Drought Tolerant Plants that Survive of Heat Waves - Gardening and Hobby 40

 As of previous post, the dead of birds is common during higher temperatures, especially in Southern states of America:
- Dead of Bird during Higher Temperature - Critter 49 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Fig 01- The Yaupon Holy Plant during spring times

Like animals, many plants can't tolerate to heat waves too, just for examples are ferns, roses, hostas and azalea. 

Some reasons plants dead of higher temperatures:

1) If temperatures higher, plants will experience temperature stress. The heat stress could damage cells and tissues, then lead to die.

2) Thin leaves plants such as yucca, snake plants, spider plants and Aloe vera in which their leaves could be sunburned in hot summer days. Then, their leaves would turn brown. Eventually, the plants could die.

Fig 02- Yaupon in the summer times, drought tolerant

3) During hot temperatures, plants tend to lose much more water than they able to replace, then this could cause to dehydration, and highly possibly lead to death.

Fig 03- Gaura, a drought tolerant plant

Sure, there are plenty of Drought Tolerant Plants that Survive of Heat Waves. We observed at least three of them; the Yaupon Holy Plant, Gaura and the American beauty berries.

Fig 04- The American beauty berries, drought tolerant

Do you now the drought tolerant plants that survive higher temperature in your areas?

# Previous postings:

- Our Neighborhood Getting Ready for Summer – Sign 47 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Monarch Butterfly is Not Protected by Government – Critter 42 | Tanza Erlambang

- Should We Consume Banana Everyday? - Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Eggs of a Bluebird in the Box – Critter 43 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Flowers at the Walking Path side - Gardening and Hobby 35 | Tanza Erlambang 

Some Flowers on the Corner - Gardening and Hobby 39

The Fuchsia is one of my favorite flowers. Because of its beauty and easy to take care, this flower to be popular choice for small gardens or be placed on the corner.

Fig 01- A beautiful Fuchsia on the corner

There are about 100 species with 12,000 varieties of Fuchsia in the world. They mainly come from or native to Latin America.

Fuchsia could be basic colors, bicolored and tricolored. The basic colors are purple, pink, red, white, blue, orange and yellow.

Just for examples of Fuchsia with bicolor and tricolors are Butterfly Kisses, Candy Cane, Lady Thumbelina, Pink Delight and Blue Angel.

In our state, Louisiana, we have some popular Fuchsia such as Fuchsia hybrida, Fuchsia riccartonii and Fuchsia magellanica.

Fig 02- A Common daisy, illustration

We love to have Fuchsia hybrida because it has plenty of colors include red, white, yellow, purple and pink.

Fig 03- Tagetes erecta, illustration only

Interestingly. Fuchsia flowers have long blooming time. In our city, Baton Rouge, the blooming season could be 5 to 6 months, from Spring to Fall.

Fig 04- Lantana flowers, illustration only

 Do you recognize Fuchsia flowers?

# Previous postings:

- The Guinea Pig as a Favorite Pet – Critter 40 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The Peggy Martin Rose in New Orleans – Sign 46 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Have You Ever Tasted a Paria? - Part 2 - Food Variety 31 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The Painted Bunting Visited our Neighborhood – Critter 41 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Our Neighborhood Getting Ready for Summer – Sign 47 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Dead of Bird during Higher Temperature - Critter 49

We saw two dead birds; one on the grass, and another one on the asphalt at our neighborhood when we were jogging several days ago. We believed that the birds are the Mississippi Kites. 

Fig 01- The dead bird on the grass.

The Mississippi kite with scientific name, (Ictinia mississippiensis), has declined of its population in the last few decades.

It is because its habitats include savannahs, rangelands and woodlands have been converted to development and agriculture.

In case of heat wave, our local newspaper, The Advocate just reported that more than 200 birds were dead in our city, Baton Rouge, August 9, 2023.

The variety of birds includes warblers and sparrows were found dead in the parking lots, driveways and city parks.

Fig 02- The dead bird on the asphalt

The bird's death is caused by heat wave in the city during the summertime. Birds got heatstroke because their body has difficulty to regulate higher temperature and higher humidity.

Fig 03- Two birds, on the grass and asphalt

Did your city experience with heat wave during summertime?

# Previous postings:

- Egret at the Neighborhood Park – Critter 39 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Irradiated Mangoes in the USA – Sign 45 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The Tamale is a Typical Mexican Dish – Part 1 – Food Variety 34 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Possibility Crab Shells to Replace Lithium | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The Guinea Pig as a Favorite Pet – Critter 40 | Tanza Erlambang Update

JJ

A Simple Fairy Garden - Gardening and Hobby 38

 As you know, the concept of fairy garden is to decorate a mini garden with flowers, plants, little statues and mini accessories in order to bring fairies world at our yards.

Fig 01- A little fairy world

There is no rule to design a fairy garden, just need to be creative and  have fun with wild imagination.

The plants or flowers should be low maintenance and small size, some of them are miniature roses, succulents and air plants. Then, the natural materials will have realistic impact on the fairy world.

Some materials which are used by my neighbors are: A small container or pot with drainage holes, miniature decorations (a fairy house, mini table and chairs, and a fence) and pebbles or glass marbles.

Fig 02- Flowers in the small pot

My neighbors place their fairy garden in the spot where they can enjoy it, either outdoors or indoors. It is just needing a little attention or care to joy it for years.

Fig 03- A fairy garden in the corner

Have you designed a fairy garden?

# Previous postings:

- Is Tempeh Better than Tofu? - Part 2 – Food Variety 30 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The Food Trucks at the Market of a Countryside – Sign 44 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- A Pollinator of the Black Jack flower – Critter 38 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Ripening Wild Tomatoes from Yards - Gardening and Hobby 34 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Egret at the Neighborhood Park – Critter 39 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Pigeons in the Urban Areas – Critter 48

 We saw a couple of pigeons visited our neighborhood recently. We don't know whether they are wild or pets.

Fig 01- A pigeon on the roof

Actually pigeons have adapted to urban areas, hence normal to see them in the city. Urban areas provide foods and shelters to this critter. 

They consume variety of foods such as grains (corns and other seeds), insect and even household's garbage.

Not surprise to see them around food carts, parks, dumpsters and trash cans to find something to consume.

We might see pigeon roosting on the sidewalks, gardens and buildings. They look like to be relatively safe from predators by hiding on the rooftops.

Fig 02- Myrtle flowers, illustration only

Some predators that pigeons have to contend with are owls, hawks, falcons, raccoons, snakes and even cats.

Fig 03- A pigeon at the corner, an urban area

Do you see pigeons in your neighborhood?

# Previous postings:

- Is Tempeh Better than Tofu? - Part 2 – Food Variety 30 | Tanza Erlambang Update 
- The Food Trucks at the Market of a Countryside – Sign 44 | Tanza Erlambang Update 
-A Pollinator of the Black Jack flower – Critter 38 | Tanza Erlambang Update 
-Ripening Wild Tomatoes from Yards - Gardening and Hobby 34 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Even Pharaoh Died due to Virus – Part 2 - Virus 41

You may read the previous part (Part 1):

- Even Pharaoh Died due to Virus – Part 1 - Virus 41 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Fig 01- The book, written by Ismail Kadare

In modern time or at least since 16^th century, smallpox lead to million dead per year. It was estimated about 500 millions dead in the 20^th century alone.

Smallpox dead toll was very very much higher compared to many wars included World War I and II combined.

Thank you to doctor Edward Jenner for his great work to find smallpox vaccine in England in 1796.

Since then, infection rate and mortality rate decreased dramatically in many countries, especially in Europe and America.

Fig 02- A mask, just illustration

WHO has started the program to vaccine world population since 1950. The organization declared that smallpox eradicated in the world in 1980.

Success history to contain virus though vaccines in the world.

Fig 03- A giant hibiscus, illustration

I really don’t understand why some people still doubt with vaccines. Do you?

# Previous postings:

- Tax Free for International Visitors – Sign 43 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Wild Mushrooms on the Yards - Gardening and Hobby 33 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- An Indigo Bunting was Seen on Feeder – Critter 37 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Is Tempeh Better than Tofu? - Part 2 – Food Variety 30 | Tanza Erlambang Update

The Butterfly Visit Zinnia Flowers – Critter 47

We have talked zinnia flowers, you may read the previous post:

- Blooming of Zinnia Flowers - Gardening and Hobby 32 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Fig 01- A Swallowtail butterfly on Zinnia

Zinnia flowers are attractive for many pollinators include butterfly, hummingbird and bees.

However, we always see swallowtail butterfly around Zinnia flowers than other pollinators during late Spring to Summer seasons.

The swallowtail butterfly have 560 species worldwide, but seven only in our state, Louisiana, they are: Black Swallowtail, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Polydamas Swallowtail, Pipevine Swallowtail, Spicebush Swallowtail, Giant Swallowtail and Zebra Swallowtail.

Fig 02- Zinnia flowers in the garden

The reasons that Swallowtail butterflies love zinnia flowers are:

1) Butterfly easy to spot Zinnias due to their large and bright colors.

2) The flowers have a lot of nectar

3) Zinnias have a long tube-shaped corolla that is excellent for butterflies proboscises.

Fig 03- A butterfly, a visitor to Zinnia

What do you think about Zinnia and butterfly?

# Previous postings:

- Mockingbird’s Eggs Near my House – Critter 36 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Blooming of Zinnia Flowers - Gardening and Hobby 32 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Could Diabetes Increase Chance to Get Stroke? - Diabetes 31 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- A Wild Watermelon Growing at Yards – Food Variety 33 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Tax Free for International Visitors – Sign 43 | Tanza Erlambang Update