Rainy Day Fun at Oregon Ridge Nature Center

You can still get out and enjoy nature even on a soggy day in Baltimore- visit the Oregon Ridge Nature Center and see cool turtles like red earred sliders, northern diamondback terrapins and other animals like copperhead snakes, frogs, toads and even a starling named Jack. Your kids will love it, and you can leave your rain gear at home. Visit my page on Oregon Ridge Park:

http://www.squidoo.com/oregon-ridge-park

Artists and Squidoo

You've payed for and published a snazzy website with your artwork, books or music cd's for sale. You even installed a tracking counter, but to your dismay you're not getting the traffic you expected. What can you do next without spending even more money?
Try Squidooing- artists, musicians and small business owners have been building pages at www.Squidoo.com since 2006 to promote their work to the internet community. Squidoo features premade building blocks called "modules" you select to build a page (called a lens) about any topic you want. Best of all you don't have to know any HTML to use Squidoo. Build a page about your band, portrait business, or teaching studio etc. and then add links back to your own website. Got an Etsy, Zazzle or Cafepress shop? Squidoo automatically has a place to add these links on your bio page, which is linked to every page you build on Squidoo. The site is free to use and you can build as many pages as you want. Add links to your blog- tweeters can be followed, too. What's the catch? None really, Squidoo does add some text advertisements and you can choose to either collect royalty payments for yourself or give them to your favorite charity. If you get stuck building your page you can visit Squid U, the discussion forum where your questions will be answered by kind and friendly Squidooers. You'll enjoy visiting pages built by other lens masters. Here's a sample of a page I built to help promote my online business:

http://www.squidoo.com/greeting-cards-chris-scroggins

Go ahead, give it a try- you'll have your sea legs in no time at all!

Sherwood Gardens in Summer

We all love Sherwood Gardens during tulip season, but have you ever thought about what the garden looks like the rest of the year? In August it's a shady summertime oasis filled with nothing but the sounds of birds. Visit my page to see what you've been missing:

http://www.squidoo.com/Sherwood-Gardens

Official Launch of ChrisScroggins.com

Please visit www.ChrisScroggins.com for great animal, flower, wildlife and nature cards and gifts:

http://www.chrisscroggins.com/

Piney Run Park and Nature Center

Are you looking for some inexpensive outdoor fun this summer close to home? Carroll County residents have enjoyed picnicking and angling at Piney Run Park and Reservoir since the mid 70's when the park was first created. Read my web page and learn all about the recreational opportunities at this fine park located near metropolitan Baltimore:

http://www.squidoo.com/piney-run-park

Gunpowder Falls State Park

Please visit my new web page about this special Maryland State park located near the Maryland /Pennsylvania state line. You'll see my photos of wildflowers, kayakers and fly fishermen working the Gunpowder Falls River. With easy walking trails and scenic views it's a park the whole family can enjoy.

http://www.squidoo.com/gunpowder-falls-state-park

Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival

Soggy weather didn't deter crowds from attending last weekend's Sheep and Wool Festival in West Friendship, Md. This annual event, which is always held the first weekend in May is a great place to bring the whole family to enjoy live music, friendly animals, crafts demos and beautiful fiber arts for sale. Read my story at:

http://www.squidoo.com/sheepandwool

Book Review: "Alex and Me"

"Alex and Me" by Irene Pepperberg, is a delightful documentation of an animal scientist's patient research and how she gradually uncovers the truth about the exceptionally high intelligence of the African Grey Parrot. A must read for any animal lover, these stories about Alex's antics and personality will have you laughing out loud and ultimately you will find yourself in love with Alex the African Grey Parrot. This book should be mandatory reading for anyone thinking about getting any parrot as a pet. I highly recommend this book to anyone considering a career as an animal biologist. If you would like to learn about the Alex Foundation or order the book, visit:

www.alexfoundation.org/index2.html

Ahhhh Spring

March can be a trying month for those of us who long for the sights and sounds of spring; it's not really green yet, it's not very warm, honestly it's quite drab here in the mid Atlantic States . Therefore I am happy to report that yesterday my crocuses burst into bloom and the spring peepers were singing their hearts out on the banks of the Gunpowder river next to the NCR trail.
Do you love hummingbirds? You can visit this website and find out how close the ruby throated hummingbirds are to your home as they travel on their spring migration:

www.hummingbirds.net/map.html

Speaking of frogs, here is my photo of an American Bullfrog surrounded by duck weed printed on greeting cards:

http://www.cafepress.com/scrogginsphotos.162354056


The first day of spring is Friday, March 20th.

Photography Exhibit March 15th, 2009

I have been invited to show my nature photography at St. John's Episcopal church located in Ellicott City, Maryland on March 15th, 2009 in collaboration with the 4:00 PM concert of the Orchestra of St. John's. Works for sale include small matted prints and beautiful cards I make in my home studio.

For more information about this event and the Orchestra of St. John's please follow the link below:

http://home.comcast.net/~rjm26/

For information and directions to the church please visit:

http://www.stjohnsec.org/