Flowers, Birds and Bugs features the watercolors Deborah Ross painted at Wave Hill during 2001, using the changing palette of the seasons as a backdrop. Paintings from her direct observations of animals and the landscapes they inhabit are included as well. She has long been concerned with what she terms, "the process of how to connect with nature." Regardless of the chosen subject, she portrays its essence distilled during the moments of observation. Ross has traveled extensively in Africa over the past fourteen years, painting nature, often finding herself the sole witness to unique and extraordinary natural occurrences.

A resident of New York City, Ross has also exhibited at the Wildlife Gallery at the Central Park Wildlife Center in New York City, the French Cultural Center in Nairobi, Kenya, and California State University at Long Beach.

In addition to writing essays for Natural History Magazine, Ross' work has graced the magazine's covers as well. Her illustrations appear throughout zoos and wildlife parks in the New York City area, and has done many nature related illustrations for The New York Times. She teaches animal painting and drawing at the School of Visual Arts in New York and has led workshops at PIXAR, Dreamworks and Walt Disney in California.