Down came the spider

A small spider appears to defend a wildflower growing on a hillside near Elkton in rural southwestern Oregon on Tuesday, May 30, 2017.

Little hopper

A grasshopper clings to a stem of grass on a hillside near the Umpqua River in southwestern Oregon on Monday, May 29, 2017.

Prepare for liftoff

A beetle spreads its wings as it prepares to take flight from the leaf of a hazelnut tree growing in an orchard on a farm near Roseburg on Thursday, May 25, 2017.

A chicken in every pot

A just-hatched baby chicken is warmed up in a makeshift incubator on the top of the stove at our ranch near Elkton in southwestern Oregon on Thursday, May 25, 2017. The chick was discovered cold and nearly lifeless outside its nest before it was revived on the warmed stove.

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Large and in charge

A large bull snake basks on a county road near Elkton in rural southwestern Oregon on Tuesday, May 23, 2017. Bull snakes are one of the largest species of snakes native to North America.

After photography the snake I encouraged it to move off the road.

Being green

A bullfrog basks on the edge of a cattle watering trough on a ranch near Elkton in rural southwestern Oregon on Sunday, May 21, 2017. Bullfrogs are considered an invasive species in Oregon. 

Coming through the rye

On a warm sunny evening, our happy looking chocolate Labrador "Cocoa" and our border collie mix 'Lily" play fetch in a pasture on our farm near Elkton in rural southwestern Oregon on Friday, May 19, 2017.

Drone view of trees and the Umpqua River

Flew the drone yesterday to see a small slide area on our ranch near Kellogg, Oregon. I still need more practice on flying, but it sure is fun. 

Perfect perch

Our calico cat named "Sweetie" perches on a fence post with a dramatic sky behind her on our ranch near Elkton, Ore., on Tuesday, May 16, 2017.

Out and about

As dusk falls, a barn owl perches on a fence post along a country road near Roseburg in rural southwestern Oregon on Monday, May 15, 2017. 

Just hanging around

A colony of bats gather in a nest box on the side of a barn on a farm near Roseburg, Ore., on Thursday, May 11, 2017. Bats are important predators of insects, but are also one of the main vectors for the rabies virus in North America.

I used a hand-held LED flashlight to light the inside of the bat box.

Slug mug

A giant Pacific banana slug slides slowly along the forest floor on a hillside near rain-soaked Elkton in rural southwestern Oregon on Thursday, May 11, 2017. Banana slugs are one of the largest land slugs in the world. This one was at least 9-inches long.

Rainy day gnome

On a rainy Oregon day, clover-like plant grows into a natural umbrella over a garden gnome in a flower bed at a home near Roseburg on Thursday, May 11, 2017.

AHH CHOO!!! It's pollen season

A small cloud of pollen wafts from a mature grass seed head in a field near Roseburg, Ore., on Tuesday, May 9, 2017. Grass and tree pollen cause allergy symptoms in millions of people. Some scientists predict climate change will extend the pollen season in many areas and make for more severe allergy problems. 

Just a little dusting of pollen

Photos are made using a shutter speed of 1/8000th of a second. The stem is lightly tapped and the pollen is released.

Meet the beetle

A beetle climbs on the leaf of a hazelnut tree growing in our orchard near Elkton, Ore.

Our Children's Trust at the People's Climate March in D.C.

What are you looking at?

An alligator lizard soaks up the warmth from the setting sun along the side of  country road near Elkton in southwestern Oregon on Thursday, May. 4, 2017.