Climbing Roses in the Garden - Gardening and Hobby 74

Saturday, November 29, 2025
 Peggy Martin Rose is one of well-known climbing roses in our state, Louisiana. Flowers could survive during the Hurricane Katrina in 2005.


Fig 01 - Climbing roses. 

You may know other climbing roses. some of them are: 
- Climbing Iceberg
- Fourth of July
- New Dawn
- Lady banks
- and Don Juan

It seems that these climbing rose varieties grow well in the area with hot and humid climates like our state.


Fig 02 - Beautiful buds.

The flowers are very pretty with lovely colors, but fragrance is not strong, only mild fragrance.


Fig 03 - The gorgeous flower.

Do you know about climbing roses?

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Doves on the Roof - Critter 108

Saturday, November 22, 2025
 Dove is one of birds comes back to our yards during breeding seasons almost every year. We believe they nest on that time.


Fig 01 - Three doves

Some said doves are a symbol of family and having them is a blessing. It means there is peace in your yard.

Observation summary of doves:
- when the mother left the nest, the father would take his turn keeping eggs warm.
- Once hatched they (other and father) also took turns feeding them.
- The babies are tiny but grow quickly. The young would try to explore and fall out of the nest before being able to fly.
- It was funny watching their parents trying to contain them.


Fig 02 - A white dove

We have also seen adult birds teach their young how to swoop in and pick up food which was interesting. The baby repeatedly failed, and the parent patiently showed it over and over until the baby got it right.


Fig 03 - At least one juvenile.

Have doves come to your yards?

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The Free Pantry at the Corner

Friday, November 7, 2025
We have several library boxes, kind of swap libraries at our communities. We may take one, then put one as swapping. 


Figure 01 - Library box converted to pantry box.

You may read previous post about library box in our community:
Recently, one of library boxes has been converted into a free pantry by someone we don't know yet.

What a fabulous idea!!! And such a good time for it! This is very neighborly: generosity and efforts to support our neighborhood

We may take what we need or that others can also easily provide their support when able to do so.


Figure 02 - One of library boxes


Figure 03 - Inside box.

What do you think?

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The Small Dragonflies - Critter 107

Friday, October 31, 2025
We saw hundreds of small dragonflies at backyard last summer. The Scientific name is Pachydiplax longipennis with common name Blue Dasher.  


Fig 01 - Dragonfly at yard

In our area, summer was characterized by heat wave and drought. The conditions might relate to absent some insects.

We saw less than usual or even didn't see the following insects:
Lovebugs
- Bush crickets (Katydids)
- The big golden silk orb weavers
- Honey bees
- and craneflies


Fig 02 - A blue dasher

In the small fish, we came across a very strange looking creature. Upon looking it up, we found it was the young undeveloped dragonfly.


Fig 03 - A little dragonfly

Hopefully things will get back to normal soon because birds and many other organisms depend on insects as their main food sources.


Fig 04 - Painting of dragonfly

Did you notice there are abundant of dragonflies in your areas?

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The Great Egret to Visit our Lawn - Critter 106

Thursday, October 23, 2025
We may spot this bird, the Great Egret in our areas year-round. Every season is the perfect time. 


Figure 01 - Lonely visitor, Great Egret 

We believe the scientific name for Great Egret is Ardea alba. Interestingly, It has many common names, few of them are:
- Otis, very local name
- great white egret
- big egret
- common egret
- white heron
- and etc.


Figure 02 - Just meme

Have you seen the great egret around you?

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A Little Flower Garden - Gardening and Hobby 73

Friday, October 17, 2025
We have a spot of tiny flower garden at the lawn path of Boulevard entrance. The garden was started about 5 months ago.


Fig 01 - Just starting, 5 months ago.

I saw flowers are blooming, many varieties of them, unfortunately, I don't recognized their exact names. They are beautiful. 

However, some flowers for small garden in our community are:
- Purple Coneflower
- Butterfly Weed
- Black-eyed Susan
- Camellias
- Daffodils and etc.

Fig 02 - Blooming at little garden

You may see some pumpkins as part of decorations. The pumpkins make tiny garden more colorful.


Fig 03 - Kind of flowers


Fig 04 - Beautiful of little garden

What do you think?

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Beekeepers and Local Honey in the City - Food Variety 40

Friday, October 10, 2025
We don't know the exact number of beekeepers in our city or community, it is because no formal registration system in place.


Fig 01 - The beekeeper.

However, the estimate number is about 100 beekeepers in the city, Baton Rouge. This number is quite reasonable in urban areas.

Beekeepers are not really "professional" in urban areas, just kind of "part time" jobs and even hobby. 

They use open space (land) as a be yard. 1 acre (0.41 ha) of land is good to support at least 20 hives.
These 20 artificial hives could produce about 5 gallons or 60 pounds (18.93 liters) fresh honey per year.


Fig 02 - A bee sips nectar of flower.

In our suburban community, we might legally have up to 3 artificially bee hives in our own backyards.


Fig 03 - A bee in other flowers.

Some benefits to have hives in our backyards:
- free honey from your yard
- and free pollination services from the bees!


Fig 04 - Local fresh honey

Do you like local fresh honey?

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