Once towering over the Eastern U.S. forests, the American Chestnut tree (Castanea dentata) was more than just a tree, it was a pillar of ecosystems, economies, and communities. In the early 1900s, however, a...
When people think of Florida, they often picture swaying palms, beach sunsets, and maybe a gator or two. But tucked away in the shaded ravines of the Florida Panhandle is a little-known evergreen that...
In the quiet, mossy forests of New Zealand, a bird unlike any other makes its home. Meet the Kākāpō, a chubby, green, flightless parrot with a face like an owl, the personality of a...
When we think of rare treasures, we often imagine gold, diamonds, or ancient artifacts. But nature has its own collection of wonders, some so rare, they exist in only the tiniest corners of the...
Tucked among the windswept peaks of northern Wales, in the rugged embrace of Snowdonia National Park, blooms one of the rarest plants in the world: the Snowdonia hawkweed (Hieracium snowdoniense). This delicate yellow-flowered plant...
Imagine stepping into your garden and catching a whiff of rich, bittersweet chocolate, no candy wrappers in sight, just flowers. Meet the Chocolate Cosmos (Cosmos atrosanguineus), a botanical wonder that enchants with its decadent...
Deep in the swamps of Florida and the humid forests of the Caribbean, a ghost lives—though not the kind that rattles chains or haunts creaky hallways. This ghost floats, appears without warning, and disappears...
If you’ve ever walked through a northern forest and caught a whiff of that fresh, clean, “Christmasy” scent in the air, chances are you’ve been near a Balsam fir. With its distinctive aroma, soft...
If you’ve ever wandered through a northern forest and come across a tree with ghost-white bark peeling like old parchment, chances are you’ve met the Paper Birch, Betula papyrifera. Native to North America, this...
Walk through the southeastern forests of the United States, and you might catch sight of a tree that once ruled the landscape, the Longleaf Pine, it is also known as “Yellow pine” or “Long...
