The Light-colored Squirrel Comes to the Yard - Nature 163

 The Light-colored or blonde squirrel is very rare in our areas. We just saw twice in the long time period.

Image 01 - She just arriving.

The blonde squirrel came in the yard at late Spring this year, a beautiful little squirrel looks so cute.

We love watching her play or run on the ground, then she has disappeared for long time period. 

We are wondering where she was and how she was. Actually, she could jump from one yard to another one in the neighborhood. 

Hope, she is just around the area. She is in good health and happy when we see her again. 

Image 02 - Blonde tail.

About two years ago, we saw a squirrel with blonde tail. Some people call its "a fox squirrel." 

Image 03 - She runs on fence.

Have you seen the blonde squirrel in your areas?

# Previous postings:

- Is Brisk Walking better than Slow Walk? - Part 1 - Healthy Life 28

- Zinnia Flowers Grow Well in the Neighborhood – Nature 80

- We Saw a Beautiful Snake in the Yard – Nature 81

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Blooming of Hibiscus in Louisiana – Nature 82

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The Opossum in Neighborhood – Nature 83

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Blooming of the Confederate Roses - Nature 162

We have posted several hybrids of roses in our areas. This one called as the Confederate Rose. 

Image 01 - The White Confederate Rose

Other rose hybrids at previous postings:

- Peggy Martin Roses - Nature 133

- The Rose of Queen Elizabeth - Nature 158

What is fantastic about Confederate rose?

These majestic flowers may change color in several stages when they are blooming. The first stage is white, then followed by:

- light pink or pink

- and red

Image 02 - Pink color

The color changes in a day, from morning to midday to evening. So, we should to keep watching it to catch all stages of changes.

Image 03 - Become "red" at final stage.

Do you know about this Confederate rose?

# Previous postings:

- Gladiolus is one of Favorite Flowers in America – Nature 78

- Watermelon in the Summer Times

- Male and Female House Finch Visiting Feeder Recently – Nature 79

- Is Brisk Walking better than Slow Walk? - Part 1 - Healthy Life 28

- Is Brisk Walking better than Slow Walk? - Part 1 - Healthy Life 28

Canadian Geese Hatched at a Parking Lot - Nature 161

We saw a Canadian goose is brooding eggs in the nest at a parking lot, we mean at small garden of a parking lot. 

Image 01 - Just hatching

The geese, a nest and several eggs always protected by a gander. They seem not bothered by the crowds. 

We believe the geese are not wild or just migrate from Canada but stayed and adapted here (in our city) for generations. 

Many people call or refer them to city, Highland (area) or Sherwood Forest (neighborhood) geese.

4 eggs hatched, and 1 (one) egg still in the nest, means 80% have been hatch. It is good number.

Image 02 - Walking with their 4 goslings

Sure, we love it to see their walking around and will be watching and hoping they stay safe and thrive in the areas.

Just to let you know that Canadian geese are federal protected in the USA under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Image 03 - Mom and goslings look happy.

Do you have Canadian geese around your areas?

# Previous postings:

- Unidentified Bird at the Neighborhood – Nature 76

- Useful of Weeds and Wild Flowers in the yards – Part 2 - Science 36

- Nesting of Mississippi Kites in the Areas – Nature 77

- “Let's go” and “Let's play” - Part 2 - Alzheimer's 13

- Gladiolus is one of Favorite Flowers in America – Nature 78

The Native Wildflower, Ageratum - Nature 160

We saw a beautiful wildflower with blue color. It is an Ageratum, yes, the plant is native to our state, Louisiana.

Image 01 - The Blue flower

They are volunteer, not commercial plants as far as I know, wild ageratum, Asteraceae family.

Based on internet, we believe the scientific name is Conoclinium coelestinum, and common name Blue Mist flower.

The plant is loved by two kinds of bugs, they are spittle bugs and mealy bugs. It is because plant contains:

- high nutritional values

- succulent tissues

Image 02 - Wild flowers

Because its beauty, some people grow it in their yards. Butterfly come to visit this flower too.

Image 03 - Several Blue Mist flowers

Do you recognize this Blue Mist flower?

# Previous postings:

- Canna had been Popular Garden Plants since Victorian era – Nature 75

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Do you Love Tomatoes? - Science 37

- Should We Install Solar Panels in Our Roof? - Part 1 - Science 38

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Fertilizer Price is Going Down Recently

- The Rainbow Evening : Unidentified Bird at the Neighborhood – Nature 76

Mayfly Lives 24 hours Only - Nature 159

When we sit on the chair and look at a window at one of Fast-Food restaurants in the city, we saw "a bug." 

Image 01 - May Fly at the window

Google identified it is a Mayfly; we then remember at the moment when we travelled through a river a couple years ago. 

We observed the Mayflies would pop out of the water by the millions during summer seasons (May to August). 

These insects fly directly toward the lights on the boat at night. They often would pile up on the top of boat 4 or 5 inches deep by day light  

They often would pile up on top of boat 3 or 4 inches deep by daylight, and also stick on walls of boat by the thousands.

Image 02 - A river at community, illustration.

We had to use firehouse to try and get them off. Smelled like dead shrimp that why we call dead shrimp in addition to Mayfly.

Of 4 stages (eggs, Nymph. Subimago and Imago) of Mayfly, the adult stage just lives for 1 day (24 hours), and the main goal is to mate and reproduction.

Image 03 - Life cycle of Mayfly (credit to Google).

Do you know about Mayfly?

# Previous postings:

- The Mexican Hat Flowers in the City Garden – Part 1 – Nature 72

- A Baby Quail Stuck on the Patio – Nature 73

- Traditional book versus electronic book for children – Part 3 – Reading 13

- Rainbow Before Evening : Flowers of Hidden Lily Ginger Plants – Nature 74

- Canna had been Popular Garden Plants since Victorian era – Nature 75

The Rose of Queen Elizabeth - Nature 158

As you might know, there are thousands of roses varieties in the world. In our state, more than 100 of rose varieties can be found. 

Image 01 - Rosebud Queen Elizabeth

In our state, this rose may bloom two or three times a year. in case of our roses, they are blooming at least two times a year.

The blooming times start from Spring until about Fall seasons, and it is said that they might produce for more than 35 years.

The queen Elizabeth roses are so easy to care for and grow or we just let her do her own thing.

Pinks (soft and darker pinks) are our all-time favorite color, other colors in our areas include yellow and white.

Image 02 - Pink color.

They make absolutely perfect rosebuds and fragrance roses.

 

Images 03 - Other pink roses.

Do you recognize Queen Elizabeth roses?

# Previous posts:

- The Rainbow Before : The Best Coffeehouse in My City, Baton Rouge – Part 2

- The Rainbow Before : Painting Mentors for High School Students – Art 14

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Using of Liquid Soap in American Households

- The Rainbow : The Red Shoulder Hawk at Neighborhood – Part 1 - Nature 71

- The Rainbow : The Mexican Hat Flowers in the City Garden –Part 1– Nature 72

The Backyard Racoon is Coming Back - Nature 157

We did not see a raccoon since last couple years at backyard. We see one in this Spring, quite surprising.   

Image 01 - A racoon on the yard.

It might be related to the foods; we have two kinds now. They are safflower seeds and a new birdseed.

When we have safflower seeds, the raccoon did not like it. We guess the squirrels didn't either.  

We put out a new birdseed that contains a lot of goodies. We bought a huge bag from Costco. Now the racoon and the squirrels have returned.

Some people said the raccoons attracted by pet foods. However, if you want to feed them though, feed them dog kibble. They are actually canine, and the cat food is too high and taurine for them and eventually can cause severe liver damage.

Did raccoons visit your yards?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow: Brain Plasticity and Care Offspring – Part 1 - Brain Plasticity 4

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The Flower of White African Iris – Nature 68

- The Rainbow Before: The Mother Duck Brings her Duckling to Swim – Nature 69

- The Rainbow Before Evening : A Hummingbird on my Blueberry Tree – Nature 70

- The Rainbow Before: The Best Coffeehouse in My City, Baton Rouge – Part 2