Snapshots of Oregon: A glimpse of my dad's creativity

When I go home to Oregon, the profound dryness of Southern California is most strikingly apparent to me in my first glimpse of my dad's backyard. Trees of numerous variety burst with their fruit: peaches, pears, apples, plums, blueberries, raspberries,and grapes. Healthy plants set in neat rows promise future vegetables such as broccoli, beets, lettuce, tomatoes,kale, and squash. Because of the abundance of domestic and exotic flowers, butterflies float throughout the yard, and birds occasionally visit the feeders. The pond is framed with luscious ferns and moss, and orange koi will bob up for a few pellets of food. My dad has also set up a tadpole habitat...a small tank of pond water is covered with another container hosting a microcosm environment. That way, after the tadpoles begin to grow legs, they can transition right into a "shore" environment. After they are full grown he transfers them to the pond. Why is he cultivating frogs? He likes the sounds they make in the pond at night. If anybody is passing through Oregon, I would strongly suggest stopping by to experience a little sampling of the Garden of Eden.

P.S. The pictures definitely do not do it justice.

P.P.S. Part of that may be the fact that I do not seem to be gifted photographically. How is one supposed to use lighting to one's advantage?