Last year I had done a post on winter landscapes and I included a photo of the Boardman Poplar Tree Farm.  When I looked up the location, I found in my Google search, an article dated January 25, 2016 by Molly Harbarger of the Oregonian about the sale of the farm and the subsequent change from trees into cattle farming and irrigation crops.    Even then I was saddened to hear of the potential for the landmark disappearing.  Knowing the farm was to be replaced didn't change the shock I felt when last weekend we made a trip past the once dense and sprawling 25,000 acre Poplar forest  that stretched miles along the I-84 corridor just outside of Boardman, Oregon, only to find a few standing groves left.  What once was a colorful and interesting tree farm was now becoming nothing but a memory as grass, cattle and irrigation lines already replaced the Poplars, once again returning the landscape into a vast space of gently rolling hills.  

This post is a tribute to the Poplars along a scenic portion of the Columbia Gorge which will never again be the same.

JHP_160110_0238_PAINTDAUBTree Farm near Boardman, Oregon. A digitally edited image to make it look more like a painting.

A sight many recognize on the right side of the highway as one travels from The Dalles, east towards Umatilla.   In this image it is fall and only a few of the pretty orange and red leaves remain on the trees.  I am fairly certain I took this as a passenger in the car, rolling down my window and snapping the image while speeding down the road.  Upon review it wasn't too crisp.  To fix my "failed photograph" I used an editing program to add "paint daubs" to the image; giving it texture and an artistic zest, which I quite like.

JHP_141201_7490Tree Farm near Boardman, Oregon in Winter

I had only stopped here twice in my travels, thinking I would always have the time to come back.  I love this bright photo, looking down one of the rows in December after a small snowfall.

JHP_141201_7584Tree Farm near Boardman, Oregon in winter

The forest floor amongst the Poplar Trees in winter.

JHP_141201_7523Poplar Tree Farm near Boardman, Oregon  

I love this photo. The imperfection of the trees.  The light and shadow.  The pattern, or maybe the lack there-of.  I feel like if I look hard enough I will see something else.  But I won't. Just trees.

JHP_160110_0233Poplar Tree Farm near Boardman, Oregon with birds in the branches.  

And this is the last image I want to share of Crows perched in the branches of the Poplars.  I am sure they will still persist even after the trees are gone. 

If you were wanting a photo of the trees you still have some time left to capture a few remaining small groves, however, if you are not up for the drive you can order a Jess Hahaj Print direct from me!  Contact me directly or click on an image above to be taken to the gallery where you can choose an image you like.