Nature

Castor oil is a pale yellow plant oil produced from the seed of the castor oil plant, or Ricinus communis. The plant is native to India and Africa, and can also be found in the warmer...

Food types for wild birds are numerous and can be purchased by single type or by bagged blends. Select bird foods based upon the preferred diet of the bird species you hope to attract to your feeder.

The part of a plant that shelters seeds until they mature is called the fruit. Apples and pears are examples of fleshy fruit; peas and nuts are examples of dry fruit. A plant's fruit not only...

Tide pools are rocky marine habitats found along Florida's coasts, but they are more active in south Florida and the Florida Keys. Coral, limestone and coquina are typical foundations for tide...

Cells are the building blocks of life. Plant cells can be one-celled organisms such as algae. Plant cells can also be specialized with each cell having a specific task with the cells working...

You can build a bark birdhouse with very little time and effort and for very little expense. All you need is a glue gun, some inexpensive materials and some birch bark, which you can buy from a...

Oranges and nectar are favorite foods of the oriole. Unfortunately, these sweet foods also easily attract ants and flies, which may keep orioles away from the bird feeder ... and even your...

The call of an animal may be as exhilarating as the sight of one. Many wildlife vocalizations embody landscapes more fittingly than any visual cue: to many, the howl of a gray wolf and the...

Flowers are the reproductive structures of plants that bear seeds. They can have either male or female organs or both. A flower's colorful petals and special scents are meant to attract insects...

Natural medicine might seem like a new-age invention but in truth it dates back to times before microscopes were invented and the germs they found were discovered. Pioneers making the long...

Apart from having severe environmental impacts, oil spills also have great economic impacts. Industries like fishing, tourism, and power plants are adversely affected by oil spills. Steps to...

Oil runoff from cars and other vehicles on land is one of the largest sources of marine pollution. When oil from the land is washed into the lakes and other waterways, it results in severe...

Brassica is a genus of flowering plants in the mustard family. This family also includes cabbage, broccoli, turnips, Brussels sprouts and many other familiar food plants. The important structures...

Global warming is a very real issue that is affects ecosystems around the world. At the North Pole the rapid melting of the ice cap threatens the survival of arctic animals as well as the...

Flowers are the reproductive structures of flowering plants, which are also known as angiosperms. There are many colors, sizes and types of flowers.

Flowers produce an abundance of seeds to ensure the survival of the species. In order to germinate, the seeds first need to be dispersed. Then all the conditions must be right for the seeds to...

The Yellow Jasmine (gelsemium sempervirens) was named the South Carolina State Flower on February 1, 1924. It is commonly found in coastal areas of Virginia down through South Florida and inland...

The hearing ability of birds is not wholly understood, though the perception of sound seems to be one sensory area in which many birds are comparatively or even less endowed than humans.

Biodiversity, in essence is the co-existence of organisms -- including plants and animals -- that cohabit any particular geographical area or region. That area can be as small as a few square...

People have used the wind as an energy source in many aspects of daily living. It has pushed sailboats across the sea for centuries and has powered windmills which in turn pump water or grind...

Selling goods at a local farmer's market can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. You get to meet people who are excited about buying your products and who share a preference for dealing...

Located between Africa and Saudi Arabia, the Red Sea is considered one of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth. The Red Sea is connected to the Indian Ocean through the Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb...

Flowers almost always look better in the field than after they have been picked and placed in water or dried. With a little forethought and preparation, though, it is not too difficult to acquire...

Scalloping from a kayak is a great and healthy way to spend a day. Not only is a day snorkeling under the waves fantastic fun, but when you're done you've got a bag full of delicious supper.

Because of where the United States is positioned on the globe, its wide array of climates and terrains offers many colorful native birds. North and Central Florida's subtropical climate and South...

Rhodophyta is the scientific term for the entire classification more commonly known as red algae. These algae consist of between 2,500 and 6,000 species, with many distinct forms and life...

Flowers have many different parts, some of which are identified as male, while others are identified as female. These parts all work to assist reproduction by way of pollen transfer by insects.

Horsetails belong to a family of plants that were widespread in the Devonian period, about 350 million years ago. In that era, the plants were abundant, and they grew to the size of trees. The...

Sheril Kirshenbaum and Chris Mooney reported that researcher Nalini Nadkarni had used NASA satellites to estimate that there are 61 "trees per person" are in the world. Many of these trees are...

Identifying tree breeds demands experience and proper research. There are approximately 100,000 known species of trees existing throughout the world, according to the writings of Eric McLamb, and...

Tropical plants must be able to withstand copious amounts of moisture and adapt their leaf structure to maximize their use of available sunlight for photosynthesis, the process by which most...

Cutovers, where logging operations render a swath of woodland into a substantial clearing, are often frequented by deer. While ecologically unsound harvesting can increase erosion and lower...

When there is an oil spill, the oil can travel very quickly due to wind and tides. Oil has detrimental effects on plants and animals that frequent the water and the coastline. These effects can...

Cats, dogs and humans have most of the same bones, but they are significantly different from each other. Cats and dogs, in the order Carnivora, are more like each other than either is like humans.

Streams and rivers transport sediment from terrestrial surfaces to the ocean, cycling nutrients and excavating landscapes in the process.

Swiss Army knives typically have a wide assortment of blades and tools used for just about anything. One of the many different tools available on some Swiss Army knife models is an orange peeler....

Although deserts have harsh climates, plants and flowers have developed adaptations to survive these difficult conditions. Many desert flowers are annuals, while others are designed to repel...

Respiration is a biological process that involves the exchange of gases. The most common form of respiration involves the absorption of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide. This common form...

Bird feeders play an important role in the supplemental feeding of backyard birds. In fact, you can use a bird feeder to attract beautiful species of birds to your own backyard, while also...

Plug-in Vehicles and the power GRID. I will explain how advanced battery vehicles that are pure electric or hybrid can be used to store off peak energy and then sell it back during peak needs. It...

The hot, dry habitat of the desert poses unique challenges for organisms living in it. One of the most pressing of those challenges for desert vegetation is how to avoid drying out. Desert shrubs...

Sending a flower or a plant is a great gift idea, and the surprise of having someone show up to deliver a thoughtful bouquet or new addition to your plant family is always appreciated. Sending a...

Every spring the bluebird arrives on the scene to thrill birdwatchers with its brilliant plumage and make gardeners happy with its voracious appetite for insects. The inspiration for the song...

Opportunistic, omnivorous hunters and scavengers, the Western Gull bird forages along the coast of Washington and Oregon in the Northwestern United States for its varied diet. Neither respectful...

Everyone knows that plants need water, but where does the water go? To answer this question, you can perform a simple experiment with flowers and food coloring. It is a kid-friendly activity with...

If you want to learn about the different varieties of seaweed in your coastal area you should collect seaweed. Our oceans contain species of seaweed as numerous as plants that grow on dry land. In...

Nothing is better for getting away from the hustle and bustle of city life than some rural camping. Getting back in tune with nature and "roughing" it can be a calming and spiritual experience....

It is one thing to identify accurately a tree in the spring, summer or fall when you have the chance to see it with its leaves on. The leaf shape, size, color and other features give you plenty of...

During the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays there is a lot of information and recipes on using yams or sweet potatoes for side dishes on the dining tables. This time of year there are plenty...

Waterspouts are often thought of as tornadoes over water, but that is only a partial explanation of what waterspouts are. They do sometimes form from tornadoes that move out over water from land....