A couple new blogs about growth in "American in Miniatiure" have showed up in my emailbox lately.

One is "Smart Growth Maryland," written by members of the Maryland Department of Planning to offer insights and invite public dialogue about "smart growth," sustainable development, land conservation and the like.

"We might rarely think about it in these terms, but the places where we live, what it looks like, not just the homes but the communities and services that surround them, are the result of planning (for better or worse) long ago," writes Andrew Ratner in the blog's premier post, "No Time Like the Present."   Ratner's state planning's communications director and a former Baltimore Sun editor.

Another recent addition to the Maryland blogosphere is "The Progger," the rants and rambles of Assateague Coastkeeper Kathy Phillips as she prowls the land and water around Maryland's Atlantic resort. The blog's about the local coastal environment, but growth is a major focus.

Her latest post is "Worcester, Now and in the Future," taking off on recent development decisions there along the ecologically important coastal bays, with photos illustrating the connection between land and water.

Do you have any favorite or new "green" local blogs?  Please share.