Less Common Black Fur Squirrels in the City - Nature 156

The common fur color of squirrels is gray in our city, Baton Rouge. It is Eastern Gray squirrel species. 

Image 01 - A Black fur squirrel

We just saw the black fur squirrel in our neighborhood, quite rare to see this color as far as we remember.

I tried to search through internet, interestingly, the sources said that the squirrel is origin from Eastern gray squirrel breeding with genetic variation process called as "melanism."  

The pigmen which is called "Melanin" has a role to control dark color in organisms. By production of more melanin means more dark color in parts such as fur, scales, skin, eyes or hair. 

Image 02 - Not black fur, illustration

What fur colors have you ever seen squirrels in your areas?

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Canna Lily in the Small Garden - Nature 155

Canna lily is one of plants that spread quickly. A nice bunch of 3 to 4 roots is a good start to grow for small backyards.

Image 01 - Red Canna Lily

The flowers are beautiful and tend to come back season after season in the small gardens or backyards.  

We recognized two varieties, Stripe Canna Lily and Regular Canna Lily. Other well-known Canna Lily in our city are:

- Black Knight

- Pink Sunburst  

- Cleopatra

- Bengal Tiger

Image 02 - A small bed of Canna

There are several colors of Canna Lily, my favorites are red, yellow and pink. These colors are plenty in our areas. 

Image 03 - Colors of Canna Lily

What varieties of Canna Lily do you like?

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The Swallowtail Caterpilar - Nature 154

We saw a bunch of caterpillars on our lemon tree at backyard. Odd looking caterpillars. 

Image 01 - Swallowtail's caterpillar

The critters ate tons of leaves on our lemon tree that stripped the key lime tree bare, almost complete defoliation.

From caterpillars, they will form a cocoon then the gorgeous butterfly, Swallowtail butterfly (You may Google to see complete lifecycle).

Other favorite plants include: 

- Fennel

- rue

- prickly and spicebush.

Image 02 - Gorgeous Swallowtail

We have seen them on mature orange and satsumas and can’t tell that they made any difference at all. They don’t eat the fruit, so they stay on the trees.

Image 03 - Swallowtail, fly over the flower.

Do you recognize Swallowtail butterfly in nature?

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The Apple Snail - Nature 153

We saw many kinds of snails in the ditch nearby our places. The dominant one is an Apple snail (Channeled Apple snails). 

Image 01 - The apple snail. 

The scientific name for this critter is Pomacea canalicuta, kown as an invasive species, and can be found across America.

The negative impacts of invasive species that they can disrupt ecosystem (aquatic ecosystem) by destroy aquatic plants. 

In our areas and the tropic regions, the snails could eat economic plants such as Rice and Taro, and even aquatic animals include crawfish.

However, the snails have predators, including bird called Limpkins or Wading birds. Other are Otters, Turtles and Alligators.

Image 02 - A ditch, after raining.

In some countries, the apple snails are consumed as sources of protein. They are collected from nature and farmed.

Image 03 - Several Apple snails.

Do you know about this snail?

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The Assassin Bug in the Yard - Nature 152

We saw this bug in our garden recently. After searching from internet, we believe the bug is called as an Assassin Bug.

Image - Eastern Blood-Sucking Conenose Bug 

The bug scientific name is Zelus longipes, a beneficial assassin bug that feeds on aphids and other garden pests.

Our areas known for its humid and warmer climate, the common garden pest may include:

- Leafhoppers

- Whiteflies

- many kinds of insect species

Hence, it is good to have the Assassin Bugs in our gardens. Just be careful not to touch them. They definitely bite.

Do you recognize ihe Assassin Bug in your garden?

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The Pagoda Plant or Giant Salvia? - Nature 151

Many people mistakenly to distinguish between the Pagoda Plant and Giant Salvia. Actually, there are "simple: appearances of both plants.

Image 01 - Pagoda plant 

We believe the plant is Pagoda plant with scientific name Clerodendrum paniculatum. The simple reasons:

- colors of flowers are red-orange

- well grow in our warm areas

Giant Salvia (Salvia spp) have several colors of flowers such as:

- blue

- purple 

- pink and red

Image 02 - Wild plant, illustration

Our judgement is supported by GoogleID. Actually, we may find both Pagoda and Salvia plants in our areas.

Image 03 - The red-orange flowers.

Do you know about Pagoda and Salvia plants?

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A Sweet Polish Chicken - Nature 150

Many people raising chicken in their backyard for fresh eggs and or meat, but others just for fun.

Image 01 - Crest on the head.

A Sweet Polish Chicken is one of popular breeding for fun in our areas, others include:

- Wyandotte

- Silkies

- Cochins

- Bantams

- Sussex

- Ameraucanas

Image 02 - Ageratum, wildflower, illustration only

Another interesting breeding is Wyandotte. In addition to beautiful feather and calm behavior, this chicken produce quite good eggs.

Image 03 - Not sleep in the coop. 

Do you know about a Sweet Polish Chicken?

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Why is my Hen Molting? - Nature 149

If we are raising chickens, we might not aware that chicken plumage falls down on daily and falling increases at a certain time. 

Image 01 - The molting hen 

Based on internet resources that temperature is the main factor to cause falling of chicken's feathers. As degree of coldness drops in certain seasons, the chickens cast off, might resemble leaves dropping down from the trees. 

Moreover, another factor that "broody chickens may begin to molt once they have finished caring for their chicks."

So, we no need to worry or wonder, because chickens molting is a natural process. The old feathers will be replaced by new ones.

Image 02 - The broody hen

Have you noticed the molting hens?

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The Beautiful Bright Green Luna Moth - Nature 148

We saw a beautiful bright green critter it is called the bright green Luna moth. The grub making its way through our yard.

Image 01 - A Luna moth.

The moths look adorable, and their population might be observed in many parts of the USA, and even beyond.

These moths with scientific name, Actias luna, are living in the jungle and bushes. They search foods and mating at night.

Their tails have adaptation to avoid predators such as birds and bat. We have plenty of these predators in our neighborhood.

Image 02 - A caterpillar stage of a Luna Moth.

Apparently, they don't live too long (a single week once emerging from cocoon).

Have you seen Bright Green Luna Moth in Nature?

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The Velvet Black and Blue Swallowtail - Nature 147

We had a butterfly visit to our backyard regularly, really pretty. That is the Velvet Black and Blue Swallowtail.

Image 01 - The butterfly with beautiful spots. 

Beautiful coloration with the velvet black and blue on upper side, and the orange spots on underneath.

It is difficult to get a good shot on upper side, since they love to flap their wings while sipping nectar.

The Velvet Black and Blue Swallowtail refers to the Pipevine Swallowtail, with its scientific name, Battus philenor.

The butterfly is found in North America to Central America, including in our neighborhood, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Image 02 - The butterfly flies over plants.

Have you seen this butterfly in your neighborhood?

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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.

Supertunia is one of popular flowers in our neighborhood. The reason to be chosen as a garden flower are: 

- long-lasting beauty

- vibrant blooming

- heat and drought tolerance.

We have seen several colors of Supertunia flowers, few of them are:

- yellow, red

- purple, pink

- brown and blue

Do you familiar with Supertunia?

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The Eggs of Apple Snail on the Rock of Lake - Nature 145

When we visit lake by the capitol of our city, we saw plenty of pink things like worms around the lake.

Image 01 - Eggs on the rock

We took pictures, and search through Google. The result said that they are eggs of Apple snails.

In an intriguing behavior, Apple snails deposit their eggs on diverse surfaces above the water's edge, including:

- rocks

- plants

- pipes

- and man-made structures

Image 02 - Apple snail eggs

In the one cluster (worm- like) of Apple Snail's eggs may have hundred to thousand eggs individual. The incubation period for the eggs is approximately 7 to 14 days, contingent on the temperature.

Image 03 - Apple snails (source: Google).

Have you observed Apple Snail eggs in the nature?

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The Passion Flower in the Yard - Nature 144

The Passion flowers thrive in sunny areas. If we are lucky, we may find this flower along open areas (woodlands), roadsides and in fields. 

Image - The Passion flower, blooming. 

This flower is one of the native flowers in our state with scientific name Passiflora incarnata, and common names: 

- Apricot vine

- Purple passionflower

- Maypop

- Passion vine

In our areas, blooming of Passion flowers is about during in the late Spring until early Autumn. 

Do you observe this flower in your region?

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Raising Cows on Local Farms - Nature 143

Some people have health issues, even diagnosed near to death due to consumption of processed foods. 

 

Image - A local cow 

Other people avoid foods such as meat because it just did not TASTE right. They found out WHY our beef from the grocery store and most restaurants doesn’t taste right. Several reasons are:

- the mass production

- full of antibiotics

- drinking water from a very dirty well

- lack of quality in general.

Interestingly, one of our neighbors began by consuming beef from his own cattle. Now, he supplies the community with high-quality beef at unbeatable prices. 

Do you know who is raising the local cows?

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A coyote Carrying a Cat at Neighborhood - Nature 142

We just saw a coyote carrying a cat in our neighborhood sometimes. He was heading in the direction of nearby "very tiny forest."

Image - A coyote carrying a pet.

Lots of subdivisions popping up everywhere, around our city. The wild predators have no place to go anymore!

They are hungry and looking for food.

Moreover, yes, many our neighbors saw the wild predators in the daylight walking down our street. it happens all the time

Sadly, if some neighbors let their cats or small pets outside, they can get ate from wild animals (coyote or fox), hit by cars and even catch diseases.

What wondering us (We want to know) why wildlife and fisheries cannot trap them and move them to secure places (forests)?

What do you think?

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