just seventeen, a mining accident claimed his leg. Forced to rely on a prosthetic for the rest of his life, he refused to be broken.
Raising his four children after the accident is proof that resilience is not just about surviving, but about building as well.
This is how his living embodiment of "si se puede" was solidified within the Ybarra name.
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Mi Madrecita
Family legend tells of Rosendo walking five miles uphill, carrying a crib on his back for his firstborn daughter; mi Madrecita.
She inherited that same iron will, and although it seemed impossible, as a single parent she raised three children who were blessed with both a humble living and a legacy.
"Si se puede" intertwined with "never give up" somehow blossomed into An Army of Flowers — the black sheep musician the Ybarra family loves.
About Me
Bridging the gap between the garage and the cathedral, An Army of Flowers has evolved as many times as its petals (and pedals) over many seasons.
The unexplainable metamorphosis between the love for classical guitar and a grunge-influenced vocal style led to songwriting being woven into a unique sonic tapestry — a bouquet of strings delicately kissed by haunting choral arrangements, as the seduction of grunge lingers.
In 2026, An Army of Flowers looks to grow beyond the Ybarra family by uplifting the community's youth with music-based enrichment courses. We aim to develop the iron will that was inherited from mi abuelito and mi madrecita, into the stories of our students that will live beyond this realm.