Sunday, 26 March 2023

Blooming of Yellow Jasmine in the Garden – Nature 57

We know several species of Jasmines grow very well in our city, Baton Rouge, LA, and they bloom around late Winter to Spring seasons.



Image 1- Yellow Jasmine flowers

Actually, there are plenty of Jasmine species, as suggested by Smoke (2023: Jasmine: The Scent of Romance, Intoxication, and New Orleans) that over 200 species of Jasmine live in the world.

As of our knowledge, at least there are 3 different species of Jasmine flowers live in our areas:

- Common Jasmine (Jasminum officinale)
- Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides)
- Yellow Jasmine (Gelsemium sempervirens)



Image 2- Yellow Jasmines are climbing

As you might know that Yellow Jasmine is said as native flower of South Caroline and be state flower. That why Yellow Jasmine also called as Carolina Jasmine.



Image 3- A good climber

The flowers are “good climber,” they could be seen along the fences, side the building, walls and entrance gates.



Image 4- Flowers are climbing the wall

How many species of Jasmines grow in your areas?

# Previous postings:

Saturday, 25 March 2023

Social Status Effect on Physiology and Behaviors – Part 2 – Brain Plasticity 3

You may read the previous post (Part 1):

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Social Status Affects on Physiology and Behaviors – Part 1 – Brain Plasticity 3



Image 1- A cat, just illustration

Visually, the absent of higher social male will be replaced in minutes. The subordinate will look brighter and change behavior immediately as a new dominant male.

Only one dominant male in one specific area, apparently, the other males (subordinates) no change in terms of colors and behaviors.

Alcazar et al (2016) suggested that while establishing a territory, a cichlid male will escalate his aggression behaviors and efforts to court females at optimal numbers as possible.



Image 2- A bird, illustration

This aggression male tends to spend more times by attacking other subordinate males in the area. The aggressive behaviors were followed by increasing level of cortisol, estradiol, 11-ketotestosterone and testosterone physiologically.



Image 3- People gathering, illustration

Reference

Alcazar, RM., Becker, L., Hilliard, AT., Kent, KR and Fernald, RD. (2016, August 15). Two types of dominant male cichlid fish: behavioral and hormonal characteristics. Biol Open. 2016 Aug 15; 5(8): 1061–1071.



Image 4- Green yard, just for illustration

# Previous postings:

Friday, 24 March 2023

Middle School Students Show their Paintings – Arts 13

We have talked about paintings of primary school students at previous posting:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Paintings of Elementary School’s Students - Art 9



Image 1- The painting of 8th grade student

The program is the same for both primary school and middle school students with steps that are:

- selected talent students be trained by professional artists in the summer.
- exhibition at public spaces or buildings.
- competition or contest

In case of middle schools, our state school board association proposes contest or competition of artwork for students at the city (East Baton Rouge) and state (Louisiana) levels every year.



Image 2- Painting by Sofia, a Middle School student

Two stages of competitions, the first stage is at the city level. The winner’s painting will be displayed at the conference.

Then, the winner will enter the state, Louisiana level competition.



Image 3- Painting by Dev I, a Middle School student.

Painting (Image 3) is an example the winner of our city level competition for middle school students.

# Previous postings:

Tuesday, 21 March 2023

The Ghosts of Paris by Tara Moss – Part 2 – Reading 12

You may read the previous post (Part 1):

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The Ghosts of Paris by Tara Moss – Part 1 – Reading 12



Image 1- A cover of the ghost of Paris

She strongly believed that her husband is impossible to back to Australia, even many folks when they came back from war, they prefer to live in the Australian bushes.

It is because her husband’s friends have damaged their psychology, mentally, and physiology by war.

Moreover, it was a challenging job for Billie Walker, then she and her assistant, Sam, departed for London and Paris. In Paris, her memories with her husband, Jake Rake, came up.



Image 2- Chapter one of book, illustration

Beside her priority job for her client, she also tried to find out any info about her husband who was missing in Poland during war.

During her duty, Billie Walker encountered with the difficult ball games, and not only her mind was ghosting her, but also some people who did not like her activities.

Tara Moss, the author, gives the readers great pictures of life after the war.



Image 3- Illustration of book cover

She ends this book with the wonderful work of talented private investigator, Billie Walker, who solved the questions with fantastic discoveries.

# Previous postings:

Monday, 20 March 2023

Minnie Winnie RV of Homeless People in Our City

We are familiar with homeless people when we have a daily walking or jogging in the public park or city garden in recent days.



Image 1- A suspect homeless car

We believe some of them have their own car, and then parked in the public parking lots of the city park or city garden.

One of the “Minnie Winnie RVs” has been parked since several months ago. We have noticed the RV just moving from one corner to another corner for 2 or 3 days cycles (periods).

Based on report from a local newspaper, The Advocate (February, 2023) that city shelters have given services to a quite higher number of homeless people than usual during 2022.



Image 2- One of Minnie Winnie RV interiors from Google

Shelters don’t able to provide services for everyone. Hence, homeless must find their own way to survive.

Some lucky people even have RV as their temporary shelter.

By searching through Google, we found the new brand price of Minnie Winnie RV could reach more than US$ 100,000,-

I guess it is a luxury car.



Image 3- RV, photo was taken from back

The important point of this post that today rich people “possibly” be homeless by tomorrow.

Life could be “upside down” for many people at a certain time.



Image 4- The right side of RV

# Previous postings:

Sunday, 19 March 2023

Bonsai Show in Our City – Part 2 - Nature 51

You may read the previous post (Part 1):

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Bonsai Show in Our City – Part 1 - Nature 51



Image 1- Bonsai called as “Willow Leaf Picus” on displayed

We noticed and recognized few types of bonsai. It seems they are local and some imported types of bonsai.

Several types of bonsai on display in the room are:

- Green Mound Juniper
- Willow Leaf Picus
- Chinese elm
- Bold Cypress, Bougenville, Fukien tea
- and Japanese black pine



Image 2- Members of society and guests have a look at several bonsai.

Yes, the show has bonsai auction, called as “silent auction.” People involved in the auction:

- members
- guests
- whoever interests with bonsai



Image 3- Bonsai of Bold Cypress (Taxodium distichum)

The prices may range from couple hundreds to couple thousands, depend very much on:

- bonsai types
- age of bonsai
- cost to take care of bonsai
- arts
- bargaining



Image 4- Green Mound Juniper

Do you love bonsai trees or have any favorite of bonsai types?

# Previous postings:

Saturday, 18 March 2023

A Mother Duck with Her 8 Eggs – Nature 56

This post is a continuation of the previous post:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : A Duck Lays Eggs in the Pot – Nature 54



Image 1- A mother duck sitting on the eggs

One of our neighbors guessed wrongly, based on “an egg” color, the duck should be Mallard duck, he said.

Unfortunately, a duck is the Muscovy duck. She lays more and more eggs, from 3 eggs several days ago to 8 eggs as of today.

By searching through Google, the Muscovy ducks have several times to lay eggs in a year.

One clutch usually has 8 eggs to 13 eggs. The duck’s eggs usually take about 28 days to hatch.



Image 2- The eggs adding up to 8 eggs.



Image 3- The female Muscovy duck

The Muscovy duck may produce up to 120 eggs per year. The number is much less compared to Campbell or Khaki Campbell ducks which produce 340 eggs per year.

# Previous postings:

The Beautiful Bright Green Luna Moth - Nature 148

We saw a beautiful bright green critter it is called the bright green Luna moth. The grub making its way through our yard. Image 01 - A Luna...