The Dirt Dauber on a Fig Tree - Nature 172

We saw this kind of insect when we were picking figs last season. We believe it is an insect called as Dirt Dauber. 

Image 01 - Dirt Dauber on the fig's leaves.

It's scary looking for many people. However, this wasp is common in our southern state, Louisiana. 

The insect has other common names such as:

- a black and yellow mud dauber.

- a dirt dinner

- a mud dauber

- a mud wasp

- a blue mud dauber

Image 02 - Fig fruit, ripe

Several sources reported that Dirt Daubers no harm to the leaves and trees, they just consume other insects live around there.

Image 03 - A dirt dauber, walking on.

Do you know about this insect?

# Previous postings:

- The Minorca Rooster and Leghorn Hens - Nature 125

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The Red Chili in the Market - 126

- A Grasshopper on the Leaves of Gardens - Nature 127

- The Spring is Coming around Here - Nature 128

- Spicy Food and Alzheimer's Disease – Part 3 - Alzheimer's 14

Blooming of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana - Nature 171

In our areas, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana has blooming time in the late winter or early spring, around December or early February to March.

Image 01 - Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, blooming.

We know this flower with other common names, just some:

- Christmas Kalanchoe

- Florist Kalanchoe

- Window Kalanchoe

- Madagascar Kalanchoe

- and Flaming Katy

We might wonder why the flower blooming during late winter while temperature "little bit lower." even in our southern area.

Image 02 - Kalanchoe sp in the corner

It is because the flower needs longer darkness or short-day light to bloom.

Image 03 - Flower indoor.

Do you know about this flower?

# Previous postings:

- What is in the Valentine's conversation KISSES?

- A Fox Crossing the Street at Neighborhood Recently - Nature 123

- Leaves of Maple Tree Hardly Turn Red in our City - Nature 124

- Spicy Food and Alzheimer's Disease – Part 2 - Alzheimer's 14

- The Minorca Rooster and Leghorn Hens - Nature 125

The Volunteer Sunflowers from Birdseed - Nature 170

In some seasons, especially from Spring to Fall, we have volunteer sunflowers and (wild) flowers in our backyard. 

Image 01 - A beautiful sunflower.

As we might know, there are certain critters that plant wildflowers include sunflowers from birdseed on the backyards. 

We observed some wild animals that responsible to do "this business." Just three of them are:

- squirrels

- birds

- and raccoons

In addition to 3 of animals, wind and rain might play important roles as well.

Image 02 - A raccoon on the lawn

Image 03 - A squirrel plays on yard

Image 04 - Finches on birdfeeder

Image 05 - Another sunflower.

Do you have Volunteer Sunflowers from Birdseed?

# Previous postings:

- Rainbow Evening : Farming nearby Our Neighborhood - Nature 120

- Rainbow Evening : The Girl with Yellow Skirt – Part 2 – Reading 14

- Rainbow Evening : A Male Peacock in Neighborhood - Nature 121

- Rainbow Evening : The Interesting Plant at Neighborhood - Nature 122

- The Rainbow Before Evening : What is in the Valentine's conversation KISSES?

Babies of Black Bellied Whistling Duck - Nature 169

We saw beautiful colors of ducks with cute babies walking on the street at nearby our house in the last Summer. 

Image 01 - Babies duck

Babies duck (ducklings) belong to duck called as Black Bellied Whistling Duck, also known as: 

- Mexican Whistlers.

- Mexican squealers

Interestingly, these ducks don't quack, but they are whispering. When wandering, they are in group of 20 to 30.

On the sandbars of Mississippi river, we use to see them by the hundreds or might be by thousands.

Image 02 - An adult of Whistling Duck.

The Whistling Ducks are noisy around or on the branches of trees at night until they go to sleep.

Image 03 - Ducks and ducklings

Have you seen these duck around?

# Previous postings:

- Rainbow Before Evening : Chickens Enjoying Freedom Outside - Nature 116

- Winter Blooming of some Flowers in the Garden - Nature 117

- The Rainbow : A Lizard Called as a California Newt - Nature 118

- Rainbow Before Evening : The Yellow Four O'clock Flowers - Nature 119

- The Rainbow : Farming nearby Our Neighborhood - Nature 120

Growing a Pineapple Fruit - Food 52

After eating the fruit, we replanted the top by placing in water, rooting, then planting. The pineapple was bought from nearby grocery.

Image 01 - A young pineapple 

This is a kind of tries and error little experiments. We start by putting the spikes (top part of fruit) in the water of a small glass bowl on our dining table.

We observed fine hair roots. After it got too big, we removed and then planted in the soil about 1.5 years ago.

After about a week, we tried the same previous methods to grow other three (3) heads of pineapples fruits.

We were nursing them along and also put the top of the pineapples in water and they grew great.

Image 02 - The riped pineapple

Of the first four (4) tries, we get one to produce fruit, ripened fully, and ready to be consumed.

Image 03 - Slices of pineapple

Have you tried pineapple?

# Previous postings:

-  The White Bunny Runs around the Corner - Nature 113

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The Alligator in the Lake - Nature 114

- Is Brisk Walking better than Slow Walk? - Part 2 - Healthy Life 28

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The Orchid Flowers in Singapore - Nature 115

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Chickens Enjoying Freedom Outside - Nature 116

Pollinators of Mexican Torch Sunflower - Nature 168

The Mexican Torch Sunflower grows well in the yard in this time of year. Flowers continuously blooms from spring to frost,

Image 01 - Butterfly with Mexican Sunflower

By far the best attractor for pollinators in the yards. We observed some pollinators as frequent visitors:

- Butterfly

- Bees

- Hummingbirds

- Moth etc.

Almost every morning, we enjoy seeing pollinators sip nectar of multi-headed Mexican sunflowers.

Image 02 - Bee as a pollinator

We bought the plant from a local nursery close by our neighborhood, or you might order seed from online stores.

Image 03 - Swallowtail butterfly

Do you know this flower?

# Previous postings:

- The Free Ranging Chickens - Nature 109

- A Little Fig Tree in the Yard - Nature 110

- The Roles of Dirt Dauber in the Nature - Nature 111

- The Purslane Flowers in the Pot - Nature 112

- The White Bunny Runs around the Corner - Nature 113

Blooming of African Lily - Nature 167

We posted the beautiful flower from Africa. Flower has "3 colors combines white, yellow and purple blue."

Image 01 - Purple African Lily.

The flower called African Iris, you may read the posted:

- The Flower of White African Iris – Nature 68

The different that African Lily is purple with scientific name Agapanthus africanus. Another common name is Lily of the Nile.

We believe the flower has grown well in our areas, because of similarities with flower origin in terms of:

- warm temperature

- average sunny time more than 8 hours

Image 02 - Plant in the market.

The maintenance of flower is not so difficult, we just need watering and little bit fertilizers.

Image 03 - Purple in blooming

Do you of African lily?

# Previous postings:

-  What is the Species of Frog? - Nature 106

- Captivating Indoor Garden in Singapore - Nature 107

- The Varieties of Succulents in the Singapore - Nature 108

- Should We Install Solar Panels in Our Roof? - Part 2 - Science 38

- The Free Ranging Chickens - Nature 109