Ferns

Ferns grow almost anywhere, including out of the moss that clings to a cement beam over the river. One could talk about nature reclaiming its own, but all I really had on my mind is that they were bright green and pretty.

Made in Oregon?

Astoria, Oregon, is approximately three hours' drive from the state capital at Salem. But is that where this drain cover was made? It seems there is or was a Salem Iron Works in Winston-Salem, North Carolina; there is currently one in Salem, Oregon, which is also known as Gerlinger Casting Corporation; and one in Baldwin Place, New York, although that one seems to specialize in decorative iron railings for home and garden.

I only found that of any interest after the fact. I liked the way this drain cover reflected the light; the way the ferns peeked through even after the dry days of summer; and the neat, tidy lettering, deeply stamped and artistic in its own industrial, no-nonsense way. Doesn't that look like a bolt in the pavement above the drain? I didn't go back to check it, but if you happen to be passing by the corner of 13th and Exchange, let me know :)

Ferns grow wild around here, which still makes me smile when I think of it. Yes, we are in a temperate rain forest. I love it.

Does this photo qualify for Watery Wednesday? It's a far cry from a scenic waterfall or a wide expanse of the Columbia River, but hey. If it were not for the water that pours down this gutter, there would be no need for a slotted drain cover. And the presence of ferns must mean something. Shooting pictures of water in Astoria is a no-brainer, so let's try something different today, OK?