Generally in the U.S., you usually do not need a property release to sell photos of plants, animals, or scenes photographed from a public place, especially for artistic or editorial use. If there are no identifiable people, artwork, or other protected elements, there is often no release needed.

The main caution is commercial use: some visible features may be protected by trademark or similar rights, especially distinctive buildings or branded elements. If a protected design or trademark is a dominant subject of the image, use can become more complicated. If it’s incidental in the background, risk is usually lower.

For your examples—plants, animals, and general scenes—there is typically no one to get a release from if the subject is not privately owned in a way that creates separate rights. Railroad tracks can be trickier if they are clearly tied to a company or include logos/signage.

Bottom line: in the U.S., photos of public scenes and natural subjects are often sellable without a release, but trademarked or distinctive man-made subjects can create exceptions. For important commercial use, get legal advice.