The Yellow Four O'clock Flowers - Nature 119

 The name "four o'clock" is interesting for me. Actually, the flowers have another name that is Marvel of Peru.

Image 01 - Blooming of Yellow Four O'clock Flowers 

Some neighbors said that 4 o'clock flowers are easy to grow and take care, hence good for the first start gardeners.

The name of 4 o'clock refers to flowers open about 4.00 PM or in the afternoon or in the early evening. 

Interestingly, the flowers stay open more than 12 hours when temperature quite lower, then they close again when the heat of sun comes.   

The flowers have several attractive colors, in addition to yellow, other colors are red, pink and white.

Image 02 - Four o'clock plant in the pot. 

# Important posts:

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

- The Rainbow Before Evening : A Little Fig Tree in the Yard - Nature 110

Image 03 - Yellow Jasmine, just illustration.

Four o'clock flowers can be planted by seeds. We may buy the seeds from nursery or garden centers or online at Amazone. 

Image 04 - Yellow flower, illustration.

Seeds could be sown indoor or on the ground. It could take 2 to 3 months to have first flowers.

Image 05 - The indoor plant of four o'clock. 

Do you know about Four o'clock flower?

## Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Do You Know Cashew Milk? – Part 2 - Food 27

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Some Facts about Pomegranate – Healthy Life 26

- The Rainbow Before Evening : A House for “Quarantined for Life” - Part 2 – Healthy Life 25

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Have you ever Tasted Boiled Peanuts? - Food 29

- The Rainbow Before Evening : What is Brain Plasticity? - Part 1 – Brain Plasticity 1

A Lizard Called as a California Newt - Nature 118

We just found a kind of lizard or salamander or newt in our neighborhood. The first time we have seen this kind of critter. 

Image 00 - A lizard on the hand 

After observing a while, we can conclude that some characters of this newt are:

- brownish color with orange underparts. 

- slender body with four legs and a bit long tail.

- visible texture of moist and smooth skin appearance.

Based on identification by GoogleID and BingID, this critter could be a California newt species.

The California newt with scientific name Taricha torosa is known as endemic species to California.

Image 02 - Plants, just for illustration.

# Some postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Bonsai Show in Our City – Part 2 - Nature 51

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Minnie Winnie RV of Homeless People in Our City

Image 03 - A bird, illustration only.

Strangely, how this California newt, the endemic species to California could arrive in Louisiana?

Fig 04 - A wild plant with little fruit.

The possibility that one of our neighbors has this newt as a pet, then the critter escaped, end up in the yards.

Image 05 - The Christmas tree, illustration.

Just to let you know that California newts have toxin called tetrodoxin, a powerful poison like poison in pufferfish.

Fig 06 - The plants around neighborhood.

Have you seen the California newt in the nature?

## Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : A Little Fig Tree in the Yard - Nature 110

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Should We Install Solar Panels in Our Roof? - Part 2 - Science 38

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The Chrysanthemum and other flowers – Nature 105

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Spicy Food and Alzheimer's Disease – Part 1 - Alzheimer's 14

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Do You Know Cashew Milk? – Part 2 - Food 27

Winter Blooming of some Flowers in the Garden - Nature 117

Winter in our city barely reach below zero degree Celsius, hence some flowers blooming well in the "cold season."

Image 01 - A pansy flower in the garden.

We found some dominant flowers, two of them which are blooming in the garden during winter seasons are:

1) A pansy flower

- violet colors

- Scientific name for flower is identified as a Viola cornuta by GoogleID

2) The snapdragon variety

- colors could be yellow and many other

- GoogleID identifies scientific name for this flower is Antirrhinum majus.

Image 02 - The snapdragon variety

Image 03 - Yellow of the snapdragon.

Image 04 - Several flowers blooming

Image 05 - Blooming in the winter.

Image 06 - Blooming of the pansy.

Whay kind of flowers are blooming in the winter in your areas?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Social Status Affects on Physiology and Behaviors – Part 1 – Brain Plasticity 3

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Flowers as Objects of Paintings – Part 2 - Art 11

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Is Mockingbird a Smart Bird? - Science 32

- The Rainbow Before Evening : A Colorful Car at Our City Park – Art 7

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Do You Know Cashew Milk? – Part 2 - Food 27

Chickens Enjoying Freedom Outside - Nature 116

 When we saw several chickens in one morning, we thought they are loose. But, another morning we saw them again.

Image 01 - Chickens play outside.

We think are not loose. They are taking a stroll and enjoying freedom. The owners may let them out early in the morning as that is when we usually see the chickens again and again.

They give us a little chuckle as they go about the morning duties. I've only seen them in the mornings though, so I think they are possibly let out at that time. They play around and find some natural foods.

Wild chickens may consume variety of foods, including insects, plants and fruits. They may consume ants, termites, flies, grasshoppers and worms.

Image 02 - A lonely chicken

# Posting about chickens:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : A Rooster on the Run - Nature 90

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Are Buff Orpington Chickens Excellent Pets? - Nature 93

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The Free Ranging Chickens - Nature 109

Image 03 - Illustration only, California

We believe that it is good to allow chickens are roaming outside. It is good fot their health, since their immune system will be stronger.

Image 04 - Just one chicken left.

Chickens could stimulate their mood or well being, since they get fresh air and sunshine regularly.

Image 05 - A Monarch butterfly, illustration only'

Our neighborhood has Cayotes roaming, especially at night. We hope that Cayotes don't attack and kill the chickens.

Image 06 - Chickens, seen from car.

Have you seen some chicken roaming in your neighborhood?

## Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Should We Install Solar Panels in Our Roof? - Part 2 - Science 38

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Captivating Indoor Garden in Singapore - Nature 107

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Spicy Food and Alzheimer's Disease – Part 1 - Alzheimer's 14

- The Rainbow Before Evening : A Colorful Car at Our City Park – Art 7

The Orchid Flowers in Singapore - Nature 115

 We have two previous posted about Singapore in respect to indoor garden and variety of succulent plants.

Image 01 - Purple orchid, Singapore

You may read two previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Captivating Indoor Garden in Singapore - Nature 107

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The Varieties of Succulents in the Singapore - Nature 108

Singapore ever be top world exporter of orchids in the world, but now, has a lot of competitors, from around the globe, and even from Europe (Netherland) and America (USA). 

Image 02 - A white flowers, Singapore

Thailand is the competitor from neighbor country. It exports about US$ 67.6 million in 2021.

Image 03 - Mokara (identified by GoogleID)

# Important postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The Wildflower at the Corner - Nature 91

- The Rainbow Before : A Dragonfly and Flowers in the Corner - Nature 84

Image 04 - A rare variety of orchid, Dendrobium sp.

Netherland is a competitor from Europe, and even as top orchid exporter in the world in 2021.  

Image 05 - Dendrobium sonia, identified by GoogleID

Singapore has about 220 species of native orchid species, grow well in Singapore forest and natural reserves.

Image 06 - Other Dendrobium varieties.

We may find about 1,000 species and more than 2,000 of orchid hybrids in the Singapore orchid garden.

Image 07 - One of orchid hybrids, Singapore

Do you love orchid? 

What variety?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Happy Halloween to Who Celebrates It – Art 6

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Fruits with flavored chia in cups – Part 3 – Food 25

- The Rainbow Before Evening : A Colorful Car at Our City Park – Art 7

The Alligator in the Lake - Nature 114

We spotted a small alligator in the one of our neighborhood lake few days ago when we just walking around the lake. 

Image 1 - A small alligator, swimming.

We have seen small children playing in the backyards around the lake. We don't know whether their parents aware or not of an alligator nearby. We live not that far from this lake.

You might surprise with the size of alligators in our areas:

- the largest size could reach 14 feet (14.3 meter) with weight 500 pound (227 kg).

- the smaller size is about 7 feet (2.1 meters) with weight 250 pound (113 kg).

When talked to neighbors who live around or closer to the lake, they said there are actually two other larger alligators.

Image 2 - A neighbor house

They have tried to catch alligator, but not success yet. Some suggested, may be time to get professional help.

Image 3 - Just illustration photo.

They would call wildlife and fisheries or homeowners association to remove the alligators as soon as possible.

Image 4 - A little alligator in the lake.

Have you seen the wild alligator in the nature?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Do You Know Cashew Milk? – Part 1 - Food 27

- The Rainbow Before Evening : What Critters are Consumed by Carnivorous Plants in Louisiana? - Science 25

- The Rainbow Before Evening : A House for “Quarantined for Life” - Part 1 – Healthy Life 25

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Paintings Show in Mini Maker Faire – Art 5

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Canadian Geese Live Permanently in Neighborhood – Part 2- Science 23

The White Bunny Runs around the Corner - Nature 113

We spotted a white little bunny when we walk regularly. We believe the rabbit is a domestic rabbit. 

Image 1 - A bunny runs around the corner.

It is mean that the bunny is a pet, not a wild rabbit. Another possibility, the white coat bunny is kept or let it plays outdoor, since the bunny need space to exercise, play or explore.   

Bunnies need special attentions sometimes, include their food. Some foods of domestic bunnies are fresh vegetables.

Moreover, there are plenty popular breeding of domestic bunnies in our areas or city, Baton Rouge, LA. At least, there are about 12 most popular breeding which are sold in the markets.

Image 2 - One of corners in neighborhood

We are quite confident that the rabbit in our images (image 1 and 2) is belong to the "Netherland dwarf" breeding.

Image 3 - Another corner, illustration only

The Netherland Dwarf breeding is characterized by its gentle nature, playful personalities and small size.

Image 4 - The bunny just stops moving.

Do you know about kinds of bunny breeding (species)?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The SHIELD is a New Hope to Protect Our Brain – Part 2 - Alzheimer's 10

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Nuts of Pine Trees in the Park – Nature 42

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Fruits with flavored chia in cups – Part 2 – Food 25

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Simple Decorations for Halloween and Thanksgiving around Our Neighborhood

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Do You Know Cashew Milk? – Part 1 - Food 27

The Purslane Flowers in the Pot - Nature 112

Some of our neighbors choose Purslanes as one of their popular flowers to grow in the pots and containers.

Image 1 - Purslane flowers in the pot

The flowers have plenty colors from single colors to bicolor to multiple colors. Examples of colors are:

- yellow, red, pink, orange and purple (single colors)

- pink with yellow, and white with red (bi-colored)

- combined of red, green, pink and yellow (multi-colored)

Identification by GoogleID, the scientific name of Purslane flower is Portulaca oleracea. The flower common names are Moss rose purslane, Portulaca and common purslane. 

Image 2 - The liittle Purslanes.

The flower is native to North America, Europe and Asia, but we may find the flower in many parts of the world nowadays.

Image 3 - Two cute cats, illustration only.

This flower is easy and low cost to care, together with just need limit space, hence, to be great choice for gardeners.

Image 4 - Yellow Purslane flowers in the pots.

Do you familiar with this flower?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Simple Homemade Coconut Oil glazed Beef Jerky – Part 2 - Food 24

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Are Oak Trees Good for Firewood? - Nature 41

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Using of Cordless Electrostatic Sprayer for Killing Virus - Part 2 – Science 21

- The Rainbow Before Evening : A Young Red Tail Hawk Caught a Squirrel – Science – 24

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The SHIELD is a New Hope to Protect Our Brain – Part 2 - Alzheimer's 10

The Roles of Dirt Dauber in the Nature - Nature 111

 Many people called it as a "Dirt Dauber," since the insect makes its nest with a kind of mud.

Image 1- A wasp nearby its nest.

By GoogleID, the insect is identified as wasp or paper wasp with scientific name Pachodynerus sp. 

This wasp loves to build nests in shelter areas include under the house roof or inside structures made by men. 

There are many roles of Pachodynerus sp in nature. Two most important roles, my opinion, are:

- Pollination

- Biocontrol

Image 2 - A tall building, illustration

The Pachodynerus wasps help plants (trees, shrubs and flowers) in their reproduction in order to exist in nature.

Image 3 - A unique structures, illustration.

This wasp may control pests such as to control potato beetles. The beetles are well known as known as pests of potatoes in Colorado.

Image 4 - The wasp in the nest.

Do you know this kind of wasp?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Watching the Bluebird Broods Playing Around – Nature 40

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Fruits with flavored chia in cups – Part 1 – Food 25

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Canadian Geese Live Permanently in Neighborhood – Part 1- Science 23

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Sweet Tangerine at Backyard – Food 26

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Simple Homemade Coconut Oil glazed Beef Jerky – Part 2 - Food 24

JJ