Why is Cat Vomiting Frequently? - Gardening and Hobby 18

A cat in front door, just illustration

As a cat owners, we experienced with our cats vomiting, but we may wonder: why do they vomiting frequently?

There are many issues relate to cat vomited, some of them are:

- eating a houseplant

- ingesting a toy piece

- hairball in the stomach

- allergy and sensitive to certain foods

- undigested foods, because of quickly consuming.

It is said that vomit is normal for cat. However, it is not normal if cat changes their behavior and has vomited very often.

We may judge the level of “the seriousness” of vomit is based on its content and colors:

- yellow and foamy lead to hairballs

- thick yellow bile mean that there is serious health problems such as kidney and infection. 

A cat plays outdoor

We should find medical help immediately, if our cats have frequently yellow vomits and shown the following behaviors:

- suddenly loss or increase appetites

- lethargy

- unusual behaviors.

- show discomfort.

What do you do if your cats have shown vomiting frequently?

Mini Sago Palm at the Corner - Gardening and Hobby 17

Mini Sago palm, sweet at the corner

I know the word “sago,” its tree could reach 50 feet (15 m) in height after 15 years old.

The species of Metroxylon sagu produces starch called as “sago” or “sagu” starch.

Other two species of palm trees produce sago starch are:

- Arenga spp.

- Maurilia spp

One sago tree could produce 90 to 180 kg starch. The starch is used generally as:

- foodstuffs such as noodle

- textile sizing

- adhesives

The trees are found in freshwater swamp areas of South East Asia and Papua New Guinea. 

Fruit from mini sago palm

Here in America, we have another type of sago, mini sago palm with scientific name Cycas revoluta.

The plant native to Asian regions, include southern Japan. Since its small size, it is popular as one of ornamental plants.

We have grown the sago in the corner of our house, some people do grow its as an indoor plant.

Several advantages of sago plants:

- easy to take care

- grow well outside and indoors

- free of pests

- available in most nurseries.

- may be grown in pot

Mini sago plants grow slowly, and they reaches about 15 feet (5 m) tall after several years. This is another reason why people chose sago plant to put in their garden.

Why Canadian Geese Honking Mournfully? - Gardening and Hobby 16

Fig 01- Flock of Canadian geese in city garden

The number of Canadian geese is fluctuate from seasons to seasons, quite abundance at Fall and Winter compared to other seasons.

It is because there are two types of geese in the lakes of our city garden:

- permanent geese (local geese), stay forever in the garden.
- migratory geese, just for temporary visits.

The migratory geese came from Canada or Northern America about October, and they stay during winter season every year. Their number much more than local geese.

Our city garden actually locate in the urban areas that might attract the geese to come and stay a while.

Urban areas have several advantages such as:

- abundance of food
- less natural predators

What animals are natural predators of Canadian geese?

Fig 02- Three of Canadian geese

Plenty of natural predators of Canadian geese include their eggs, some of them are:

- coyotes
- raccoon
- skunks
- bobcats
- foxes
- eagles
- crows

Fig 03- Geese and white swan are swimming together

Now, the question: Why Canadian Geese Honking Mournfully?

Based on several observations that the geese are “very emotional” critter. Why they honking mournfully, it is because:

- they loss their mate
- their eggs are stolen.

Sadly, they could out from flocks, and lonely honking mournfully. They may have aggressive behavior.

Previous post:

- Will Confederate Jasmine Crawl Back After Winter? | Tanza Erlambang Update

The Christmas Light Decoration in Neighborhood - Gardening and Hobby 15

Fig 01- Light decoration in front of a house

Some of our neighbors make Christmas light decoration every years. But, it seems not that many compared to previous years.

Pandemic has changed a lot of things. Many neighbors have no light decoration, and even there is no gathering or less celebration for such as Halloween, thanksgiving and might be Christmas celebration in this year.

At previous years, the favorite images of Christmas lights and decorations:

- Christmas tree lights

- light balls

- animals (deer and dogs)

- light on the fences and roofs

We love to walk around to look at near by light displays, and drive by car to watch all light decoration of our more than 100 houses of neighborhood.

Some senior citizens with their grand kids and cute pets seem enjoy by walking to look the decorations and light displays.

Fig 02- Such a beautiful display

Sure, we have favorite homes. Exciting with their owners beautiful works to provide nice Christmas lights. 

Fig 03- A dog and lights in front of a house

In our city, there is a particular neighborhood with 75% houses are decorated with Christmas lights. Few neighborhoods, about 50%, have their houses lit up.

Last year, a small town about 20 mile from our house, has bonfires. I think that it was exciting and fun to look.

Do you love with Christmas lights and decoration?

Merry Christmas everyone.

Increasing of Abuse and Neglect Cats in the USA - Gardening and Hobby 14

Fig 01- Ranger in the rescue house

One of our neighbors rescues cats which are abused and neglected by households in our areas.

When we visit her, we saw about 10 cats in her rescue house. One of cats called Ranger attracted our attention.

Ranger has been abused and neglected by his owner recently. After treated, trained and fixed, then, Ranger looks very sweet and loves people.

Just to let you know that 74 million cats were abused or neglected in the USA per year. The number are increasing year by year.

The form of abuses faced by cats (for examples only) are:

- beating

- throwing

- mutilation

- drowning.

Fig 02- Ranger is very sweet and lovely cat.

What we said as neglected when we saw the animal owners failed to provide the following things (examples only):

- food

- water

- shelter

- veterinary care

Fig 03- Ranger is happy when touched by people

Abusing cats are higher compared to other animals (pets), even to dogs. 74 millions cats are abused, and 70 millions for dogs.

Based on research findings that cats are tending to be abused when they are going outside.

Thus, cats much more abused by strangers than their owners. The strangers could be mentally ill.

Finally, It is suggested to capture stray cats, contain the cats with cares, and report to relevant authorities. 

Plants Bundle in the Corner - Gardening and Hobby 13

Fig 01- Bundle of several plants

Bundle of plants both in the house corners and indoor getting popular recently. Many nurseries, include online nurseries sell them with discount prices.

I saw the prices range from US$ 20’s to US$ 60’s depend very much on the varieties and number of plants.

The number could be 3 to 10 species. The popular plants include:

- pink begonia

- Boston fern

- blue torenia

- aloe vera

- variegated airplane

- spider plant

- yellow four o' clock

- pink flowering sedum

- Snake Plant (Sansevieria Punk)

- Mother in law’s tongue (Snakey Sansevieria)

Fig 02- Variegated airplane and aloe vera

In addition to beautiful looking, bundle of plants may purify the air in our yards and indoors. 

Fig 03- Ferns with another a flower plant

Many of these plants are amazing properties in terms of their function in the nature and their prices.

Fig 04- A kind of Torenia plant

These plants could remove toxins such as Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) in the air around us, hence very good to improve environment quality and our health performance.

Its have many advantages which include easy to care, it is said the specific selection plants are very good for:

- home office

- kitchen

- bedroom

Do you have Plants Bundle? How many type or species?

Bonsai Trees Show in the City Garden – Gardening and Hobby 12

 

Fig 01- A bonsai tree called as weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)

We just visit a kind of bonsai show by our city bonsai society recently. The show was not that big, just less than 100 trees.

Our city bonsai society also presented:

- lectures and demonstrations

- discuss between members and visitors about caring bonsai trees

- sale different types of bonsai trees.

You may be know that bonsai is a small tree by design, not because of genetic. Simple ways to make bonsai are:

- pot confinement

- root reduction

- defoliation

- prune and trim

- wiring and clamping

Fig 02- Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia)

There are many good trees for bonsai, just some of them are:

- pine

- azalea

- olive

- Indian banyan

- Chinese elm

- Fukien tea

- Crape myrtle

- Ficus benjamina

- Pomegranate

- Common beech

Fig 03- Bonsai from variety of plants

In the USA, the most popular tree for bonsai is a pine. It is because:

- pine is easy to shape with a lot of styles

- ever green

- full grown to 40 years

Fig 04- Visitors for bonsai show

The pines for bonsai, mainly come from native:

- New Mexico

- Colorado

It is said that bonsai pine trees is good if we place indoor. They grow well in the constant room temperature, and in position under light.

Do you love bonsai? What kind of bonsai trees?

Is Spanish Moss Coming from Spain? – Gardening and Hobby 11

Fig 01- Spanish moss is hanging off the trees

We just aware that there are plenty Spanish moss hanging of the trees on the near by of our jogging paths.

Then, is Spanish Moss coming from Spain? No, the moss is not coming from Spain. It is said, its common in the areas (regions) such as:

- Central America

- South America

- Caribbean

- Mexico

- the USA

In the USA, the moss grows well in the south states, because of moister condition.

The moss is abundant in the states such as Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The moss also may be found from south areas until north states such as Virginia.

Fig 02- We may see Spanish moss attaches to the trunk of trees

How this an epiphyte plant gets foods and water? By using its leaves:

- absorb nutrients from air

- get water from rainfall 

Fig 03- Spanish moss grows on the ground

There are some negative effect of Spanish moss to the host trees:

- thick moss will block sunlight to reach host tree leaves.

- moss may reduce growth rate of trees. 

Fig 04- Moss covers the trunks

However, the Spanish moss will not kill the host trees, because they are not parasites, and just need the trees to support their life span.

Not all trees are attached by Spanish moss, two most favorite hosts are:

- live oaks

- bald cypress

These two trees are common in the southern states of America.

Do you recognize the Spanish moss in the nature? Do they attach your own backyard trees?

Cleaning the Roof as a House Routine Maintaining – Gardening and Hobby 10

Fig 01- Dirty roof, just for illustration

Roof is one of important parts of our house. People do cleaning house roof for many purposes, from just to make look beautiful to prevent from destroying to get good bargain when selling it.

Many of my neighbors call a cleaning roof company to do the cleaning, but few did by themselves.

These chemicals are favorite to clean roof in my neighborhood:

- bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite).

- Sodium Hydroxide.

- or Sodium Percarbonate

Bleach not only clean the roof, but also kill the organisms (micro plants) which attached on shingles.

Two important “micro plants” may destroy our roofs are:

- algae

- mold

Fig 02- Clean roof after washed by bleach

What is different between algae and mold?

Both are living organism. Algae need sunlight to live and grow, while mold does not require sun to survive.

Mold eats material on the roofs, and our roofs to be infected by molds. thus can make shingles rotten over times.

Fig 03- A house roof looks black in color, before cleaned

Our roofs may look “ugly,” because mold produces colors, include:

- black

- gray

- brown

- green

- white 

Fig 04 – Roofs of a house look pretty after cleaning

Many brands of roof cleaners are available in the market, some of them are:

- Thetford

- Dicor

- Propack

- Wet and forget

- Eterna

- Spray and forget

It is easy to clean the roof, first, just spray the shingles with bleach or other brand cleaners, let the solution on the surface for 30 minutes. Then rinse with pressure water.

The result is amazing. Roof looks shining. Please see Figure 02 and 04. Our neighbors did clean their roof every other year.