The Hummingbird in the Autumn- Critter 58

Monday, November 13, 2023

Fig 01- A hummingbird on the feeder

This year, our yard has been visited by hummingbird even temperatures getting colder, Autum already.

Based on the GoogleID, the bird is identified as a rufous hummingbird with scientific name, Selasphorus rufus.

This hummingbird should immigrate to further southern to the country such as Mexico or Central America regions.

This little critter love to consume nectar from colorful flowers some of them are scarlet gilia, penstemon, mints, lilies, fireweeds and larkspurs.


Fig 2- Lantana flowers, illustration only.


Fig 03- Flowers at the corner, illustration only

Did hummingbirds visit your areas?

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The Fresh Cut Jars Full of Flowers - Sign 58

Saturday, November 11, 2023
When walking in the morning as usual, we saw a small vendor selling of fresh cut flowers. We saw this kind of vendor for first time in our areas. 


Fig 1- A street cut flowers vendor

The vendor's name is "Yaya’s Blooms," a unique name. Even though we never seen in our areas, this kind of vendor could be seen in several parts of our city in some important moments.

Just to let you know that revenue of cut flower in our city about US$ 10 million in a year. The participants involve in this business include wholesale florists, grocery stores, event planners and off course small vendors.

This revenue is estimated to grow in the near future due to several factors such as demand for cut flowers as decorations and gifts.


Fig 02- A jar with cut flower

Some favorite cut flowers in our city are zinnias, marigolds, sunflowers, chamomile and basil.


Fig 03- Sunflowers on the Table.

How about cut flowers in your areas? What do you think?

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Day Lily in the Our City Garden – Part 1 - Gardening and Hobby 45

Wednesday, November 8, 2023
We saw the sign of kids lying on the grass when we enter the public garden in our city. Quite long time, we did not visit this little garden.


Fig 01- Painting in front of garden


There are plenty of blooming, one of them was a flower called a Day Lily. The word “Day Lily” refers to the flower which “blossom” under sunrise and then die at night.


Since its stem has plenty flower buds, so, blooming could take several weeks then. Color combinations may be more than hundreds in the world, but we saw several dominant colors in our city garden:

- orange, rose, burgundy, purple

- pink, cream and lavender



Fig 02 – A yellow Day Lily


Flowering occurs in the Spring until early Summer in our place. Other places could be till Fall season. We don’t know the number of varieties in our area, but around 80,000 varieties in the world.



Fig 03 – A Dominic Day Lily


When Day Lily blooming in your area?


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The Secretive Bird Called as Sora Rail - Critter 57

Friday, November 3, 2023
We are lucky enough to see this bird in the nature, because it runs away quickly and then hiding under the bushes.


Fig 01- The bird called as a Sora Rail

Based on GoogleID, the bird is identified as Sora Rail (Porzana carolina). Other common names are Sora Crake or just Sora.

Yes, Sora Rail is secretive bird, and difficult to observe it. We may find this bird in the wetland areas, and the birds love to be hiding around the plants (emergent vegetations) such as sedges, rushes and cattails.

The bird is migratory bird, hence we see this bird in the southern states include our state around Fall to Winter seasons. The bird returns to Canada or America in the spring or summer for breeding season.


Fig 02- Cats, just for illustration

The bird is important to the wetland ecosystem, since it could control insect populations. The Sora consumes seeds and other small animals as well.


Fig 03- Halloween decoration, illustration

The birds have plenty predators, they are including owls, foxes and hawks. Some people hunt the birds as game birds.


Fig 04- Sora Rail, lonely bird

Have you seen Sora Rail birds?

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Halloween for Teenagers - Sign 57

Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Honestly, I don't know the range of age to participate in Halloween. I guess, kids love to start "Trick or Treat" at ages between 3 to 12. 


Fig 01- Halloween reminder

As we might understand, the range of age called as teenagers is from 13 to 19 years old. in psychology, late teenagers could reach 24 years old.

In case of Halloween participants, there are no formal (official) range of ages. Children or teenagers may or may not participate depends on their own interest, maturity level and social developments.

However, many our neighbors love it when the teens come to see them. The teens smiles are so precious. Some of them may be on the autistic scale and may not be as mentally old as their bodies.


Fig 02- Scary or funny? One of decorations.

What’s a couple more pieces of candy?

Teenagers get full sized candy bars.



Fig 03- Halloween Decoration



Fig 04- A night decoration, Halloween



Fig 05- A jack-o'-lantern, smiling face.

What do you think about teenagers participate in "Trick or Treat," Halloween?

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The Important of Shop Local - Sign 56

Sunday, October 29, 2023
I am familiar with signs such as shop local, buy local or local products in the farmer markets or community markets around our areas.


Fig 01- Sign of shop local at our neighborhood

I just have seen this sign: "Shop local, cause Amazon won't sponsor your kids ball team." I think this sign is so true with some reasons that local businesses will support local economy, create jobs, donate to local charities and highly probably to sponsors youth support teams at community levels.

Based on study by "the Small Business Administration," SBA (2023), there are local multiplier effects if we shop local products. Let's say, spending US$ 100 will generate US$ 68 to economic activity of community. It is because the local owners will purchase services and goods from other community businesses.


Fig 02- Produced by local farmers

On the opposite, Amazon is believed to use its market power to disturb local businesses, hence not likely to support community activities (sports, charities and jobs).


Fig 03- A food truck sells local foods.

What do you think?

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A Northern Cardinal Visits the Bird Feeder - Critter 56

Friday, October 27, 2023
One of interesting things of Northern Cardinal for me is its "black face mask." The birds are popular in our areas, often seeing to come around our yards.


Fig 01- A Cardinal looks enjoy on a bird feeder.

Based on identification by GoogleID, this Northern Cardinal has scientific name, Cardinalis cardinalis. The bird is a common bird, and it may be observed all year round in our city, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

In addition to our backyards, this bird could be seen in the variety of habitats such as parks (city parks) and woodlands.

The bird is appraised as one of beautiful birds in the USA, and as a songbird, we love to hear its melodies songs. We hear the songs from our backyard in the morning, and sometimes throughout the day.


Fig 02- Halloween decor, illustration


Fig 03- Flower, blooming in the Fall, illustration


Fig 04- A cardinal visit our birdfeeder.

Is it easy to observe a Cardinal in your areas?

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