Colorful Flowers in the Spring – Nature 21

We found many types and colors of flower when walking or jogging in our neighborhood area.

I believe the following flowers are daylily (corrected by Yvonne that are Iris instead of daylily).

Fig 01- Purple flower

By Googling, it said there are plenty of day-lily flowers. About six colors are very common:

- purple
- white
- pink
- red
- orange
- yellow

Fig 02- Is it red or pink color?

Fig 03- Several flower with light purple color

Fig 04- Yellow color

Fig 05- Dark purple

Since our state, Louisiana is a southern state, the blooming of day-lily flowers could be from March to April or early May.

In the Northern states, blooming time from May to June. Blooming just in short period, about 1 to 5 weeks.

Then, we might wonder: how long does day-lily lifespan?

Depend on varieties. Rae Oliver (2022) In Posting “Growing Daylilies: When, Where & How To Plant Daylily Flowers,” said that Daylilies could reach several years.

However, the flowers blooming less after reaching six years.

# Previous postings:

- Measles Outbreak in a Recent year – Part 1 – Healthy Life 11
- Do You Know that Some Musical Instruments Made from Bamboo? - Art 2
- Measles Outbreak in a Recent year – Part 2 – Healthy Life 11
- Have You Tasted Matcha Latte with Soy Milk or Almond Milk? - Food 6

What are Health Benefit of Eating Mango? - Part 1 – Health Life 19

It is started to have mango fruit season in our city, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. No, not local product, but from elsewhere:

- across America

- foreign countries

Fig 01- A kind of mango sold in groceries.

Domestic and import mangoes may be come from places such as (just for few examples):

- Florida
- California
- Hawaii
- Puerto Rico
- Brazil
- Peru
- Guatemala
- Mexico

Fig 02- Blooming in the spring

Fig 03- Spring time at neighborhood

Fig 04- Fresh mangoes in the boxes

The price as usually start from expensive as right now, then to be cheaper and cheaper.

Current cost is quite expensive about $ 110 cents per mango, but slowly will reduce to $ 10 cents per mango only.

In late August, most groceries store sell a box of mangoes for US$ 3 to US$ 5. One box contains 24 to 36 mangoes.

Contradict to USA market, mango in the countries such as Mexico has no seasons. It is mean that we may find mango year round or at any time.

# To be continued to part 2

## Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Green Bean and Papaya Delight – Food 4
- Mental Awareness and Vaccination – Healthy Life 10
- A Bouquet from Combinations of Flowers and Vegetables
- The Best Steakhouse in my City, Louisiana – Food 5

Crowned Heron Crawfishing Near Our Neighborhood – Part 1 – Nature 20

We see this critter at our neighborhood every spring. We don’t know where she is living, exactly.

She loves to play on the sides or shallow parts of creek and streams.

Fig 01- Crowned Heron Crawfishing

Some neighbors said that this is not Crowned Heron, but Yellow Crowned Night Heron.

In the photos, you might see light yellow crowned. I think Yellow Crowned Night Heron is more suitable.

Night Heron refer to their feeding activity at night. It might be the reason why we always see them at our neighborhood in the afternoon.

They rest at day light.

Fig 02- Cherry tomato plants, illustration

Fig 03- Just for illustration

Fig 04- The bird found something to eat

Based on status published by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN, 2020) that:

- Yellow Crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) is not included as endangered species in the USA.

However, their species is decreasing day by day, and even list as endangered and protected species in the state such as Pennsylvania.

Two main causes decreasing of population:

- their nests are disturbed by human
- habitat lost in this case is wetlands.

What kinds of foods are consumed by Yellow Crowned Night Heron?

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- Do You Know about Golden Kiwis Fruit? - Food 3
- Grass in Our Yard during Hot Summer

Can Alzheimer's Disease be Passing Down from Parent to Child? - Part 2 - Alzheimer's 4.

You may read previous post (Part 2):

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Can Alzheimer's Disease be Passing Down from Parent to Child? - Part 1 - Alzheimer's 4

Fig 01- A cute little cat, just for illustration

This inherit disease also called autosomal dominant trait.

It means one copy of an alter gene that cause a disease or disorder in one person is passed down from one of the affected parent.

A person who has biological mother or father suffers the early onset Alzheimer's disease, then this person has 50 percent chance for having the early onset Alzheimer's disease.

Fig 02- A little bird, fall down from sky

Fig 03- Blooming flower

Fig 04- Here the picture of autosomal dominant trait

(credit picture to NIH)

Sadly, if a person who has biological mother or father has a gene mutation of the early onset Alzheimer's, this person has 50 percent chance for having a gene mutation.

So, from the diagram above we can see how the genetic disease inherits from generation to the next generation.

Now, let's do math! If a mother (or father) has early-onset Alzheimer's disease has 2 children, one of the two will get Alzheimer's disease. When she/he has 4 children, then 2 of the children will have this disease,

Fortunately, this early-onset Alzheimer's disease is less common. There is 1 person from 10 person who suffer with Alzheimer's disease.

# Previous postings:

- Do You Know a Sign of Bipolar Disorder? - Healthy Life 8
- Oyster is One of Favorite Seafood in Louisiana – Food 2
- Is Strawberry Greek Yogurt Good For Health? - Healthy Life 9

Parks for Dogs in My City Baton Rouge, Louisiana – Part 1

Since I don’t have dogs, I didn’t aware that my city, Baton Rouge, Louisiana has plenty of parks for dogs.

Fig 01- A dog in the park.

I just knew one dog park, it is because I drive through near by park when I go to my work place, five days a week.

The dog park belongs to private company, Raising Cane’s. A fast food restaurant, selling fried chicken.

It is opened for public just several years ago. Then, I think that the park looks crowded day by day.

I am curious to find out: is it the only dog park in the city?

Fig 02- A dog on the street

Fig 03- Flowers at the garden

Fig 04- A little dog at the park

Fig 05- Several dogs play in the park

Moreover, I got the list of more than ten parks in our city, among the favorites parks are:

- Dog park at Burbank park
- Cypress lake dog park
- City Brooks Community park
- Forest community park
- Flannery road dog park
- Baton Rouge city park

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- When do Pine Trees of our Neighborhood Produce Nuts? - Nature 9
- Could Positive Thinking Lead to Live Longer? - Healthy Life 6
- Family Saga and Meaning to be a Good Person – Part 2 - Reading 1
- Summer, be aware with Traveler's Diarrhea – Healthy Life 7

Blueberry is One of Fruits Rich in Antioxidants – Food 13

We have blackberry in our backyard, but the taste is not so sweet, hence, we rarely harvest its.

Our blackberries seem to be source of foods for wild birds which visit our backyard during spring and summer seasons.

Fig 01. Blueberries bought from grocery

We love to consume berries, edible berries off course. Just few of them to mention are:

- raspberries
- blackberries
- Cranberries and blueberries

By reading the article written by Kiersten Hickman, 2022 (Surprising Effects of Eating Blueberries, Says Science) that blueberry contain high concentration of antioxidants.

Fig 02- Blackberries, just for illustration

Fig 03- Blueberries, good for health

An antioxidant called as anthocyanin has multiple functions, they may include:

1) Lowering blood pressure:

- improve health of our heart

2) Lowering LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol

- cardiovascular disease risk might be reduced

3) Helping to fight free radicals

- reduce risk to have chronic diseases such as cancer

4) Improve weight maintenance

- lowering type 2 diabetes risk

Finally, do you like blueberries? Or what kind of berries do you like most?

# Previous postings:

- Flash Flood at my Neighborhood - Nature 8b
- First Important Step to Know Mental Illness - Healthy Life 5
- Family Saga and Meaning to be a Good Person – Part 1 - Reading 1

A Bird on the Exit Sign in the Library – Part 2

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- The Rainbow Before Evening : A Bird on the Exit Sign in the Library – Part 1

Fig 01- Birds, just for illustration

Actually, crows are urban residents, not only found a lot in my current city, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, but also seen across cities in the USA.

Naturally, this omnivorous bird eats everything in nature such as:

- animals
- vegetables
- and wild fruits.

Fig 02- Spring white dogwood flowers, just for illustration

Fig 03- White azalea

Fig 04- Crow in Baton Rouge (Credit to LSUAgCenter)

In respect to animals as foods, this bird love to consume:

- other birds
- bird eggs
- insects and small rodents

Since the birds live in the city, they might search foods in the garbage cans at neighborhood.

The black crows are illegal to be harmed or to destroy their active nests, it is because they are protected by federal law.

Penalties could be maximum to 6 months in prison and a fine to maximum US$15 thousands.

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Which One Has Vitamin C more - Red Bell Pepper or Orange? - Healthy Life 4
- Alligator in the Nearby Neighborhood - Nature 7
- Wild Animals and Birds in my Backyard – Nature 8a