Keeping It Green

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My Passion

I've always been involved one way or another in conservation.  It is my passion.  I never cease to be amazed by the flight of a hawk overhead or the stomping of a deer that I've surprised.  Through art, I am able to explore and capture these aspects of Nature that thrill and excite me.  It has opened my eyes to see the colors and nuances of Nature in a way I never have before.  We only have one Earth.  Let's keep in green.

Get the word out. Share your passion. Make your own lens

Spring Arrives!

Periodic writings of Nature in the North Country

Spring is here in a big way. Every day there is a new arrival. We knew we had made a turn from winter when the red-winged blackbirds showed up the end of last month. It's odd with returning migrants; first, there's no sign of them and then suddenly one day they're here. You can spot a returning flock by how they group themselves. You'll find them pretty close together at first until they disperse and start the search for territories and mates. I used to live in Illinois. One of the interesting things I noted with the red-winged blackbirds in Minnesota was the difference in their calls. Illinois birds sound more flutelike to me than the birds here. These regional dialects are well-known in the birding community. This difference was quite apparent.

Over the weekend we saw a single heron and a single egret. Maybe some brave ones of the flocks, flying ahead to check things out. Wood ducks and pied-bill grebes have also returned. We even saw a pair of Eastern bluebirds, already staking out a nestbox. It's such a joy to hear the birds again. The morning sounds that much more inviting.

The deer are more active now that spring is here. Food is a little hard to find until the buds start forming and the other tasty foods that deer like to nibble on become more available. This is another time to be extra careful driving. Hungry deer may not be as cautious next to roads.

One of my favorite spring past times is to observe the emerging spring wildflowers. Not too much up yet, but I did spy the tiny leaves of the trout lily and hepatica trying to poke up through the soil. It won't be long now before they're joined by Dutchman breeches and blood root. Hepatica, like many wildflowers, has an interesting history about it in terms of its folklore use. Because of its lobed shape, in folklore, it was thought to be a "doctrine of signatures" that the plant should be used for liver aliments. A logical assumption, I guess. Some of these folklore uses were surprisingly accurate and are used medicinally today.

Recommended Reading

An eclectic collection of conservation and nature titles, with a regional emphasis on the Midwest
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My Favorite Nature Quotes

Inspirational and profound, these quotes give voice to the passion of conservation and Nature.
  • "A lake is the landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature. It is earth's eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature."
    --Henry David Thoreau
  • "Wilderness is more than lakes, rivers, and timber along the shores, more than fishing or just camping. It is the sense of the primeval, of space, solitude, silence and the eternal mystery."
    --Sigurd Olson
  • "Thousands of tired, nerve shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out... that wildness is a necessity..."
    --John Muir
  • "Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each."
    --Henry David Thoreau
  • "In the saving of places of natural beauty and wildness we are waging a battle for man's spirit."
    --Sigurd Olson

Tell Me What You Think

Cast your vote on pressing environmental issues.

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A Plug For My Website

Check out the updated Weborg Lodge Studio website!

And visit the online store for original watercolor paintings.!

Exploring the Great Outdoors

Our adventures geocaching

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My Favorite Links

A variety of links to conservation sites and others dedicated to preservation of natural resources.
Sigurd Olson site
This site provides a detailed look at the man behind the strong conservation message. Writings and quotes as well as personal antedotes.
Sierra Club
One of the many conservation organizations out there, dedicated to preserving what is best about America.
Aldo Leopold Foundation
Keeping his vision alive, this website gives insight into Aldo Leopold's philosophy and land ethic
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Dedicated to conserving and protecting our natural resources. Informative site on all aspects of wildlife including identification and current measures to protect.

Featured National Wildlife Refuge of the Month

Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge--Winona, MN

The 261-mile Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge is the longest river refuge in the continental U.S. The refuge begins at the confluence of the Chippewa River near Wabasha, Minnesota, and ends near Rock Island, Illinois. The refuge provides migratory habitat for a large percentage of the migratory birds in the Mississippi Flyway. Tundra swans and canvasback ducks use the refuge as a resting and feeding area in the spring and fall.

Wildlife in Action

Amazing nature photography of the British sparrowhawk bird - David Attenborough - BBC wildlife

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Amazing! Bird sounds from the lyre bird - David Attenborough - BBC wildlife

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African Wildlife Photography

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Nature Photography - a year in pictures

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Wildlife Photography with Ben Clewis at Lake Marion SC

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Wildlife Photography

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Other Things Keeping Me Busy

Geocaching With Your Blackberry
Geocaching the high tech way!
Writing My First Mystery
The process of creating my first every mystery
My Cat, Sophie
My computer buddy and inspiration for painting and writing
Weborg Lodge Studio
Site for my artwork

New Igo GREEN Tip of the Day

Giving Back to the Earth

Ways To Go Green

Little things mean a lot

  • Shop with a reusable bag. Some stores even give you credit for using them--or charge you if you don't!
  • Can the junk mail. Don't forget the phone books, credit cards, catalogs, coupons, or my personal pet peeve, Direct TV. I don't own nor do I wish to get satellite.
  • Opt for paperless with your bank and utilities. Sprint credited my account for $5 for going green.
  • Watch what you sign up for. That "free" magazine subscription comes with a price--junk mail.
  • Kind of a niche specific one here, if you geocache, make every cache a CITO cache.

How To You Go Green

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My name is Chris. I am a Minnesota artist, specializing in watercolor landscapes of the North Country. Weborg Lodge combines two of my passions - painting... more »

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