Media Mint Publishing

Claire Datnow


I'm a free spirited writer, educator, parent and grandparent. I am passionately interested in encouraging kids to become wise stewards of the natural environment.
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01 May 2011
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17 April 2011
10 April 2011
03 April 2011
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20 March 2011
13 March 2011
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27 February 2011
20 February 2011
13 February 2011
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23 January 2011
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09 January 2011
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Medical Mysteries, YA Eco Mysteries, Memoirs & Novels

Top 5 Lesser-known Scenic Places in the USA

04/04/11 12:56 Filed in: Environment
This Environmental blog provides resources that will inspire young people (kids, tweens, teens and adults) to enjoy and to appreciate nature and to become active stewards of our precious natural resources, including:
* Links to local, state and national organizations that offer fun and entertaining activities promoting nature conservation
* Books, especially eco mysteries that inspire kids to improve their natural environment
* Scenic places for hiking and photography

Number 1
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On a visit to our son and granddaughters over Christmas we stumbled upon the breathtaking scenic beauty of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto National Monument in Southern California, between San Diego and Palm Springs. As we traveled over the Peninsular Ranges an amazing panorama of flora and fauna unfurled before us: sand fields, chaparral and mesquite, willow and cottonwood, desert fan palm oasis woodland, pinyon pine woodland, and at the highest elevations, lodgepole pine timberline forest. I invite you to post your favorite lesser-known scenic places.
This is the first blog in the series on Scenic Treasures. Stay posted for my next scenic treasure.
For more Information see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Rosa_and_San_Jacinto_Mountains_National_Monument

Number 2
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Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge, Alabama
Cahaba River NWR,  one of nation's newest National Wildlife Refuges—the 540th in fact—established for the purpose of protecting and managing a unique section of the Cahaba River and land adjacent to it. The refuge is home to:
·      five federally listed species including the Cahaba shiner, goldline darter, round rocksnail, and cylindrical lioplax snail.
·       supports 64 rare and imperiled plant and animal species, 13 of which are found nowhere else in the world.
·      supports more fish species (131) than any other river its size in North America.
The Refuge has the largest known stand of the imperiled shoals lily (known locally as the Cahaba lily). This beautiful plant blooms from May to the end of June, and people come from across the region to view this magnificent display of nature. I highly recommend that you attend the annual Cahaba lily festival held the last Saturday in May. This lily was the inspiration for my tween second mystery, The Adventures of The Sizzling Six: Who Stole the Cahaba Lily? 

To learn more you may want to read my book and visit the link:  www.cahabalily.com/CahabaLilyFestival.htm

Number 3
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The Appalachian Mountains

The area around Birmingham is fortunate to be nestled in the foothills of the Appalachians where spring entices us to hike the woodland trails. Stretching nearly 2,200 miles from Alabama to New Brunswick, Canada, the Appalachian Mountain range is one of the richest temperate areas in the world. Home to over 200 species of birds and well over 6,000 species of plant life. For your enjoyment these photos show the new Dunnavant Valley Greenway trail on 41 in Shelby County, Alabama. For more information go to:

http://dvgblogspot.blogspot.com/