Wednesday, 29 November 2023

A Little Fig Tree in the Yard - Nature 110

 Many people love fig fruit, but some avoids consuming it because of sweetness or high calorie contents, especially for diabetes patients.


Image 1 - A little fig tree in the yard.

The scientific name of fig tree is Ficus carica. Other names of fig tree are edible fig tree, common fig tree or just a fig tree.

The plant native to Asia and Mediterranean regions, hence, it is good to grow in the states with warmer climate.

We may find this plant in the states such as:
- Louisiana, Texas, Florida
- California, Oregon
- Georgia, North Carolina and many others.


Image 2- The plant starts to produce fruit.

If we plant the fig trees in our yard, they could produce the first fruit about 4 years. Some people said between 3 to 6 years.


Image 3 - The young fig fruit.

The timing to begin to bear fruit, sure, depend on several factors, some of them are:
- variety
- climates
- and growing conditions.


Image 4 - The ripe fruit, ready to be picked up.

From the time fruit emerges (sets), the ripe of fruit needs about 70 day, then the fruits are ready to be picked up.  


Image 5 - Several ripe figs fruit.

Price of fig fruit is relative expensive compared to other 10 favorite fruits sold by many groceries, includes Walmart.


Image 6 - The fig plant, green.

Do you like fig's fruit?

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Saturday, 25 November 2023

The Free Ranging Chickens - Nature 109

 We might find free ranging chickens in rural areas or countryside in America, if we lucky enough.


 
Image 1 - The free ranging rooster.

Just to let you know that we have two previous posted related to chickens:

In case you don't know, the free ranging chicken is a chicken or chickens roaming at outdoor freely. The chickens have advantages to access sunshine, fresh air and food sources naturally.

We buy eggs of the free ranging chickens at suburban areas of our city sometimes. The eggs are sold by small vendors or chicken's owners.



Image 2 - Chicken eggs, sold by a vendor.

The eggs contain vitamin D and "higher in omega-3 fatty acids," better than caged or conventional chickens.



Image 3 - A chick from crochet, illustration

The chickens less chance to be infected by diseases, include E.coli and Salmonella, since they are healthier by moving around and doing exercises.



Image 4 - A caterpillar, just illustration


Image 5 - A Hen and her chicks

Have you tried eggs of far-ranging chickens?

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Thursday, 23 November 2023

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




Image 1- Solar panels on the roof.

Much research showed that housing value could increase by up to 20 times if we have a 5 kW solar system on our roof.

In term of dollar, solar panels could make housing value up to US$ 24,000 in the market. Quite good for investment.

It is estimated that 20 solar panels need roof space of 5 hundreds square feet, then, it would produce 5,000 watts.

However, in Louisiana, let’s say we pay US$ 150 per month for electric bill, we might need solar panels system to produce 9500 watts.


Image 2 - A lot of pumpkins, illustration only

Interestingly, the solar system may last for 25 years. We avoid rising cost of electricity for so long, hence, save thousands of dollars.


Image 3 - A small house with solar panels in Louisiana 
(credit to Sunpro Solar).

Should we install solar panels in our roof?


Saturday, 18 November 2023

The Varieties of Succulents in the Singapore - Nature 108

 We have talked about an indoor garden in the Singapore at previous post:
The Rainbow Before Evening : Captivating Indoor Garden in Singapore - Nature 107


Image 1- Round shape succulents.

It was estimated that there are about at least 1,000 species of succulents in the small country, Singapore.

In respect to family, the five well known succulent families in Singapore are:
1) Apocynaceae, an example of species is Adenium
2) Asclepiadaceae, characterized by foul smelling succulents.
3) Aizoaceae, two examples of the species are Haworthia and Lithops
4) Cactaceae, the cacti are seen commonly in Singapore's park or garden.
5) Crassulaceae, the members are popular as houseplants such as Sedum.


Image 2- Some forms of succulents.


Image 3 - The Agave variety of succulent.


Image 4 - A group of Bromeliads.


Image 5 - One corners of an indoor garden.


Image 6 - An outdoor garden, Singapore

How many varieties of succulents have you seen?

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Wednesday, 15 November 2023

Captivating Indoor Garden in Singapore - Nature 107

 As a small country, Singapore has tried to design gardens and parks, outdoors and indoors. The purpose of these gardens and parks is to attract tourists from around the globe.


Image 1 - The artificial waterfall in the park 

One of gardens is a Jewel Changi airport, its size about 14,000 square meters (0.005 square miles), quite "big" to Singapore, but too small compared to be called as "a garden" in the USA. 

There is "artificial" waterfall, and it is said to be the tallest indoor waterfall in the world with 40 meters or 131 feet tall, surrounded by little forest. It is quite impressive for many visitors.

The garden has about 2,000 tress and 100,000 shrubs. In terms of species, there about 120 comes from countries such as China, Australia and America.


Image 2- Trees in the corner of garden


Image 3 - Several palm trees


Image 4 - Green every side of garden


Image 5 - We may see trees from another story


Image 6 - Trees with waterfall as background.


Image 7 - Visitors in the garden waterfall


Image 8 - Green in the indoor garden


Image 9 - Trees on the highest story

What do you think about indoor garden?

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Saturday, 11 November 2023

What is the Species of Frog? - Nature 106

Never have seen this frog before. We believe that this Amphibian spends most of its time just under the ground.


Image 1- A strange frog, we never seen before

I hadn't seen one until a few years ago. You'll run across them digging around water. Or at least that's when I've found them. Rare though.

Based on GoogleID, there are 3 possibilities of this frog species:

1) An eastern narrow mouth toad
- native to the eastern parts of America
- yes, they are living underground, most of their time.

2) Fowler toad.
- This species is native to Mexico and the southwestern America.


Image 2- A toad emerges to the surface

3) The Banded Bullfrog
- could reach 8 inches long, the largest frog in the North America. frog is important in the ecosystem to control insect population.


Image 3- A toad in the nature

Have you seen this kind of frog in the nature?

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Thursday, 9 November 2023

The Chrysanthemum and other flowers – Nature 105

We just talk flowers that blooming in the Fall at previous post:
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Blooming of Flowers in the Autumn - Nature 103



Image 01- Arrangement of Chrysanthemum flowers

The Chrysanthemum is one of beautiful flowers in our city, Baton Rouge. It has been popular choice for its long blooming seasons, colors and shapes. However, In term of bloom, people know it blooms in Autumn.

Other reasons that people choose the Chrysanthemum are good for indoor or outdoor, and low maintenance plant.

The flower comes from Asia, but it has been adaptable to hot and humid climate of our state, Louisiana, and we may find the flowers have been cultivated in many different areas of America.


Image 2- Some flowers on the bench, blooming in the Autumn


Image 3- Flowers at the corner, Fall season.


Image 4- Autumn season flowers, colorful

What flowers which blooming in the Autumn in your areas?

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Saturday, 4 November 2023

Releasing an Armadillo Back into the Wild - Nature 104

We have been seen a burrow hole in our yard. One of our neighbors tell us that she saw an armadillo.


Image 1 - An armadillo in the trap

Another day, the neighbor has observed Armadillos went under the fence, then cross our driveway, then cross the street to her yards.

How to discourage Armadillos to come and to dig holes in our yards?

Some neighbors suggested to use Armadillo Scram, a repellent to deter Armadillos to burrow or damage yards, gardens, lawn or landscapes.

Other neighbors also recommended to use cayenne pepper either sprinkled or mixed with water, and then to be sprayed on our yards or flowerbeds or bed covers (pine straw / bark).


Image 2- Illustration only.

Unfortunately, both Armadillo Scram and Cayenne pepper just work for about 30 days, the Armadillos come back to our yards.


Fig 03- A burrow hole, dug by Armadillo.

The wildlife office suggested to put a trap. Yes, we got one, then based on the recommends from wildlife department, we released the Armadillo back into the wild, quite far from our neighborhood.



Fig 04- The Armadillo, quite big

Have you seen this animal in the nature?

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JJ

Blooming of Supertunia - Nature 146

Supertunia flowers have quite longer blooming period in our areas. They could bloom from Spring to Fall seasons.  Image - Supertunia flowers...