The Mexican Hat Flowers in the City Garden – Part 1 – Nature 72

When we walk through one of our city gardens, we saw plants or flowers with “a strange shape.” What interesting of these flowers?

Image 1- A Mexican hat flower with green stalk

After searching with Google ID, the flower was identified as a Mexican hat flower. Some interesting appearances that we could observe its leafless stalk, and look like a “peak” of Mexican hat at glance.

The stalk colors could be green (mainly), brown or mix of colors. I believe the change of colors depend on its maturity.

The flower has scientific name Ratibida columnifera. In addition to the Mexican hat flower, its other common names are: long-headed coneflowers and prairie coneflowers.

Image 2- Flowers in the garden

Then, from internet searching, the native of this flower at least come from three different places:

- American Midwest
- North Mexico
- Madagascar

Image 3- Flowers with green stalks

# To be continued to part 2

## Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Is Strawberry Greek Yogurt Good For Health? - Healthy Life 9
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Do You Know about Golden Kiwis Fruit? - Food 3
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Grass in Our Yard during Hot Summer
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Green Bean and Papaya Delight – Food 4
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Mental Awareness and Vaccination – Healthy Life 10

The Red Shoulder Hawk at Neighborhood – Part 1 - Nature 71

We have seen different kinds of hawks at our neighborhood since several years ago, and 4 reports have been posted at this blog.

Image 1- Red shoulder hawk at neighborhood

You may read the 4 previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Injured Hawk on the Street then Fly Away – Nature 29
- The Rainbow Before Evening : A Red Tail Hawk in Our Neighborhood – Science – 20
- The Rainbow Before Evening : A Young Red Tail Hawk Caught a Squirrel – Science – 24
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Cooper Hawks Love to Come to Bird Feeders – Nature 44

Image 2- Injured hawk, just illustration

Few days ago, in the morning, we spotted a beautiful bird on the way out of our neighborhood.

We spot the same bird again, we narrowed it down to a Raptor or bird of prey, let’s say a hawk.

Image 3- Adriatic lily, illustration only.

We need to find out the species of hawk. What do you think?

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Summer, be aware with Traveler's Diarrhea – Healthy Life 7
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Do You Know a Sign of Bipolar Disorder? - Healthy Life 8
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Oyster is One of Favorite Seafood in Louisiana – Food 2
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Is Strawberry Greek Yogurt Good For Health? - Healthy Life 9

Using of Liquid Soap in American Households

We are using both liquid and bar soaps to wash our hands or other purposes with some reasons.

Image 01- The same brand of Liquid hand soap

First, we believe that liquid and bar soaps have equally effective to combat virus, bacteria and any other “dangerous” germs.

Second, in term of prices or affordable:

- bar soap is more affordable to clean our hand or body
- however, it is cheaper to use liquid soap to wash dishes.

In fact, the liquid soap is quite last longer to clean bowls and plates. The cleaning be easier and straightforward, no need to do multiple washes like using bar soaps.

Image 2- The bar soap at Walmart store

Trending of using liquid soaps is increasing year by year. As reported by Statista (2022) that number of people use liquid soap much more than who use bar soaps.

Image 03- People at the small market

The different number are following:

- about 273.23.71 million Americans used bar soap in 2020.
- about 301.87 million Americans used liquid hand soaps in 2020

Image 04- Two liquid hand soaps

Which ones do you love: liquid or bar soaps?

# Previous postings:

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

Painting Mentors for High School Students – Art 14

Paintings of students from primary and secondary school have been discussed at two previous posts.

Image 1- Painting by Ala Alhendi, a high school student

You may read the previous postings of student’s paintings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Paintings of Elementary School’s Students - Art 9
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Middle School Students Show their Paintings – Arts 13

Moreover, the high school students, especially for talented ones will be introduced to a kind of mentors if they join summer programs, sponsored by our city school system, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana.

Image 2- Painting by a high school student

The mentors are professional artists both with local and national achievements, and even exhibit their paintings at international galleries.

Students will engage in theory and practice of advance paintings. Then, they have opportunities to create own work with supervised by mentors.

The student artworks will be displayed in the exhibitions.

Image 3- Anna Zuber, painting of a high school student

What do you think?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Alligator in the Nearby Neighborhood - Nature 7
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Wild Animals and Birds in my Backyard – Nature 8a
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Flash Flood at my Neighborhood - Nature 8b
- The Rainbow Before Evening : First Important Step to Know Mental Illness - Healthy Life 5
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Family Saga and Meaning to be a Good Person – Part 1 - Reading 1

The Best Coffeehouse in My City, Baton Rouge – Part 2

You may read the previous post (Part 1):

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The Best Coffeehouse in My City, Baton Rouge – Part 1

Image 1- The Coffee Call coffeehouse, Baton Rouge

The best local coffee is the main reason to come to Coffee Call. It is a kind of traditional coffee shops in Baton Rouge, where we may see kids, young and old sit and chat together.

Sometimes, we could have a new friend, at least a “temporary friend” when we sit at the same table.

Two of my favorite hot drinks are cafe au lit and chocolate milk. Interestingly, by buying one cup, and then refill for free. We find this kind of serving is happen in America only.

Image 2- Cafe au lit , my favorite one.

The shop also serves:

- finger beignet
- sandwiches
- soup
- salad
- biscuit

Image 3- Zinnia flower, illustration only

The coffee shop is opened more than 30 years ago. The shop is handled by son and grand daughter now.

453 reviewers gave 4.8 of 5 stars for Coffee Call. An excellent coffee shop in the city.

Image 4- A coffee cup, illustration

What is the best coffee shop in your city?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : What is Coronasomnia? - Healthy Life 2
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Can Six Dolar Drug Kill Covid 19 Virus? - Healthy Life 3
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Hot Summer in the USA – Temperature above 40 Celsius degree – Nature 6
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Which One Has Vitamin C more - Red Bell Pepper or Orange? - Healthy Life 4
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Alligator in the Nearby Neighborhood - Nature 7

A Hummingbird on my Blueberry Tree – Nature 70

We have two posted about hummingbirds from our areas. The Winter and Spring hummingbirds.

Image 01- A hummingbird eats nectar.

You may read two previous posts of hummingbirds:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The Winter Hummingbird at Our Community – Science 26
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Spring Hummingbirds in Our Neighborhood – Nature 58

We might wonder what hummingbirds do on a blueberry tree?

Actually, hummingbirds sip nectar from tree’s flowers, and amazing for me that this bird may visit about 1,500 flowers a day.

Image 2- Blueberries, just illustration

Hummingbirds love to consume tiny critters as well, include “small insects, beetles, ants, aphids, gnats, mosquitoes, and wasp” (Lisa M. Genie, 2018: 10 Facts About Hummingbirds – And other interesting tidbits).

As reported by Melissa Mayntz (2022: What Foods do Hummingbirds Eat?) that “Hummingbirds have been known to discreetly sip the juices from berries, apples, pears, and oranges if they are peeled, cut open, or if the flesh is otherwise exposed.”

Image 3- Magnolia flowers, illustration only

What species of hummingbirds in your areas?

# Previous postings:

- Rediscovering of Rare Blue Bee in Florida in 2020 – Science 3
- Rainbow Evening : Can Scientists Create Glowing Plants? - Science 4
- The Rainbow Before Evening : White Azaleas in the City Garden – Nature 5
- The Amphibians Near Extinct due to Fungus Disease – Science 5
- Rainbow Evening : What is Coronasomnia? - Healthy Life 2

The Mother Duck Brings her Duckling to Swim – Nature 69

We describe a part of life cycles of a Muscovy duck, from eggs to hatching. This is a final part of series.

Image 1- A mother and 6 ducklings

You may read the previous 5 series of life cycle for a Muscovy duck based on our observation:

- Rainbow Before Evening: A Duck Lays Eggs in the Pot – Nature 54
- Rainbow Evening: A Mother Duck with Her 8 Eggs – Nature 56
- A Beautiful Female Muscovy Sitting on the Eggs – Nature 62
- Rainbow Evening: The Hatching of Duck Eggs in the Pot – Nature 65
- Rainbow Evening: The mother duck and her Ducklings Out – Nature 66

We may wonder do ducklings go when they are first outing? Can you guess?

Image 2- Ducklings, just hatching

Yes, your prediction might true. A mother duck will lead her babies to water, nearby ponds or rivers.

Finding water as soon as possible will increase the chances for babies to survive.

Image 3- The mother and duckling are swimming.

Have you seen eggs hatching in nature?

# Previous postings:

- How Many Animals Are Expected to Extinct by 2050? - Nature 4
- Rediscovering of Rare Blue Bee in Florida in 2020 – Science 3
- Rainbow Evening : Can Scientists Create Glowing Plants? - Science 4
- The Rainbow Before Evening : White Azaleas in the City Garden – Nature 5
- The Amphibians Near Extinct due to Fungus Disease – Science 5