Saturday 13 April 2024

The Bees Pollinating Morning Glory Flowers - Nature 131

Morning glory is a common plant seen in our areas. Interestingly, the flowers attract many pollinators. 


Fig 01 - A bee pollinating a flower.

Since the blossoms are rich in sweet nectar and brightly flowers colors, make bees attract to come to Morning Glory plant. 

Other various pollinators include:
- butterflies
- hummingbirds
- and many insects

Flowers with trumped-shaped are perfect for pollination. As the pollinators dive for a sugary reward, it helps the flower reproduce by picking up pollen. 


Fig 02 - A bee picking up pollen.

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Fig 03 - A gate to the garden, illustration 

Moreover, as the bees fly to different morning glory flowers, they transfer pollen, leading to fertilizing the flowers and allowing them to produce seeds.


Fig 04 - The bee just landing.

Do you know about Morning Glory Flowers?

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Saturday 6 April 2024

Have you Tried Cactus Fruit? - Food 44

We just know and quite surprise that the cactus plant has fruit when we visit the Mexican store recently. 


Image 01 - Cactus fruit, sold in the market.

I thought the fruit was a pear in terms of form and size. In fact, cactus fruit also called as "a prickly pear."  

The fruits are native to Americas, but many countries around the world have cultivated this kind of cactus.

We believe the "prickly pear" is delicious. Its flesh is sweet and juicy with flavor similar to pear and watermelon. 

The fruit contains nutrients such as vitamin C, fiber, magnesium, potassium and antioxidants.


Image 02 - The price of Cactus fruit. 

# Important posting


Image 03 - Pink roses, illustration

We may find several colors of fruits that are:
- green
- yellow
- red
- orange
- or purple  


Image 04 - The color is not green.

I think this prickly pear is good option if we want to taste a new and interesting fruit.  



Image 05 - Ripe fruits, ready to be consumed.

Have you known about this fruit?

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Saturday 30 March 2024

A Female only Needs to Mate once in Life - Nature 130

The Spring season means mosquitos season in our southern state, Louisian. Higher temperatures make them so active. 


Image 01 - A mosquito (credit to Google). 

We are struggling to mow the lawn, and it seems our neighbors are having the same trouble. 

It is because we are breathing and swallowing these small critters at our backyard or outdoors. 

When open the front door, the mosquitoes attack our eyes and about 5 to 10 of them comes into house.

The fact makes me surprising that female mosquitoes store sperm from a single mating and use it to fertilize eggs throughout their lifespan.


Image 02 - Blooming at neighborhood

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Image 03 - Multiple flowers, blooming.

A female mosquito can lay between 50 and 500 eggs in her first batch. While subsequent batches may have fewer eggs, a single female can produce up to 10 batches throughout her life. Her lifespan can reach up to 5 months.


Image 04 - Our neighborhood's corner.

What do you think?

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Sunday 24 March 2024

Is Meat Not a Main Food of Fox? - Nature 129

We have talked briefly about a fox crossing street at our neighborhood recently at previous posting. 


Image 01 - A fox, sitting on the street.

You may read the previous post:

What our neighbors (common people) wonder that foxes didn't consume pets, then, what their main diets?

Based on internet sources that in their eating habits, foxes are adaptable to consume whatever food is easily accessible. Foxe don't usually eat "meat," they eat berries and variety of bugs.


Image 02 - Wild fruit at neighborhood

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Image 03 - Colorful flowers

Yes, foxes hunt on frogs, worms, insects and small mammals (rodents and rabbits). 

We believe the foxes around our neighborhoods are mothers searching for foods for their kits. Their habitats are disappearing to build houses.


Image 4 - A mother of fox, searching for food,

What do you think?

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Tuesday 19 March 2024

Spicy Food and Alzheimer's Disease – Part 3 - Alzheimer's 14


Image - old building, illustration only.

I like to sit at the bar with other customers to enjoy hot meal. When we were sitting and enjoy the spicy meals, we had talked everything about chili peppers and their benefit.

On the counter many kind of chili souce to adding our meals such as sriracha, many kinds of tabasco, mild and extra hot, spicy mayonnaise, and chili pepper mixed.

We also can ask slices fresh jalapeno to employee in behind the counter.

Then, there is such a warning!

Yes, in another side, the researchers from University of South Australia found out that a spicy diet could be linked to dementia.

A study conducted for 15 years, and for 4582 Chinese adults in China with age over 55. They found that “who consume more than 50 grams chili in a day, they had almost double the risk of memory decline and poor cognition” (Dr Zumin Shi).

And it's more significant for the thinner persons or lower mass index. Thus, proper amount is good, but bad for consume great amount chili every day.


Do you like to consume chili peppers? How often?

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Sunday 10 March 2024

The Spring is Coming around Here - Nature 128

 The temperature going up to around F 68* (20* C) and flowers are blooming, it is mean that Spring is coming in our areas. 


Image 01 - Red Chinese Fringe flowers.

One of favorite flowers is Red Chinese Fringe flower with scientific name, Loropetalum chinense

The other common names for this flower are:
- Strap flower
Chinese witch hazel
Chinese fringe flowers
- Pink fringe flower
- Loropetalium.


Image 02 - The plant of Red Chinese Fringe

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Image 03 - A road, illustration. 

The flower original to Far East Asia (China and Japan) and SouthEast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand)



Image 04 - Another blooming flower.

Many people love Red Chinese Fringe plants because of their attractive foliage and colorful flowers.


Image 05 - Beautiful red flowers.

Do you know of Red Chinese Fringe flowers?

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Tuesday 5 March 2024

A Grasshopper on the Leaves of Gardens - Nature 127

There are plenty of grasshopper species found in our areas. Based on internet sources, there are at least 45 species. 


Image 01 - Grasshopper in action.

We capture a grasshopper in a garden, based on identification from GoogleID, the machine offered two possibilities of species:
1) A Caroline locust
- has a scientific name, Dissosteira carolina.
- they are not major pest but may damage vegetations or gardens.

2) A Gray bird grasshopper
- a scientific name, Schistocerca nitens.
- are found in our areas, Baton Rouge, LA.


Image 02 - A species of Grasshopper. 

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Image 03 - Cotton candy, illustration.

However, there are 4 (four) most common grasshoppers that are found in our city, Louisiana.  


Image 04 - A grasshoppers tried to escape. 

The 4 most common grasshoppers are:
- Easter lubber grasshopper.
- Differential grasshopper.
- Carolina locust.
- Dichromorpha viridis.


Image 05 - Wild flowers, illustration.

Carolina locust is suggested by GoogleID as one of two species from our images. The species may be found fields, grasslands and meadows. 


Image 06 - Is it Carolina locust? 

Do you know species of grasshopper in your areas?

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Peggy Martin Roses - Nature 133

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