An afternoon in Hai's garden

Stan and Kathleen went to the source this year for "Ong" Stan's birthday egg rolls. Hai Dang and his wife, Thuy, honor him each year, but usually Hai just delivers the treats to our house. This year we went to their Prior Lake home to visit the back yard retreat Hai has created over the past few years.

What once was a barren suburban back lot has been transformed into a universe of color and excitement. In the photo above, taken from a bedroom window, Stan and Kathleen are standing beside the fire pit Stan helped Hai construct about five years ago. Much has happened since then. The colors and varieties extend around the sides and into the front, leaving only a tiny swatch of grass to mow.