Floods are typically the deadliest natural disaster in the United States each year. More Americans die in floods annually than in any other natural event, and flash floods are the… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Mike is a writer at A-Z Animals where his primary focus is on geography, agriculture, and marine life. A graduate of Cincinnati Christian University and a resident of Cincinnati, OH, Mike is deeply passionate about the natural world.
In his free time, he, his wife, and their two sons love the outdoors, especially camping and exploring US National Parks.
Floods are typically the deadliest natural disaster in the United States each year. More Americans die in floods annually than in any other natural event, and flash floods are the… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Even with the amazing advancements humans have made in exploration and zoology, there is still much about the animal world we don't know. As a result, surprises turn up all… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Fish are cold-blooded (ectothermic) creatures, with few notable exceptions. Conversely, some species of opah, sharks, and tuna exhibit some warm-blooded (endothermic) traits. These are extreme outliers, though, and we still… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Covering 160,309 acres of southwestern Kentucky and northwestern Tennessee, Kentucky Lake is not just the largest manmade lake in Kentucky. It is the largest lake in the state, period. It… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Conventional roses are recommended for a limited range of USDA plant hardiness zones. The standard zones for roses are Zones 5-8, as reflected in the table below. That may work… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
The Galapagos Islands are in the Pacific Ocean, more than 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. The archipelago is famous as the inspiration for Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Key Points Three of the oldest cities in Ohio date back to 1796. The initial Ohio settlement withstood the elements and fighting between Natives and frontiersmen for five years before… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharia) spend most of their lives in the ocean depths, so we still know relatively little about them. One non-profit organization is out to change that.… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
When people outside of the state consider Nevada, there's a good chance their minds immediately jump to Las Vegas and the world-famous Las Vegas Strip. With its hotels and casinos,… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Key Points: Matt White is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who bought land from a relative so she could pay for her nursing home care — only to find… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
With an average monthly temperature of 50°F, the beaches in Virginia Beach, Virginia, aren't exactly crowded in January. But in late January 2023, one rather unexpected tourist showed up for… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Located in the North Maine Woods, Chesuncook Lake is the largest manmade lake in Maine. Covering 26,200 acres, the lake is actually the third largest lake overall in the state,… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Situated in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, New Jersey is the fifth smallest state in terms of land area, but ranks 11th in population and first… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Located in beautiful New England, Vermont’s topography is varied, with the Green Mountains covering much of central Vermont along with plains, lakes, and rivers in other regions. Vermont's highest elevation… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Montana sits in the beautiful Mountain West of the United States. It is bordered by three Canadian provinces to the north, the state of Idaho to the west, Wyoming to… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
There is a place in the United States that has been given a rather ominous title. It has been dubbed “Home of the World’s Worst Weather.” That place is New… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Red flowers traditionally symbolize love, and there’s never a better time to show your garden or flower bed some love than after a long, colorless winter. So let’s talk about… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
The first February weekend in 2023 will be long-remembered by residents in the United States' northeast, and it has nothing to do with a groundhog in Pennsylvania. A fierce arctic… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Roses are often part of life’s biggest celebrations—dates, engagements, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and on and on. These flowers signify moments we never want to forget, so why not keep those… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Perhaps best known as the slowest moving mammals on earth, sloths live in the rainforest canopies of Central and South America. This is where they hang upside down, munching leaves… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Situated in the midwestern United States, Indiana is an agricultural and gardening juggernaut. The entire state lies within only two USDA plant hardiness zones, Zones 5-6. These temperate zones are… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Roses need consistent attention to thrive, and that includes regular watering. But what does “regular” watering actually mean? The answer depends on a variety of factors. Let’s break things down… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
A fish weighing more than a large pickup truck was recently discovered off the coast of Faial Island in the Azores archipelago of Portugal. The bump-head sunfish (Mola alexandrini) measured… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Perhaps the best way to describe growing long-stem roses is to mix in a basketball metaphor. Many gardening practices are easy layups. Take succulents, for example. Most succulents require very… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Finding a ghost may not sound like good news to most of us! However, this particular ghost sighting is a reason to celebrate for scientists and conservationists. The "Mekong Ghost"… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
After a long, dreary, gray winter, we all want to welcome the spring season with a burst of color. And the more colors, the better! As you consider the beautiful… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
From the eastern coastal regions to the mountain foothills of the Upstate, South Carolina beckons us to go outdoors. Whether it’s a stroll on the beach or a hike through… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Trees are essential to life. They absorb carbon dioxide and then release the oxygen that we breathe. Their roots prevent life-altering, if not fatal, soil erosion and landslides. Many communities,… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
The cherry blossom bloom in California heralds the arrival of spring each year. The Golden State shines even brighter when these pastel pink and white blossoms color the landscape. It… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
The phrase “Washington cherry blossoms” may immediately bring to mind the world-famous blooms of Washington, DC cherry blossoms. That’s understandable. The blooms in the U.S. capital are magnificent, to be… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Tennessee is certainly most well-known for its music and its mountains, but that’s just the beginning of what the Volunteer State has to offer. For plant lovers, the flora of… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Most people know about the cherry blossoms that adorn the Washington, D.C., landscape each spring. It's a stunning spectacle, no doubt. But New York should not be overlooked when considering… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
This ancient tree has stories to tell. Stories of history, survival, human error, and lessons learned. These are the stories of Prometheus and its rings, the oldest living tree ever… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
When cherry blossoms appear each spring, many people immediately think of Washington, D.C. This is because the U.S. capital features a spring display of cherry blossoms that is known around… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
When it comes to South Carolina trees, the native sabal palmetto tree commands most of the attention. The tree has been on the state seal since 1777 and the state… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
When it comes to cherry blossoms, Georgia may not be the first U.S. locale that comes to mind. For most people, their thoughts will immediately turn to Washington, D.C. Each… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
The most famous location to view spring cherry blossoms in the United States is undoubtedly in the nation's capital. The arrival of the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C., is a… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Many succulents seem to almost thrive on neglect. Because they require such minimal care, it’s easy for a beginning (or forgetful) gardener to create a succulent plant display that will… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Nothing is hotter in the gardening world right now than succulents. The ease of care combined with the seemingly endless interesting varieties of plants have made succulents popular with novice… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Cacti and succulents are often lumped together. While they do share similar characteristics, there are some differences. Around 60 different plant families are classified as succulents, while cacti are all… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Similar to music, plants can elicit a wealth of different emotions. Some add feelings of serenity and peace. When viewing these plants, it's as if you planted your favorite smooth… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
While it is the tenth-largest state in the United States in terms of land area, Wyoming is also the least populous. With so much land and so little urbanization, much… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
The national flower of Ireland is the shamrock which, interestingly, is not a flower in the truest sense. But, given how connected the shamrock is with Irish culture, we won’t… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Wisconsin may be best known as America's Dairyland to those outside the state. Their thoughts may also turn to the breweries of Milwaukee. While Wisconsinites do indeed produce some delicious… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Situated in the heart of the Great Plains, Nebraska's plant hardiness zones are much more uniform than those in many other states. Nebraska ranges from Zones 4b to 5b, with… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
California is the third largest state in land area in the United States, with nearly 156,000 square miles of land within its borders. It is also one of the nation's… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
With its low-lying typography and low latitude, Louisiana consistently ranks among the top three hottest states in the United States each year. The state's climate is primarily influenced by its… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Positioned in the Deep South of the United States, Alabama consistently ranks among the top ten hottest weather in the United States each year. With the Gulf of Mexico as… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
Succulents are all the rage among plant enthusiasts, with good reason. They are usually low-maintenance, drought-tolerant plants that come in a virtually endless variety of structures and colors. Whether it's… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago
When we think of Georgia garden flowers, most of us will immediately consider petunias, geraniums, impatiens, and other classics that thrive in those hot Peach State summers. Far fewer will… Read More
By Mike Edmisten 1 year ago