Wednesday, 19 April 2023

The Hatching of Duck Eggs in the Pot – Nature 65

We have talked about duck’s eggs, the species of duck which own the eggs and incubation of eggs at previous postings.



Image 1- Ducklings, just hatching

You may read the previous postings:

Yes, after 31 days incubation, eggs are hatched. The hatching eggs were not all together or not in the same time.

The first hatching at day 31st, then followed by other eggs. The last hatching egg at day 34th.



Image 2- Mother and her babies

Since the each egg didn’t hatching at the same time, thus, the lessons we might learn:

- never mess the eggs.
- never intervene with hatching process.
- let’s nature work alone.



Image 3- Mother duck, just take a rest for a while.

I will tell you what happen with babies duck by next posting. Just wait and see.

# Previous postings:

Monday, 17 April 2023

The Blooming of Chinese Lantern Plants – Nature 64

We never seen before, the Chinese lantern like flower. We just see this unique and pretty flower in our neighborhood recently.



Image 1- Flower of Chinese Lantern

In addition to Chinese Lantern, other common names are Flowering maple, Velvet leaf, Indian mallow, Room maple and Parlor maple.

Based on the Google ID result, the species refers to scientific name of Abutilon pictum which mature could reach 10 to 15 inches (25 to 38 cm) tall.

Many believed this plant is native to South American countries such as Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil.

However, genus of Abutilon contains around 200 species which are spreading to regions of Asia, Australia and Africa.



Image 2- A painting from a high school student, illustration

We have observed that the ornamental flowers of Chinese Lantern could attract many kinds of pollinators, include hummingbirds and butterfly during blooming in Spring and Fall seasons.



Image 3- The flower looks pretty

Have you this kind of flower in the garden?

# Previous postings:

Sunday, 16 April 2023

“Let's go” and “Let's play” - Part 1 - Alzheimer's 13

We had a short conversation after finished a route walk in Walk to End Alzheimer's. This is a kind of routine exercise, almost every day.



Image 1- A Rosary, morning prayers, illustration

The most interesting in the conversation is the favorite words in the loved one with Alzheimer's disease.

In the stage of Alzheimer's with the sign lose words, some favorite words will remain in memory cells.

I have my favorite words, or a phrase. Sure, It does not a bad word, or curse :)

Some of us in the that group of conversation said that they have some words to spell too when they just get up in the morning to give them the strength, to make the day brighter and happier. 



Image 2- A big yellow flower, illustration

Some of us, get up and reach rosary to say some words. We, sometimes just stare at the 3 crucial words “LOVE, HOPE, FAITH” in beautiful frame sit on the nightstand.



Image 3- The painting, a primary school student

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

Friday, 14 April 2023

Colorful of Dutch Iris in the Yards – Nature 63

Our state of Louisiana has 5 species Iris as native flowers. These species could be seen in many places across the state.



Image 1- Colorful of a Dutch Iris flower

Plenty of Iris flowers both native and “imported” to our state may be found around ditches, along edges of ponds or river, and moist or fertile places during Spring seasons.

The well known 5 species of Iris in our areas are:

- Iris giganticaerulea.
- Iris hexagona.
- Iris nelsonii.
- Iris brevicaulis and Iris fulva.



Image 2- Rain drops on the flower’s surfaces

Dutch Iris with scientific name, Iris Hollandica is a hybrid species by combining European Species (Iris xiphium) and North African species (Iris tingitana).

Iris xiphium is native to Spain and Portugal, while Iris tingitana is native to Morocco and Algeria.

The Dutch firm called as “Van Tubergen” had distributed the crossed breeding Iris flowers to North America around 19th century, a long time ago.



Image 3- Lovely colorful flower’s petals

Have you seen this colorful Iris in nature?

# Previous postings:

Wednesday, 12 April 2023

A Beautiful Female Muscovy Sitting on the Eggs – Nature 62

We have two posting about eggs and a mother duck. At the first posting, we didn’t know the species of duck.



Image 1- A beautiful female Muscovy.

Then, we understand that the owner of eggs is Muscovy instead of Mallard ducks. You may read the previous two postings:

As you might know, a female Muscovy duck will lay one egg almost every day until reach the clutch point.

The mother duck sitting on the eggs to incubate them for about 30 to 35 days instead of 28 days.



Image 2- Eggs during incubation

The sitting on the eggs for “most of the day.” The mother duck very brief to leave the eggs sometimes. The purposes are for getting food, water and just relief.



Image 3- Eggs ready to be incubated, previous photo

Let’s wait duck eggs hatching!

# Previous postings:

Monday, 10 April 2023

Useful of Weeds and Wild Flowers in the yards – Part 1 - Science 36

We are in the second week of April. The weather is getting warmer up, may reach up to 86 F (30 C) in our city, Baton Rouge, LA.



Image 1- Beautiful wild white flowers, eagerly to keep their existence.

It's a good time to work my yard that I left about over a month. Shrubs are growing in some spots and they are surrounding the house.

Normally, in early Spring whenever many kinds of plants spur up with lovely manner show their buds, we just let them growing and flowering.

My reasons are not only to enjoy the amazing views but also to keep small wild flower as the first flower to invite the bold bees and insects to do pollination to my fruit trees.



Image 2- Wild flower, Waiting for “helper” for sustainable.

So, I don't need to catch them or borrow from somewhere. Then, in the Summer, I (my planning) to avoid all weeds and wild flowers by clearing them all. 



Image 3- Grass and weed

Then, what happen?

# Previous postings:

Saturday, 8 April 2023

The Cardinals in the Backyard – Nature 61

We have posted about birds and animals which visit our yards and neighborhoods either regular and seasonal.



Image 1- The Cardinal at the yard

Some of previous postings are:

The cardinal among the birds visit our yard at any seasons or throughout the year, since the bird is a non migration bird as far as I know.



Image 2- Just for illustration

I believe the cardinals visit our yard because of foods. We have blackberries grow very well and climbing our fences.

In addition, there are plenty wild berries during Spring and Summer seasons in our yards.



Image 3- Another Cardinal bird eats seeds

Sure, our bird feeders attract them to visit our place. We enjoy to see birds fly around.

# 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...