Daffodil defender

A predatory crab spider waits to ambush an unsuspecting insect inside the yellow blossom of a daffodil in our orchard in southwestern Oregon., on Sunday, March 16, 2014.  

Newt mating season

A male and female pair of rough skinned newts are displayed in a glass container after being caught in a pond on a ranch in rural southwestern Oregon near Elkton, Ore., on Sunday, March 9, 2014. It's newt mating season for the small amphibians and dozens of them could be seen swimming in the pond. After their photo session, the newts were returned to the pond unharmed.

Early spring flowers (and slugs)

A slug feeds on a rain soaked daffodil growing in a flower bed outside a home near Roseburg, Ore., on Sunday, March 2, 2014. A wet and mild late winter is allowing early blooming flowers, and slugs, to get a head start on spring.

My work is represented by ZUMAPRESS.com. Today they highlighted up one of my slug/flower photos in their Pictures of the Day feature.

Macro mushrooms

A small ant climbs on a mushroom growing on a rotting tree stump on a hillside near Elkton, Ore., on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014. Recent heavy rain in the area has been helpful for moisture loving mushrooms.

A beetle scales one of the amazing little mushrooms.

Mighty mite

A spider mite climbs on the stem of a very small mushroom growing on the side of a dead tree on a hillside in the Coastal Mountains of Oregon near Elkton on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. Spider mites are not true spiders, but many species do spin webs. 

R.I.P. little vole

A dead vole lays on a bed of damp grass and clover along a dirt road in rural Douglas County in southwestern Oregon on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014. A heavy rainstorm overnight may have drowned the rodent and pushed it from its burrow. 

Lambing season in western Oregon

A couple of lams nap in the afternoon sun in a pasture east of Roseburg last week.