Author: Bradley Shepherd

Sempervivum arachnoideum, also known as the cobweb succulent, cobweb hen and chick, cobweb houseleek, cobweb plant, or just cobweb sempervivum, is a gorgeous succulent plant that’s widely known in the succulent world as one of the most beautiful houseplants you can grow. It has dark, waxy-looking leaves with interesting white veins on them, which gives this succulent an ethereal look and feel. The Cobweb Hen and Chick Sempervivum Arachnoideum are part of the hen and chicks (sempervivum) family and were named by the famous English botanist, Sir J. E. Smith in 1788. It was Smith who also named the most common variety of sempervivum, henningsianum, in…

Gasteria bicolor, commonly known as lawyer’s tongue plant, lawyers tongue succulent, or Gasteria obliqua, is an easy-to-care-for succulent that can also tolerate a great deal of neglect. Despite its name, the lawyer’s tongue plant is not poisonous, and all parts of the plant are edible (if young and tender). It doesn’t take much to keep your lawyer’s tongue healthy and happy. They are beautiful succulents that are hardy and easy to care for in the home garden. They produce bright green leaves with red speckles on their undersides, along with clusters of small, fragrant flowers in fall and winter. Origin and distribution Gasteria bicolor is…

The hooded merganser duck, also known as the common merganser duck or hooded duck, is an aquatic bird species found throughout North America and Europe. The name hooded comes from the distinctive crest that males of this species have on their heads, which resembles a hood. This crest (in combination with other physical traits) has led to this species being classified in its own monotypic genus, Lophodytes. The Hooded merganser duck is a waterfowl in the order Anseriformes and family Anatidae. It is the only member of its genus, Lophodytes, and the sole representative of its family. It’s most commonly…

Birds with long beaks are some of the most beautiful and fascinating birds to grace the avian kingdom. Long beaks can be used for defense, preening, feeding, and more, but many birds have long beaks because it’s just part of their natural design. Long beaks make some birds look funny, but also play an important role in their daily lives. Most of them use it to collect food from hard-to-reach places, some of which are even impossible for humans to reach! From nutcrackers to toucans. While birds have many impressive features that make them fascinating to study, one of their…

The American woodcock bird, also known as Scolopax minor, is one of two birds in the Scolopax genus, and family Scolopacidae, commonly referred to as woodcock in North America (the other being the Eurasian or common woodcock). They are among the most well-known inhabitants of North American deciduous and mixed forests, though they can also be found in open fields, particularly at night while they feed or migrate. Scolopax minor is considered a migratory game bird by the US Fish and Wildlife Service because it can be hunted legally in certain areas of the country during certain times of the year. The American…