Lately, I've taken to noticing nature around me. For one, Tennessee wildlife is hard to ignore. For another, most critters are vivid enough to make an impression on me and, consequently, on my camera's CMOS.

This bunny and its nursemaid were right under my nose for a while as I photographed flowers. Then the older bunny bolted and I noticed the little one. It patiently waited for me to take a couple of photos, then retreated behind the flower stems.

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Betty's boxer Boo is old. These days he skulks around and dreams of the good old days when he was, at least in his own mind, the alpha male of the household. He is personable but prone to drooling on visitors.

Sushi and Mister Feeble are our resident gay toads. They look and act like frogs but Betty assures me that they are, taxonomically, toads. They spend their lives oozing toxins into the water, humping each other and making noises reminiscent of microscopic poodles. These spotted sodomites are very dangerous to crickets.

These toads aren't alone in their interest in non-procreational sex. Bennie, one of the most friendly dogs I've ever met is also gay. That is rather a pity because I would have liked to get a puppy of that level of intelligence and good temper.

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The spider above owns the bagged lunch shown on the left.

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This jumping spider looks just like a miniature tarantula (left).

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Crab spider on the left is about to violate the civil rights of the fly. For some reason, no one has come forward to protest this situation. I suppose animal rights are limited only to the species which have been portrayed favorably by Disney.

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European Rose Chafer Beetle is reputed to be devastating to gardens. It was, however, a very tame and obliging portrait subject.

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An apple snail.

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A paper wasp.

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Compositions in green, in red and in a combination of both.