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?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Does Red Bell Pepper Contain more Vitamin C than Orange? - Part 2– Food 21

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Flooding after Raining in Our Neighborhood – Nature 37

- The Rainbow Before Evening : What does Hypertension Mean? - Part 2 – Cardiovascular 3

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Purple Gallinule Visited Our Neighborhood – Nature 38

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Learning a New Language Against Alzheimer's Disease – Part 1 - Alzheimer's 9

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?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Why does Gum Disease cause Alzheimer's?- Part 2 - Alzheimer's 8

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The White Spider Lily at our City Garden – Nature 36

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Is America a Wine Exporting Country? - Part 1

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Swap Plants at Our City Botanical Garden

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Does Red Bell Pepper Contain more Vitamin C than Orange? - Part 2– Food 21

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?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Newborn Sea Turtles are almost All Females – Science 16

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Does Red Bell Pepper Contain more Vitamin C than Orange? - Part 1 – Food 21

- The Rainbow Before Evening : What does Hypertension Mean? - Part 1 – Cardiovascular 3

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The Four Weeks Old Baby Squirrel – Science 17

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Why does Gum Disease cause Alzheimer's?- Part 2 - Alzheimer's 8

JJ

The Mexican Hat Flowers in the City Garden – Part 2 – Nature 72

You may read previous post (Part 1):
- The Rainbow Before Evening : The Mexican Hat Flowers in the City Garden – Part 1 – Nature 72

Image 1- Brown stalk of Mexican hat flower

Mexican hat flowers can be found in almost all states of America and even to several states (Provinces) of Canada

The blooming is around mid summer until fall seasons, about two months. The plant produced flowers with colors of:

- dark red yellow
- brown
- orange
- yellow and other colors combines

Image 2- Plenty of Mexican hat flowers

Since its rich of nectar and attractive colors, people grow this flower in the garden to attract pollinators.

Image 03- Blooming of Mexican hat flowers

Well known pollinators visit the Mexican hat flowers are:
- butterfly
- bee

Image 4- Several Mexican hat flowers in the garden.

Have you seen the Mexican hat flowers in the nature?
# Previous postings:
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Why does Gum Disease cause Alzheimer's?- Part 1 - Alzheimer's 8
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Higher Temperature due to Heat Island Effect – Science 15
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Giveaway and Discount in Time of High Inflation
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Do You Like Boba Bubble in Your Drink? - Part 2 – Food 20
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Newborn Sea Turtles are almost All Females – Science 16

Blooming of Flowers in the Autumn - Nature 103

 As you know, many flowers blooming in the autumn as well as in the spring. There are about 100 species of flower blooming in our state.

Image 1- A Bee on the "wild" lily flowers  

Few favorites autumn flowers in our state are Asters (Symphyotrichum sp.), Mexican bush sunflower (Encelia farinosa), Golden rain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata), Ironweed (Vernonia altissima), American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), Sedums (Sedum sp.), Marigolds (Tagetes sp.) and Zinnias (Zinnia sp.).

In our neighborhood, we may find some flowers which blooming in the Fall seasons such as: Lily, Daisy, Lantana, Plumbago and Canna.

Actually, we may observe these flowers in the wild habitats include in the forest, swamps and meadows. 

Image 2- Daisy flowers, fall season.

These flowers known for their roles to provide nectar (food sources) for many pollinators: bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

Image 3- Lantana (white) flowers

Image 4- Plumbago flowers, fall season.

Image 5 - Canna flowers, blooming in the fall

Image 6- A butterfly visit Lantana flowers

What species of flowers blooming in your areas during fall season?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Stretching to Prevent Leg Cramps - Healthy Life 23

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Do You Like Boba Bubble in Your Drink? - Part 1 – Food 20

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Lantana for Summer Project in My Backyard – Nature 34

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Declining of Golden Swamp Warblers Population – Nature 35

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Why does Gum Disease cause Alzheimer's?- Part 1 - Alzheimer's 8

An Otter from a River - Nature 102

We find an otter crossing the street in our neighborhood sometimes. There are several reasons this river otter did it.  

Image 1- An otter starts to cross street.

We think the otter crossing a road to find water or other rivers which may provide foods, and even shelters or mates.

Otters have a lot of predators, some of them might be surprising that are wolves, bears and coyotes. So, otters might try to escape from their predators by crossing the streets. 

Other reason is just curiosity, otters might to explore their environment by crossing the roads who knows they will find new opportunities. Unfortunately, they are not aware the danger of traffic.

Image 2- The Otter crossing in action.

In our areas, river otters consume fish (perch, sunfish, catfish and carp), frog, turtle, mussels and crayfish.

Image 3- The otter approaching a drain.

Actually, this animal will consume whatever foods which are available surrounding it, called as the opportunistic feeder.

Image 4- The otter reaches a drain's gate.

Have you seen this animal around your areas?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : 8 Eggs of Bluebird for Incubation – Nature 33

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The Proper Times to Take Pills – Part 2 – Healthy Life 22

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Stretching to Prevent Leg Cramps - Healthy Life 23

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Do You Like Boba Bubble in Your Drink? - Part 1 – Food 20

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Lantana for Summer Project in My Backyard – Nature 34

Mushrooms Found in the Yard - Nature 101

 Actually, we found several kinds of mushroom or fungi in our yards, both poisonous and edible ones.

Image 1- Mushroom in our backyard.

5 most common mushrooms that be found in the yard of our state, Louisiana are:

- Chanterelle mushroom (Cantharellus cibarius)

- Shaggy mane mushroom (Coprinus comatus)

- Puffball mushroom (Calvatia gigantea)

- Enoki mushroom (Flammulina velutipes)

- Portobello mushroom (Agaricus bisporus)

of above 5 mushrooms, only Shaggy mane mushroom (Coprinus comatus) is poisonous.

Image 2 - Baxkside of mushroom

The mushroom has a toxin called coprine, which can cause diarrhea and vomiting. Be careful, we can't destroy this toxin by cooking.

Image 3 - Rotten mushroom in the yard

Based on GoogleID, the image 1 was identified as puffball mushroom (Calvatia gigantea), and the image 2 was a parasol mushroom (Macrolepiota procera). Both are common mushrooms, can be found in many different places.

Image 4 - Several varieties of corns, illustration

Have you recognized mushrooms in your yards or gardens?

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