The plantation’s exceptionally planned system hidden off a main hiking trail included an irrigation system fed by a stream contained by a nicely built dam, sophisticated tubing developed into a clever irrigation grid, and a battery- run pump and timer to put the final touches on a great distribution system.  The crop: about 2,700 cannabis crops, better known as marijuana or maryjane, or weed or just about another fifty names.

Cops stumbled upon the plantation, located in Granada Hills, several weeks ago and began surveillance in order to capture the guy responsible.  In the second week of August Natale Gabriele, 49, got the cuffs slapped on him after he tenderly tended the cash crop.  He was arrested after he returned to his automobile.

Value: about $24 million worth of plants up to 10 foot high.  Police estimate the stuff has been growing for the past two years.

Two questions pop into a journalist’s mind: with such talent, couldn’t the guy get a legal job? And are California legislators’ mouths drooling over all the missed taxes that could have been collected for this economically strapped state if the cash crop had been legal?