Saturday 2 November 2024

Jam of Fig Fruit - Food 46

There are about 800 species Fig trees in the world, but one species called as Ficus carica refers to Fig fruit.  


Image 01 - A bottle of jam 

The species has several breeding or varieties. 5 well known varieties in our state, Louisiana are:
- Brown Turkey
- LSU AgCenter
- Kadota
- Florentine and Osborne prolific

Each of varieties has unique characteristics. We love breeding from LSU AgCenter, since it is delicious taste and good for making jam.


Image 02 - Ripe fruit, medium size

You may search through internet the recipe and the way for making jam of Fig fruit. Quite easy and straightforward.


Image 03 - Fig fruit hang on tree. 

Some neighbors sell both jam and fruit. The price is reasonable, and even cheaper than in the farmer markets.


Image 04 - Fruits start to ripe.

Have you tasted jam and fruit of Fig?

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Saturday 26 October 2024

A coyote Carrying a Cat at Neighborhood - Nature 142

We just saw a coyote carrying a cat in our neighborhood sometimes. He was heading in the direction of nearby "very tiny forest."


Image - A coyote carrying a pet.

Lots of subdivisions popping up everywhere, around our city. The wild predators have no place to go anymore!

They are hungry and looking for food.

Moreover, yes, many our neighbors saw the wild predators in the daylight walking down our street. it happens all the time

Sadly, if some neighbors let their cats or small pets outside, they can get ate from wild animals (coyote or fox), hit by cars and even catch diseases.

What wondering us (We want to know) why wildlife and fisheries cannot trap them and move them to secure places (forests)?

What do you think?

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Sunday 20 October 2024

Satsumas are Turning to a Brownish Color - Food 45

We have a Satsuma tree at our backyard, the tree is about 15 years old, it has produced really pretty satsumas every year,


Image 01 - Brownish fruit. 

In the last week or two, we saw the Satsuma fruit is turning color, not from a bright green color to an orange color as always, but from a bright green color to brownish color or dark!

However, the leaves are still looking green, nothing happen and there is no sign of any bug infestation on them.

What is going on with our satsuma tree?

After asking experts from Louisiana State University Agriculture Center (LSU Ag center), they said that the Satsuma fruit got diseases called "Citrus rust mite."


Image 02 - Starting to change color. 

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Image 03 - Few fruit not green enough

"The citrus rust mite, Phyllocoptruta oleivora, is a microscopic pest that infects citrus fruits (trees). These tiny mites feed on the epidermal cells of leaves, fruit, and green twigs using their piercing-sucking mouthparts." While they don't pose a serious threat to the trees themselves, they can significantly mar the appearance of citrus fruit by causing unsightly brown patches on the skin of fruit known as russeting.


Image 04 - Some fruits, Satsuma

Do you know about the citrus rust mite?

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Friday 11 October 2024

The Daddy Longlegs Spider - Nature 141

We thought an insect which crawling at our house, but after looking it in detail, aww, it was an "Arachnids."  


Image 01 - Look like an insect

The different between Arachnids and insects in terms of legs, body segments and antennae. The Arachnids have: 
- eight legs
- two body segments
- no antennae 

The insects have:
six legs
- three body segments
- antennae


Image 02 - The Arachnid crawling

The common names of this Arachnid:
The Daddy longlegs spider
- Harvestmen

This Arachnid is harmless and can’t bite peope, because its mouth is too small. They are useful to control mites and insects.


Image 03 - The Daddy longlegs spider

Do you know this critter?

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Monday 30 September 2024

Short Lifespans of Male Mosquitoes - Nature 140

We have posted the lifespans of female mosquitoes with maximum about 5 months only in nature. 


Image 01 - Live of male mosquitoes (from Google)

You may read previous posting of female mosquitoes:

However, male mosquitoes have shorter lifespans than female mosquitoes, just about 7 days. 

Male mosquitoes live solely to mate with females and die shortly after. Once they have fulfilled their mating role, they are no longer essential for the species continuation. The biological purposes have been reached.


Tuesday 24 September 2024

The Farmer’s Market at Downtown

In our areas, we have several farmer markets, and many people come to these farmer markets with some reasons.   


Image 01 - Some vegetable in the farmer market.

We love most to visit is "Red Stick Farmers Market," the largest and well-known market in our city.

The Red Stick Farmers Market sells wide variety of items (goods and products), including:
- fresh produce
- baked goods
- handmade crafts
- and etc.


Image 02 - The cucumber and eggplants

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Image 03 - Handicrafts in the farmer market

Another reason for us to visit farmer market is quality. We like higher quality and fresher of produces compared to grocery stores. 


Image 04 - Selling meat too

Many people think that buying from farmers market will support local farmers (agriculture) and economy.


Image 05 - Live plants 

Do you like to visit farmers market?

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Wednesday 18 September 2024

Blending in Pretty Well on the Satsuma Tree - Nature 139

We found this guy on our Satsuma, blending in pretty well. This critter is an insect, called as Katydid.


Image - A Katydid crawling on Satsuma fruit. 

I think this is a fantastic camouflage.

This remarkable creature is expert at blending in, often looking exactly like green leaves or twigs.

These insects are type of grasshoppers. Katydid has longer (slender and elongated) antennae than grasshoppers.

They are often found on various plants, especially in areas with abundant vegetation, including fruit trees.

On the Satsuma trees, Katydids feed on:
- leaves
- flowers
- and sometimes fruits.

Nature is amazing. I wonder how many earlier generations died because they were not the perfect color.

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Jam of Fig Fruit - Food 46

There are about 800 species Fig trees in the world, but one species called as Ficus carica refers to Fig fruit.   Image 01 - A bottle of ja...