Most everyone is familiar with mosses. These low-growing plants tend to coat any surface that remains moist for long periods — tree trunks, rocks, hillsides, you name it. Most people… Read More
By Fern Damron 4 months ago
Fern Damron
Fern Damron is a writer at A-Z Animals who covers a variety of topics including plant life, gardening, and geology. They live off-grid in the Southeast U.S. and have been working to restore local Appalachian ginseng stands since 2020.
Swamps are often overlooked and undervalued by humans, who frequently view them as stagnant and unproductive. That couldn't be further from the truth. Swamps are among the most diverse and… Read More
By Fern Damron 4 months ago
Plants are among the world's most important producers. Using nothing but water, air, and sunlight, they secure their energy and provide countless organisms with food and shelter. But not all… Read More
By Fern Damron 4 months ago
Flowering plants represent most of the plants living on Earth today. They are crucial members of virtually every ecosystem on the planet, providing habitat and food for countless animal species.… Read More
By Fern Damron 5 months ago
The Sahara Desert is far and away the world's largest hot desert, trailing behind only the cold deserts at the Earth's poles. It encompasses nearly all of Northern Africa, covering… Read More
By Fern Damron 6 months ago
It's almost impossible to build a mental image of the Hawai'ian islands without picturing a single palm tree. After all, palms go hand-in-hand with the tropics like sand and beaches.… Read More
By Fern Damron 6 months ago
Sculpted for ages by ancient plate tectonics, snowmelt, and glacial movement, Mount Timpanogos is one of Utah's true natural wonders. Its gorgeous snow-capped peaks and steep drops are visible for… Read More
By Fern Damron 6 months ago
If you spend a lot of time in the woods, odds are you've seen a patch of stinging nettle. You may have even experienced the painful sting for which it… Read More
By Fern Damron 6 months ago
Mosses and algae show up across a surprisingly vast portion of our world and, in some instances, they are easy to mistake for one another. In this article, we'll highlight… Read More
By Fern Damron 6 months ago
The world is filled with an incredible diversity of flowering plant life that, from season to season, fills nearly every available habitat with color. From baby blues to alluring reds… Read More
By Fern Damron 6 months ago
Florida is a second home to a myriad of winter visitors. More than just humans and songbirds, however, the state is a winter haven for several species of falcons. In… Read More
By Fern Damron 6 months ago
For some people, the sight of a spider egg sac is incredibly unsettling. They may be tempted to immediately destroy or remove it from the home, assuming that the progeny… Read More
By Fern Damron 7 months ago
While they are critical to the health of the ecosystems they belong to, termites are any homeowner's worst nightmare. These tiny, colonial insects can cause serious damage that can be… Read More
By Fern Damron 7 months ago
The anticipation of a good harvest can be almost unbearable. After all, you've chosen the perfect planting site and spent weeks and weeks carefully nurturing your plants from seeds to… Read More
By Fern Damron 7 months ago
The freshwater drum is a common fish in most waterways throughout the central and eastern United States. Though most anglers don't head out in the morning targeting these fish, many… Read More
By Fern Damron 7 months ago
If you've spent much time working with plants, you've probably encountered spider mites at some point, whether you knew it or not. These tiny arachnids can be easy to miss… Read More
By Fern Damron 7 months ago
Lake Mead is hands down one of the most important reservoirs in the United States. Not only does it provide water for drinking, agriculture, and industrial use for more than… Read More
By Fern Damron 7 months ago
On May 14th, 2023, a new record-breaking flathead catfish weighed 66 pounds, 6 ounces, surpassing the previous 56-pound record from the Schuylkill River. By far the largest freshwater fish ever… Read More
By Fern Damron 7 months ago
The largest channel catfish ever caught in Pennsylvania was quite an impressive specimen! While most channel cats never exceed 18–20 pounds, this one blew that limit out of the water. In… Read More
By Fern Damron 7 months ago
North America is home to at least 635 distinct species of snakes, with ranges dispersed throughout the continent. Over 180 of those species live in the United States specifically, and… Read More
By Fern Damron 7 months ago
Dividing the Canadian territories of Quebec and Ontario, the Ottawa River flows southward for hundreds of miles. It starts quite slow, eventually developing into a deep, fast-moving river. People have… Read More
By Fern Damron 7 months ago
Lake Whitney is an important feature of North Central Texas, serving as a habitat for local wildlife and providing water and recreation to its lakeside residents and the surrounding towns… Read More
By Fern Damron 8 months ago
Passing both San Antonio and Austin, the Guadalupe River runs nearly 250 miles southward from its origin in the Texas Hill Country. From near Kerrville, it stretches through Central and… Read More
By Fern Damron 8 months ago
Do you want the sweet, delicious taste of strawberries without the ever-rising store prices? You're in luck! Growing strawberries in Tennessee is a common practice and is easy to get… Read More
By Fern Damron 8 months ago
Much of the plant life on Earth fits into one of two groups — the gymnosperms and the angiosperms. Gymnosperms, whose name translates to "naked seed", arrived first. They were… Read More
By Fern Damron 8 months ago
Beneath Georgetown, Texas lies an ancient cavern full of incredible rock formations and a wealth of fossils that was, until recently, hidden from the outside world. In this article, we'll… Read More
By Fern Damron 8 months ago
Turf grass lawns are very popular, especially in the United States. But did you know that lawns are terrible for the environment and your pocketbook? In this article, we'll explore some of… Read More
By Fern Damron 8 months ago
When you picture roses, what do you see? Probably a lush, densely-petaled cut rose bouquet or a highly manicured rose garden. These gorgeous but delicate roses are the result of… Read More
By Fern Damron 9 months ago
While you may have heard at one point or another that all honeybees are female, that couldn't be further from the truth. While it's true that most of the bees in the… Read More
By Fern Damron 9 months ago
With much of the state situated within the Great Basin, Nevada is no stranger to volcanic activity. For hundreds of millions of years, the region has been the subject of… Read More
By Fern Damron 9 months ago
From the massive changes in elevation to the vast expanses of desert flats, the foreboding terrain of Death Valley tells the dramatic story of its past. Hundreds of millions of… Read More
By Fern Damron 9 months ago
From the tiniest southern flannel moth to the beautiful two-tailed swallowtail, many majestic moths and butterflies call Arizona home for at least part of the year. But before these beauties… Read More
By Fern Damron 9 months ago
The axis deer, Axis axis, is a regal-looking animal. It has shiny, golden-brown or golden-red fur across its body and legs as well as a broad white patch that runs… Read More
By Fern Damron 9 months ago
Milk snakes are a relatively common sight across an incredibly wide range. They inhabit every U.S. state along the east coast, from Maine to Florida, as well as many in the… Read More
By Fern Damron 9 months ago
Between the Ozarks and the Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas is home to some extremely mountainous terrain. Magazine Mountain, a part of the Ouachita range, is the highest point in both the… Read More
By Fern Damron 9 months ago
The state bird of Pennsylvania is the ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), which received its title in 1931 owing to its importance as a food source to early colonizers. It is… Read More
By Fern Damron 10 months ago
Since its designation in 1931, the beloved American robin has been the state bird of Michigan. Also known as the robin redbreast, it is easily identifiable by its brown plumage,… Read More
By Fern Damron 10 months ago
Key Points: The average depth of Puget Sound is about 230 feet (70 m). The lowest point near Point Jefferson reaches about 938 feet (286 m). The depth range varies… Read More
By Fern Damron 10 months ago
Firebrats and silverfish are fairly common sights in the average household. They show up frequently in kitchens, bathrooms, and basements, and seem to love new construction. Their secretive nature and… Read More
By Fern Damron 10 months ago
Idaho's Salmon River runs a 425-mile stretch through the central portion of the state before eventually emptying into the Snake River. The Salmon is a fast and free-flowing river, notorious… Read More
By Fern Damron 10 months ago
It may sound silly, but in order to talk about green vegetables, we first need to think about exactly what constitutes a vegetable. Most people would define a vegetable as… Read More
By Fern Damron 10 months ago
What England's tallest mountains lack in overall height compared to many of Earth's other popular mountain ranges, they more than make up for in splendor. The country's well-known Lake District… Read More
By Fern Damron 10 months ago
The Shetland sheepdog, affectionately known as the sheltie, originated in Scotland's Shetland Islands sometime around the 1700s. They are herding dogs by breed but make wonderful family dogs for their… Read More
By Fern Damron 10 months ago
While some caterpillars are harmless and can be handled freely, others are dangerous to touch altogether. Because they produce and inject their toxins into their victims, they are considered venomous… Read More
By Fern Damron 10 months ago
Beetles are an incredibly diverse group of animals. Belonging to the order of Coleoptera, there are over 350,000 distinct species of beetles the world over. There are nearly 30,000 unique beetle… Read More
By Fern Damron 10 months ago
Thousands of people live in the Tahoe Basin, and each year, millions more visit the area to experience the beautiful and ancient landscape and the wildlife that lives within it.… Read More
By Fern Damron 10 months ago
Foxes belong to the dog family, Canidae, taking their place alongside domesticated dogs, jackals, coyotes, and wolves. They are often set apart from their relatives by their small size, long, bushy… Read More
By Fern Damron 10 months ago
These colorful woodpeckers live in forests of the Pacific Northwest. Washington is home to several species of woodpeckers that take up residence all across the state. They are a colorful… Read More
By Fern Damron 10 months ago
Growing roses in North Dakota can be a challenge. Winters in the state are no joke, and they're the primary obstacle rose gardeners must face in the north. Luckily, though,… Read More
By Fern Damron 11 months ago
Roses are a timeless classic. These beautiful, delicate plants have captured the hearts of gardeners for ages, and they're a wonderful addition to just about any garden. Many new gardeners… Read More
By Fern Damron 11 months ago
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