Showing posts with label Nature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nature. Show all posts

Saturday, 30 November 2024

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?

# Previous postings:

Saturday, 23 November 2024

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?

# Previous postings:

Friday, 15 November 2024

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?

# Previous postings:

Saturday, 9 November 2024

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?

# Previous postings:

Saturday, 26 October 2024

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?

# Previous postings:

Friday, 11 October 2024

The Daddy Longlegs Spider - Nature 141

We thought an insect which crawling at our house, but after looking it in detail, aww, it was an "Arachnids."  


Image 01 - Look like an insect

The different between Arachnids and insects in terms of legs, body segments and antennae. The Arachnids have: 
- eight legs
- two body segments
- no antennae 

The insects have:
six legs
- three body segments
- antennae


Image 02 - The Arachnid crawling

The common names of this Arachnid:
The Daddy longlegs spider
- Harvestmen

This Arachnid is harmless and can’t bite peope, because its mouth is too small. They are useful to control mites and insects.


Image 03 - The Daddy longlegs spider

Do you know this critter?

# Previous postings:

Monday, 30 September 2024

Short Lifespans of Male Mosquitoes - Nature 140

We have posted the lifespans of female mosquitoes with maximum about 5 months only in nature. 


Image 01 - Live of male mosquitoes (from Google)

You may read previous posting of female mosquitoes:

However, male mosquitoes have shorter lifespans than female mosquitoes, just about 7 days. 

Male mosquitoes live solely to mate with females and die shortly after. Once they have fulfilled their mating role, they are no longer essential for the species continuation. The biological purposes have been reached.


Wednesday, 18 September 2024

Blending in Pretty Well on the Satsuma Tree - Nature 139

We found this guy on our Satsuma, blending in pretty well. This critter is an insect, called as Katydid.


Image - A Katydid crawling on Satsuma fruit. 

I think this is a fantastic camouflage.

This remarkable creature is expert at blending in, often looking exactly like green leaves or twigs.

These insects are type of grasshoppers. Katydid has longer (slender and elongated) antennae than grasshoppers.

They are often found on various plants, especially in areas with abundant vegetation, including fruit trees.

On the Satsuma trees, Katydids feed on:
- leaves
- flowers
- and sometimes fruits.

Nature is amazing. I wonder how many earlier generations died because they were not the perfect color.

# Previous postings:

Friday, 16 August 2024

The Eastern Swallowtail Butterfly - Nature 138

 Have you seen this butterfly in your gardens or yards?

Image - Eastern Swallowtail

She is an Eastern Swallowtail butterfly and shows the beautiful iridescent blue on bottoms of the wings.

A beautiful visitor to the front garden!!!

The Eastern Tiger swallowtail female is particularly beautiful. Haven’t seen many of them, so lucky to meet one of them.

The butterfly feeding on a pink colored Penta. Plenty of Penta flowers was sold in nurseries during Spring.

It does well in our hot climate and comes in a variety of colors:
- red
- pink
- white
- and lavender.


# Previous postings:

Friday, 2 August 2024

The Canning Pear Tree with Fruits in Neighborhood - Nature 137

 Few of our neighbors have canning pear trees in their front yards. We saw plenty of fruit hanging from the trees this morning.



Image 01 - The Pear tree with fruit in neighborhood.

Yes, we as neighbors or anyone else may pick this fruit "as many as we want" for free or with no cost. 

Some people like to eat pears raw just as you would consume an apple. They are very good.

In addition to eat raw, we love to make:
- jam
- pie
- and preserves

Image 02 - Pear fruits, sold in Walmart


# Previous postings:

Thursday, 11 July 2024

The Black Soldier Flies (Hermetia illucens) - Nature 136

The fly is found inside the house. Based on GoogleID, it is suggested the fly is a Black soldier with scientific name Hermetia illucens.


Image 01 - The Black soldier fly.

The flies live well in the humid climate regions such as our state, Louisiana. They are excellent decomposers.

Their larvae are voracious to many kinds of materials (organic matters) such as:
food (kitchen) scraps
- manure
- rotting flesh of dead animals.

Hence, the larvae voracity potentially to break down waste, and then convert it into valuable nutrients.  


Image 02 - The fly is crawling

Louisiana State University (LSU) has studied the potential use of black soldier flies in production of animal feed, waste management and production of biofuel.


Image 03 - Head of the Black soldier fly.

Do you recognize this kind of fly?

# Previous postings:

Friday, 31 May 2024

Blooming of Gloriosa Lilly - Nature 135

Temperature is getting higher, more than 85* F (30* C) in our areas, hence it is good time for tropical origin flowers to bloom.


Image - Blooming of Gloriosa Lilly

Gloriosa Lily, one of the flowers which is native to tropical areas such as Asia and southern Africa, blooming in our state, Louisiana nowadays. 

This lily has multiple common names. some of them are:
- cat's claw 
- tiger's claw
- flame lily
- fire lily
- creeping lily
- glory lily
- climbing lily

This ornamental plant is well loved for its vibrant flowers that comes with many colors include yellow, red, orange and pink.

Have you seen this flower in your area?

# Previous postigs:

Saturday, 18 May 2024

The Injured Turtle in the Flower Bed - Nature 134

We found the injured turtle in our flower bed few days ago. Poor turtle. That one may be too badly injured but it shouldn't suffer.


Image 01 - The injured turtle 

Obviously, the turtle can still crawl, and the turtle still pokes his out of his shell, so still alive.

It is a small turtle. You might wonder why the critter in flower's bed, it is because the critter eats:
- flowers
- vegetables
- and fruit.

First, we contacted Fish and Wildlife department, but no respond.


Image 02 - The red rose, blooming

# Important postings:


Image 03 - Day Lily in the early Summer

Then we called LSU small animal hospital and an exotic pet vet, unfortunately we have not heard back from them.

Finally, an animal rescue and rehab gave some recommendations:
1) 90% of the time the best thing to do is let an animal heal on its own.
2) Protect from ants and house-flies.
3) Provide water and food and shade.


Image 04 - The flowerbed, late Spring


What do you think?

# Previous postings:

Saturday, 4 May 2024

Peggy Martin Roses - Nature 133

Born from resilience, the 'Peggy Martin' rose, also nicknamed the "Katrina rose," boasts an inspiring story, survived the devastating Hurricane Katrina decades ago.


Image 01 - Pink roses, Peggy Martin

The Peggy Martin Rose exemplifies the characteristics of a climbing rose. It is a robust grower, capable of reaching heights of 15 feet or more. 

Its vigorous growth and stunning blooms make it a popular choice for trellises, fences, and garden walls.

Some other reasons the people love Peggy Martin roses are:
- pink color with blooming in the Spring and Fall
- heat tolerant and cold-hardy
- diseases resistant.


Image 02 - Peggy Martin roses, pink color

# Important postings:


Image 03 - Climbing on the fences

Finally, known for their easy care, Peggy Martin roses flourish with a boost from compost and organic rose food.


Image 04 - Roses on the grown. 

Do you know about Peggy Martin roses?

## Previous postings:

Sunday, 21 April 2024

The Squirrel with two-toned fur - Nature 132

We have two previous postings about squirrels: a little squirrel in her nest and four weeks old baby squirrel. 


Image 01 - A squirrel with two tones.

You may read the two previous postings:

Based on internet sources, the squirrels with two toned furs are in good health, and there's no cause for alarm.

If you come across squirrels sporting two-toned furs in any places (parks or gardens), these bicolored squirrels can enjoy just as lengthy and robust lives as their monochromatic counterparts.


Image 02 - A two-toned fur, just playing. 

# Important postings:


Image 03 - A brown squirrel.

At least there are 3 possibilities of squirrels with two-tones:
1) Mismarking
It’s not uncommon to see squirrels with a patch of fur that differs in color from the rest of their coat. Mismarking can result from various factors, such as genetics, injury, or illness.

2) Parasites
Occasionally, mites or fungal infections can lead to patchy fur loss in squirrels, resulting in a dual-colored appearance.

3) Piebald
Piebald squirrels exhibit a rare genetic trait resulting in patches of pigmentation loss. These squirrels can display various color combinations, although gray and black fur is the most frequent occurrence.


Image 04 - A squirrel, playing on the grass.

## Previous postings:

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...