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About Betsy Franz
Betsy Franz is a freelance writer focusing on Green topics, nature, wildlife and the environment.Her motto: "I don't just hug trees. I fondle flowers, caress critters and play in the dirt!"
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Category Archives: Nature
Frogs and Toads Vanishing? Not if Avalon has her way
A recent United States Geological Survey (USGS) , touted as “The first-ever estimate of how fast frogs, toads and salamanders in the United States are disappearing from their habitats” says that if the amphibian population continues to decline at its current rate, they could be gone in 20 years from half the patches they occupy. “Amphibians have been a constant presence in our planet’s ponds, streams, lakes and rivers for 350 million years or so, surviving countless changes that caused many other groups of animals to go extinct,” said USGS Director Suzette Kimball. “This is why the findings of this study are so … Continue reading
Posted in Nature, Wildlife
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Eco-friendly landscapes protect fish and other waterway wildlife
There have been a large number of manatee and pelican deaths in the waterways where I live in Brevard County, Florida lately. Since July 2012, a total of 220 manatees have died in the lagoon in Brevard County, about 100 of them under mysterious circumstances; and since February 2013, between 250 and 300 dead pelicans have been found in the same area. In fact, when we went out fishing a few weeks ago, there was a large dead manatee floating in the water near the boat dock. This weekend, we were happy to see a lot of LIVE manatees and … Continue reading
Posted in Landscapes, Nature
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Ways to Thank our Military on Memorial Day
I grew up in the 70′s, back in the days of tie-dye and hemp clothing and peace signs. It’s funny to me now that so many of those things have come back into vogue. I was really too young to be a “hippie”, but I did dress the part. I never attended a “sit-in” or a peace rally but I vehemently opposed the idea of war, in all of its forms. I held onto that belief throughout my life … up until September 11, 2001.That date, of course, changed all of us. I still can’t bring myself to say that … Continue reading
Posted in Nature
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This Mother’s Day, Plant some Memories
My mother loved gardening. So when Mother’s Day rolled around, I wouldn’t pick up the phone and dial the local florist. I’d head out to a nursery and buy a new rose bush or a flat of annuals and head over to mom’s house to help her plant them. No matter what the occasion, if you asked my mom what she wanted most for the holiday, it wasn’t anything material. “I’d love to see you,” she’d say. What she wanted most was our time and our company. Spending time with her children was always my mother’s greatest pleasure. Don’t get … Continue reading
Posted in Nature
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Happy Mother’s Day to my own “Mother Nature”
Nature has always been a very important part of my life thanks, in part, to the influence of my own mother. My mother was an artist at heart. She loved to garden, paint and dabble in various forms of arts and crafts. When we were kids, she would take us to a beautiful little patch of woods (The Mount) where we could walk on shady, leaf covered paths and learn about all of the wonders of nature. Sometimes, she would collect leaves or sticks or shells or other artifacts of nature and display them in her home like beautiful works … Continue reading
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Daryl, Mick, Sir Paul McCartney and other Famous Bird Nerds
What do Daryl Hannah, Mick Jagger, Sir Paul McCartney and Jimmy Carter all have in common? They are all bird nerds. And because I feel so strongly in the power of birding to help inspire environmental awareness, I would like to encourage these note-worthy nature lovers to declare their nerdiness to the world! I think that getting people outside, nose to nose with nature, is a great way to persuade them to learn to Take Care of Their Share of the Planet. As an avid backyard birder myself, I know that birdwatching inspires a love of nature that soon goes well beyond the longing … Continue reading
Let Earth Day start in your own back yard
So many of the miracles of nature are right in our own back yards. From birds and butterflies, gentle breezes, cool rain drops and all of the wonderful sounds of nature, getting to know and enjoy all of the “little things” around us is a great way to honor and appreciate the planet. Take the time today to get up close and personal with nature. And then go through the pages of our website to learn how to Take Care of Your Share of the planet.
You May Already Be a Nature Nerd
** Excerpt from the book How to Take Care of Your Share of the Planet, by Betsy S. Franz When I was growing up, there were two distinct types of people: the cool people and the nerds. The cool people were the football players, the cheerleaders, and anyone in a rock band. The nerds were the ones who got good grades, wore black rimmed glasses and were much more likely to have a microscope or a telescope at home, than they were to have a date on Friday night. Generally speaking, the birdwatchers and the backyard botanists fell into the … Continue reading
Activities abundant for 16th Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival
Brevard Nature Alliance is partnering with Brevard County Parks and Recreation Department and the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program to offer special programs and activities during the 16th Annual Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival. Closed-toe shoes, insect repellent and bottled water advised for most of these activities. Preregistration and registration is also advised due to limited space for some activities: Little Hatchlings “Migration Station,” 10 a.m. – noon, Jan. 24. Free. Learn about bird migration, bird food and resting places. Barrier Island Center. To register, (321) 723-3556 by Jan. 22. Interpretive Canoe Trip, 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1-3 p.m., … Continue reading