Like Claude Monet, the renowned impressionist painter, my yard has become an important source of inspiration for my paintings. You may have heard of his house in Giverny and how he transformed his yard with a Japanese bridge, a redirected river, and flourishing water lilies. They all ended up in some of the most famous and expensive painting series of all time. While I can't redirect a river, I've spent the past 20 years planting, replanting, moving, and, regrettably, even causing the demise of numerous plants. Against all odds, I've unintentionally developed a green thumb, and my yard now proudly showcases an array of hydrangeas and other flourishing vegetation. The temptation to paint them “en plein air” is irresistible, especially in the fall when the hydrangea flowers turn into stunning shades of pink. However, a pesky swarm of fruit flies perpetually hovers around me and my artwork, irresistibly drawn to the aroma of oil paint. Alas, many of them unwittingly become part of the creation, transforming it into what is now referred to as a mixed media painting! Nonetheless, it is worth it because painting en plein air allows me to perceive colors I would otherwise never capture.