Sheryl Smith-Rodgers
Sheryl Smith-Rodgers is a freelance writer living in Blanco.Articles
Hognose Snakes Act Scary But Aren't Dangerous
Harmless eastern hognose can use a variety of tactics to scare us, including looking like a cobra.
Roly-Poly Pillbugs Aren't Actually Bugs — They're Crustaceans
Neither pill nor bug, these critters are favorite playmates of many generations of Texas children.
My Amazing Backyard: Native Plants Led to Transformation
How planting natives and paying attention attracted wildlife and opened my eyes.
The Basics of Poison Ivy
How to avoid this frightening plant, or at least lessen the agony of exposure.
Toothache Tree Eases Pain
The Hercules' club tree causes numbness (and benefits wildlife).
Spanish Moss Drapes Texas Trees and Shelters Birds, Bats and Spiders
Neither a moss nor a parasite, Tillandsia usneoides is a rootless bromeliad that feeds on air.
Connie Hagar: First Lady of Texas Birders
Her 35 years of Rockport field notes reshaped what ornithologists knew about migration.
The Enigma of the Clearwing Moth
Clearwing moths can act like hummingbirds or bumblebees.
Rat Snake: Agility and an Appetite
This non-venomous serpent has a taste for eggs - and it can climb almost anything.
All About the Sand Dollar
Scour the beach for these intricate skeletal remains.