Spring in the orchard

A plum tree is reflected in flood water in an orchard on a farm in rural Douglas County near Elkton. The area has received at least a trace of rain nearly every day for the last 30 days.

The rain doesn't seem to have hurt the trees. An early spring plum blossom blooms in an orchard on the Fisher Ranch near Elkton. 

Goatmower

A goat is chained near a rural mailbox along Highway 138 in Kellogg, Ore., on Friday, April 1, 2011.  The goat appeared to be happily munching away on the grass at the end of the driveway near the mailbox.

The buzz, buzz, buzzing

A honey bee feeds on a dandelion flower growing in a pasture near Roseburg, Ore., on Thursday, March 31, 2011.  According to the United States Department of Agriculture, honey bees in the U.S. and Europe are facing a crisis. Symptoms that have been grouped together into what is called colony collapse disorder have caused beekeepers to lose 34% of their bee populations in 2010.  Researchers now believe bees have been weakened by a combination of long know factors, including parasites, viral diseases, and exposure to pesticides. 

 Check out my bee photo on Zuma Press Pictures of the Day.

Spring showers...

bring April flowers...a few days early. Fallen petals blanket the ground under flowing trees at River Forks Park on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 near Roseburg, Ore.

Wacky sandwiches

I had a yummy time making wacky sandwiches in my studio today.

Shot on spec and for stock use.

I think this is my favorite. It was going to be a lion, but it turned out looking more like one of our house cats.

By the end of the day some of the early creations were starting to wilt, but they look pretty nice all together.

It's the climb

Ribbit. Ribbit. My frog photo is in the Animal Tracks gallery on msnbc.com this week.

Rain, rain, rain

 Seems like it's been raining everyday for about three months.  The creeks, moss, and frogs love the moisture, but I could use some sunny weather.  My boots never seem to dry out this time of year.

A seasonal creek rushes down a mossy hillside in a forested area near our home in southwest Oregon on Sunday, March 27, 2011.