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What Are Plant Zones? The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) developed and maintains the Plant Hardiness Map. This map is split into 13 areas called zones to help gardeners select plants that will thrive in that area. Zones are organized according to the lowest average winter temperatures in those areas like a weather map. All zones are further classified as northern or southern as well. For example, Zone 5a indicates this is the northern part of the zone, while Zone 5b indicates the south....

1. Mount Rushmore KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch Around 3 million people visit Mount Rushmore every year to see the presidential head carvings and monument. Can you name all four presidents represented? From left to right they are George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. The summer is the most popular time to visit with many guests choosing to camp nearby. One of the resort-like campgrounds near Mount Rushmore is the KOA Resort at Palmer Gulch, just 10 minutes NW of the park....

First, let’s explore how we know the age of trees. Figuring this out is a science – literally! The science of tree-ring research and studying woody plants have been around since at least the early 1900s. Keep reading to learn more about how this science helps us determine the age of the oldest trees in California! How Do You Learn the Age of a Tree? By studying a tree’s growth rings, or layers of wood that form each year, we can learn the age of trees....

1. Proboscis The proboscis monkey is one of the strangest and most bizarre-looking ugly monkeys. It is easily recognizable by its large, bulbous nose. The male monkey’s nose can grow up to 7 inches long and is used to attract mates. However, the females have much smaller noses. So even though humans may find this an ugly monkey, its nose is certainly a highly attractive quality amongst its species. Proboscis monkeys are indigenous to the island of Borneo, their only natural habitat....

Some bridges are truly impressive in terms of size and length. They are not only structures that help people get from point A to point B, but also true feats of engineering. What would be considered the longest bridge in the United States? When we talk about the size of a bridge, it can be kind of tricky to decide what parameters to consider. However, for simplification, we’re going to look mostly at length....

Fruit is a tasty treat, and in countries like Japan, they are grown to be the best in quality and are given as luxury gifts. There are thousands of fruits in the world, and new varieties are being created regularly to further enhance their taste. Extensive care and unique growing methods are used to better fruit size, and taste, also making them cost insane prices. Let’s look at some of the most delicious but expensive fruit you can find....

1) Padre Island National Seashore: Malaquite Oceanfront Campsites Oceanfront camping sounds exotic but you can do just that at Malaquite Beach on the Padre Island National Seashore. There are campsites for RV’s and tents right along the shoreline with a sand dune between the campsite and ocean. But you can set up your tent right on the beach and stay for up to 14 days. The Gulf shoreline is great for swimming, beach combing (great shells and sea glass) and fishing....

The swimming areas we’ve selected in Nevada range in size and depth. No matter where you go, you’ll get wet and create a wave before the temperature starts to cool down by the end of the summer! You might not be able to swim in circles at some or dive in at others. Diver’s Cove On Tahoe Blvd. and Highway 28, Sand Harbor is 5 miles south of Incline Village, Nevada....

Trout River Falls Trout River Falls is the correct name for this section of the Trout River near Montgomery Center. However, as children, we always nicknamed it Three Holes. For this expedition, bring a towel and bring sturdy water shoes. You should refrain from attempting to travel to this swimming hole while toting a sizable beach bag, expensive cameras, or small children on your back. The three distinct swimming spots give Three Holes their name....

Below, we present the best swimming spots close to Nashville. Now pack your swimsuit, sunscreen, and swim shoes, and hit the water! Montgomery Bell State Park There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy outdoor excursions during your Chattanooga trip, whether you crave a serene day on the lake or an exhilarating ride down white-water rapids. Montgomery Bell State Park, which is about 40 minutes from downtown Nashville, Tennessee, in Dickson Country, is a tranquil getaway spot for urban residents and a natural haven for tourists....

The country derives its name from the city of Algiers. Although the country’s age is unknown, artifacts from the region date as far back as over a million years ago. This is proof that there were inhabitants of the region long before it became an official country. However, later on, the country ended up colonized by the French. This article explores this colonization and its effects on the country’s flag, along with the symbolism of the flag....

When Was Illinois Founded? Illinois was founded on December 3, 1818, as the 21st state of the United States. It was originally part of the Northwest Territory and later became known as the Illinois Territory when it was created in 1809. In 1818, three delegates from each county met in Kaskaskia to draft a constitution for Illinois, which Congress then accepted. The first Governor, Shadrach Bond, took office on April 20 and Illinois officially entered into union shortly after that....

Lions and tigers, both termed “big cats,” have overlapping ranges but seldom live in the same habitats.Tigers are a burnt orange with black stripes and lions are sandy brown with faint, darker spots.When a female tiger and a male lion mate, their offspring is called a “liger!” Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! This classic quote may come to mind when you think of two of the world’s largest cats – the lion and the tiger....

Around 17,000 people reside at the Kuku Group Ranch, which is situated in a 283,000-acre vital migration corridor at the foot of the Chyulu Hills, Hemingway’s “Green Hills of Africa,” between the Tsavo and Amboseli National Parks. The most famous animals of East Africa, such as lions, elephants, leopards, zebras, and giraffes, call this region home. Over seven million people live in and near Mombasa, Kenya’s second-largest city, and depend on the land’s key resources, including wildlife reserves, carbon-sinking forests, rivers, and springs that provide fresh water....

Comparing a Manatee and a Walrus The 5 Key Differences Between a Manatee vs Walrus The greatest differences between a manatee and a walrus are found in their size, range, and diet. The walrus is much larger than the manatee, weighing over three times as much at the high end of their weight range. Interestingly, the walrus doesn’t grow as long as the manatee. Lastly, manatees are herbivores but walruses are carnivores, and that difference in their diet is supported by the unique morphology of their teeth which we will cover in greater detail below....

Running on Water The most commonly seen Basilisk lizard is the Green basilisk lizard, also known as the Plumed or Double-crested basilisk lizard. While those names are technical, the most commonly used nickname for it is the Jesus Lizard, because it can run across water. In fact, this lizard can run upwards to five feet per second for nearly 15 feet before it eventually sinks into the water and begins to swim....

Even modern-day hyenas are stronger than most think, with these animals being as strong as lions, especially when hunting prey. Occasionally, a fight would break out between both animal groups. One of the few recorded fights between these animals happened in Ethiopia, in 1999, with the lions killing over 30 hyenas and the hyenas killing over six lions before the military intervened. According to experts, a species of hyenas, which was actually as large as lions today, existed millions of years ago....

The discovery of the Sinosauropteryx had scientists in an uproar, as it could provide a new lead as to whether dinosaurs evolved from birds. The discovery of the Sinosauropteryx is fascinating because their feather structures were so well preserved that scientists were able to determine the color of their feathers, which makes them one of the first non-avian but feathered dinosaurs ever discovered. So let’s learn about the orange, feathered, ring-tailed meat eater!...

However, mushroom hunting is much different in northern California than in the southern part of the state because they don’t have the same kinds of trees, weather patterns, or landscapes. If you don’t have any experience, you might not even know how to start foraging for mushrooms. That’s why we put together this guide to give you tips and resources for learning how to identify the types of mushrooms you’ll find, where to go, the laws you need to follow and much more!...

Comparing a Parson Spider and a Wolf Spider The 5 Key Differences Between a Parson Spider vs Wolf Spider The greatest differences between a parson spider and a wolf spider can be found in their size and markings. Wolf spiders are larger than parson spiders because they have bodies that measure between 1/4 inch and 1 3/8 inches long while having a legspan of 2 to 4 inches while parson spiders have bodies that measure 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch long while having a total legspan of up to 3/4 of an inch....