Blooming of Angelonia - Gardening and Hobby 72

Angelonia is one of the few plants that loves southern states of USA hot temperature and humidity.  

Figure - Blooming of Angelonia

This beautiful flower has common name or nicknamed, summer snapdragons. Drought tolerant but well with our rain. Doesn't usually need extra watering.

Angelonia is annually, but our plant did great until the big freeze in January. Replanted these in the Spring.

New (young) leaves of Angelonia are not tolerant to several animals (critters) such as:

- deer

- rabbits

- squirrels

- and other small wild critters.

We actually did cover them before the freeze. But the frost cloth was too lightweight. We used a heavy one (tree cover) doubled and it saved our Angelonia. Lesson learned. No deer, just squirrels and small wildlife.

Do you know about Angelonia?

# Previous postings:

- Do you Want to Have Forever Puppies? - Part 2 – Critter 27 |

- The United States Import Ginger the most – Sign 30 | Tanza

- Have you Tasted Banana Pepper? - Part 2 - Food Variety 25 |

- Crisis of Chicken’s meat and Eggs – Sign 31 | Tanza Erlambang

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The House Sparrow is a Kind of Gangster - Critter 104

We posted invasive species of House Sparrow that could kill and even takes over nest of native birds.

Fig 01 - A Bluebird was killed by House Sparrow.

You may see previous post: 

- The Invasive Bird, a House Sparrow - Critter 103 | 

The House Sparrow may bully flock birds, and very aggressive towards our native songbirds, and will kill them.

If House Sparrow catch them in a birdhouse, the aggressive Sparrow will poke their eyes out, or both.

Then he throws the bird’s eggs out of the box or even murder their babies with his strong beaks.

Fig 02 - Flock of birds

He will have several nests going with different females at the same time. then multiply prolifically.

Fig 03 - A bluebird

That the House Sparrow way of life. What do you think?

# Previous postings:

- Have you Tasted Tamarind Fruit or Juice? - Part 1 - Food Variety 27 |

- We Spotted Coyote in Our Neighborhood – Critter 28 |

- How Could Scientists Cure AIDS Patients? - Part 1 – Virus 40 |

- The 24 Hour Emergency Service - Sign 29 | Tanza Erlambang

- Do you Want to Have Forever Puppies? - Part 2 – Critter 27 |

Blooming of Pineapple guava Bush - Gardening and Hobby 71

The Pineapple guava bush with scientific name Acca sellowiana, has very "distinct" beautiful flowers. 

Figure 01 - Blooming of Pineapple guava

The combine colors include white (petal or flower) , pink and red colors. Interestingly, some information said the flowers are edible. 

Taste of white petals:

- good

- tropical flavor

- really sweet

The squirrels love them. They don’t, however, eat the red part, don't know why. Fun to watch them.

Figure 02 - Beautiful sunset

The tree has minimal maintenance. We have two that came up from seed and have pitted till large enough to plant.

Figure 03 - Ready to be planted

Do you know about flowers of Pineapple guava Bush?

# Previous postings:

- Do you Want to Have Forever Puppies? - Part 1 – Critter 27

- Bell-Shaped Flowers of Alligator Plants - Gardening and Hobby 28 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Have You ever Tasted Banana Pepper? - Part 1 - Food Variety 26

- The Yaupon Holly Plants Produce Attractive Berries – Sign 28

- Have you Tasted Tamarind Fruit or Juice? - Part 1 - Food Variety 27 | Tanza Erlambang Update

The Invasive Bird, a House Sparrow - Critter 103

After second look, we recognize a bird sitting on the fence is a House Sparrow. The bird is well known as invasive species in our areas.

Fig 01 - A House Sparrow, a visitor

Invasive species means that House Sparrows may compete and even kill native species in our areas. 

Several species could be killed by House Sparrows are:

- Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis)

- Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)

- Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)

- Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

- Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)

Fig 02 - A corner of city

In our urban area, we may see aggressiveness of House Sparrow to kill birds in their nest, then take over the nest.

Fig 03 - A house Sparrow

Do you see a House Sparrow in your areas?

# Previous postings:

- A Flower Called Cat’s Ear Dandelion – Part 2 - Gardening and Hobby 26

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- Storing Firearms Securely to Prevent Suicide – Sign 27 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Do you Want to Have Forever Puppies? - Part 1 – Critter 27 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Colorful of Purslane Flowers - Gardening and Hobby 70

 Purslane is one of the flowers which are blooming in the middle of summer, especially in our areas.

Fig 01 - Purslane Flowers

Many people said the flowers like the “Angel Drops” from Heaven due to their "absolutely gorgeous."

There are plenty colors of Purslane, some favorites in our areas are:

- orange

- yellow

- white

- pink

- and bi-colors

Fig 02 - Beautiful flowers

In our areas, little bit warmer, Purslane Flowers may come back every year. The flowers might regrow from roots.

Fig 03 - Colorful

Do you know this flower?

# Previous postings:

- Fresh Mango in the US Market – Part 2 - Food Variety 25 | Tanza

- A Small Vendor for Christmas Gifts – Sign 26 | Tanza

- Hay Stacks in the Small Farmer Market – Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang

- Are Red Silkies a Rare Breed Chicken? - Critter 25 | Tanza Erlambang

- A Flower Called Cat’s Ear Dandelion – Part 2 - Gardening and Hobby 26

The Freeloader Showing up Daily - Critter 102

The temperatures more than F 95* (C 35*) in our areas in recent days. We thought it is the good time to attract birds.

Fig - Green lizard comes to drink

Some birds species our yard during Summer are:

- Bluebirds

- Caroline wrens

- House finches

- Woodpeckers

- Hummingbirds and etc.

,.

However, we saw a little green lizard crawl on feeder. We think the izard needs after eating those insects; ants and bugs that always find their way up there.

Fig 02 - Green lizard, illustration

What do you think?

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- Why does Oil Price Go Negative in the Market? - Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang

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The Fresh Sweet Corn - Food Variety 39

We saw a sign of fresh corn for selling when we travel to countryside. It seems the corns come from a small garden at roadside. 

Fig 01 - Boiling corns. 

The seller said that corn is hybrid of "Silver Queen Hybrid Sweet." It is well known varieties in our areas, and even in the USA.

This kind of corn is favorite due to its:

- taste (sweet and tender)

- reasonable size

- resistant to diseases

- reasonable time to mature

- easy to grow

Fig 02 - A corn garden

Do you like corns?

# Previous postings:

- Hay Stacks in the Small Farmer Market – Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

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The Conure Mochi Perching on the Fence - Critter 101

Conure as you might know lives in South America, especially in the tropical countries such as Suriname, Guyana and Paraguay. 

Fig 01 - A beautiful bird. 

We just saw this bird in our areas recently, but we believe it is a pet, not a wild one. No report of this bird as a wildlife critter. 

Bird variety is "a Conure Mochi," it is because the colorful of bird. Other common names are: 

- a green cheek conure

- a Pineapple Green-cheeked Conure.

- a Sun Conure

- and Maroon-Bellied Conure

Fig 02 - Back part of the bird

Have you seen this kind of bird in your areas or pet shops?

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- Pollinators which Love Coleus Plants – Critter 22 | Tanza Erlambang Update

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No Tariff for Local Produces

We noticed that price of imported produces and products increases so much, especially from China and Mexico. 

Fig 01 - Several fresh produces

Just for an example, we love to consume Mexican avocado with reasonable price, now increasing from US$ 0.2 to US$ 0.8 each.

Soaring about 400%. Turn to be luxury food!

Forget about imported things, we change our diet to fresh local produces with off course "no tariff at all." Some of them include:

- tomatoes

- cucumber

- peaches etch  

Fig 02 - Local market

We have several farmer markets around our neighborhood. One of our favorites is located at rural part of our city.

Fig 03 - A parking lot

How about the price at your areas (cities)?

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- May Yogurt Reduce Risk of Heart Diseases? - Part 2

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- Pollinators which Love Coleus Plants – Critter 22 | Tanza

A Bald Eagle Flying over our Areas - Critter 100

As you might know that Bald eagles were included as endangered species list for around 4 decades. 

Fig - A bald eagle flying

Due to conservation efforts by relevant institutions, include education and community, then number of bald eagles has increased significantly.

Number of nesting pairs is only 417 at 48 states in 1967, after 40 years, the number has jumped to 11,040 nesting pairs. 

These magnificent birds are removed from endangered species list in 2007. In fact, we can have this sort of delightful sighting right over our areas.

We believe their nest not far from our neighborhood, close to Mississippi river that why we may see them flying over sometimes.

Have you seen bald eagle flying over your areas?

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- Halloween Wreath Business in Neighborhood – Sign 22 | Tanza

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- The Fiber Art in Our Community – Sign 23 | Tanza Erlambang

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Delphinium is a Flower within Flower - Gardening and Hobby 70

The Delphinium is a unique Flower in term of its blooming seasons which depends on its varieties or hybrids. 

Fig - The gorgeous flower.

Many people call Delphinium "the flowers within flowers" as you might see at above photo (purples with white flowers in the center).

Just for your information, our areas have 3 well known different types of Delphinium, and their blooming seasons are following:

1) Tall flower 

- blooming time around Summer

2) Diamond blue flower

- blooming is around Fall to Spring

3) Improving flower, by cutting spike of flower

- blooming between Summer and Fall

Finally, how about Delphinium flowers in your areas?

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- From Caterpillar to Monarch Butterfly – Critter 18 | Tanza

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Caroline Wren was Using the Flower Petal to Scoop Poop - Critter 99

We saw wrens, either House Wren or Caroline Wren come and nesting at our yards almost every year. 

Image - Caroline Wren to Scoop Poop.

Some posting about Wrens are following:

- The Wren's Eggs and Two Babies - Critter 84 | Tanza Erlambang

- Caroline Wren Babies in the Mailbox - Critter 75 | Tanza

We had a nest next to our front window, and one day we observed interesting of baby birds' behaviors:

- turn their backside to the nest opening.

- then pooped there (smart bird!).

Mama bird doing the parent work that is "changing diapers." She is removing poop or the fecal sac to keep the nest clean.

As we understand the bird was using the flower petal to scoop poop. Amazing.

Have you ever observed this kind of behavior?

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- Have You Tasted Pistachio Muffins? - Part 1 – Food Variety 22 |

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- May Yogurt Reduce Risk of Heart Diseases? - Part 1 – Heart 11 |

- From Caterpillar to Monarch Butterfly – Critter 18 | Tanza

The Mosquito Control Plane Flying over Our City

We saw Low flying plane over our city a couple day ago. We believe it was a 1976 Britten-Norman BN-2A-21.

Image - The low flying plane

The plane is mosquito control plane, now flying over to bomb insects. Actually, it is rare to see plane at daytime.

The local administrations use the plane when they have a budget for it during heavy mosquito seasons.  

I thought they just used aerial spraying from a truck. However, spraying from a plane is concerning for many people, it can access places that trucks can't go, and then can cause:

- dead to on many bugs such as lightning bugs in our back yard.

- impact on caterpillar and monarch eggs

- harmful to pets and etc.

What do you think?

# Previous postings:

- A Blonde Squirrel at Our Backyard – Critter 16 | Tanza

- Blooming of Freesia Flowers – Part 2 - Gardening and Hobby 25 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Two States of USA are Legal for Texting and Driving – Sign 20 |

- Waking up after Sleeping for 24,000 years – Part 2 | Tanza 

- Eastern Cicada Killer Wasp in Our Neighborhood – Critter 17 |

Colorful of Snapdragons - Gardening and Hobby 69

 The photo was from Spring, then we enter very hot Summer with temperature reaches around 97* F (36* C). 

Image of Snapdragon flowers

Some said the Snapdragons with scientific name Antirrhinum majus could bloom until Fall, I don't know.

The flowers have many colors, our favorite includes:

- yellow

- pink

- orange

- red 

- and white

Few people grow the Snapdragons from seeds. It could take months until flowers blooming. We never did it.

Do you know about Snapdragons?

# Previous postings:

- Waking up after Sleeping for 24,000 years – Part 1 | Tanza

- May Drink Coffee Regularly Improve Healthy Heart? - Part 1 - Heart 8 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Herbs Show at Our City Park – Sign 19 | Tanza Erlambang

- Demanding of Tofu was Increasing During Covid 19 Pandemic – Part 2 – Food Variety 21 | Tanza

- A Blonde Squirrel at Our Backyard – Critter 16 | Tanza

The Red Bellied Woodpecker - Critter 98

We believe; we have not seen any Red Bellied Woodpeckers at our yards for long time. Purely by chance, we saw one recently. 

Image - Red Bellied Woodpecker

Luckily, we could take one "good" photo, before the bird flying away. Actually, this bird should be "common" in our areas.

They may appear on the feeders. We don't know why they disappeared a while from our backyard.

The Red Bellied Woodpecker used to stop on our very old fig tree and then make a hole for a full life.

Actually, a half dead fig tree, and the other half has leaves. We are waiting to see if it produces figs.

Finally, do you have experience with the Red Bellied Woodpecker?

# Previous postings:

- Drinking Problem in the USA – Sign 18 | Tanza Erlambang

- Blooming of Freesia Flowers – Part 1 - Gardening and Hoby 25

- Peanuts in the Farmer Market – Part 2 - Food Variety 20

- A Fox on the Box of Neighborhood – Critter 15 | Tanza

- Waking up after Sleeping for 24,000 years – Part 1 | Tanza

The Orchid Blooming in the Room - Gardening and Hobby 68

Many beautiful orchids come from tropical regions; however, they live in the forest with "calm" temperatures. 

Fig 01 - Blooming of the tropical orchid

Our area is hot and humid during summer; hence, it seems fit for tropical flowers include orchids to grow well. 

Phalaenopsis is one of popular orchids in our neighborhoods, it is because the orchid has some distinct characters such as:

- long lasting blooming 

- easy to care.

- colorful

- good as an indoor plant.

Fig 02 - Second blooming

Do you know about tropical orchids?

# Previous postings:

- Peanuts in the Farmer Market – Part 1 – Food Variety 20 |

- Cutting the Tree Before Hurricane Coming – Part 2 | Tanza

- The Orb Weaver Spider in the Yard – Critter 14 | Tanza 

- Demanding of Tofu was Increasing During Covid 19 Pandemic – Part 1 – Food Variety 21 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Drinking Problem in the USA – Sign 18 | Tanza Erlambang