I grew up in Southern California,in the South Bay-surfing the great beaches in the 1950's and 60's with trips to Hawaii to enjoy the warm water and fine waves. On weekends and summers I spent time on my fathers ranch in the Anza Borrego Desert where I enjoyed the diversified flora and fauna. Following retirement from a So Cal University Medical School after 30 years of work in the cardiac surgical specialty I returned to the desert where I enjoy hiking and photographing both plants and animals.