Nesting of Mississippi Kites in the Areas – Nature 77

Some people might be wrong to distinguish the different between Bald Eagles and Mississippi Kites.

Image 1- Several Mississippi Kites

Actually, the simple difference that Bald eagles have large, hooked yellow beaks that are unmistakable.

Well, a group of Mississippi Kites must be nesting in the area. This is my second time seeing them within a few weeks.

Nowadays, we may observe Bald Eagle living nearby rivers, lakes, marshes to urban areas (The Rainbow Before Evening : Are Bald Eagles not Endangered Species Anymore? - Nature 50)

Image 2- Empty nest, illustration only

In respect to food source, as you might know the Bald Eagle consumes on small animals such as rabbits, snakes, waterfowl and fish.

In case of Mississippi Kites they mostly live on “Crop-damaging insects” such as cicadas and grasshoppers. However, they have been known to eat small mammals too.

Image 3- A single Mississippi Kite

Have you seen Mississippi Kites in your areas?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Traditional Books versus Electronic Books for Children – Part 1 – Reading 3
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Why the Moon Has Thousands of Small Aliens? - Part 2 – Science 7
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Traditional Books versus Electronic Books for Children – Part 2 – Reading 3
- The Rainbow Before Evening : The Surprising Fact - Cooked Shrimps are Cheaper than Raw Ones – Part 1 - Food 8
- The Rainbow Before Evening : When should I get the Botox Cosmetic? - Part 1 – Healthy Life 16

Useful of Weeds and Wild Flowers in the yards – Part 2 - Science 36

You may read the previous post (Part 1):

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Useful of Weeds and Wild Flowers in the yards – Part 1 - Science 36

Image 1- Weed climbs a tree and fences, illustration

The weather in the last Summer was uncertain: too hot and then flood from heavy rain.

Flowers and my four month avocado tree dried out, I couldn't save it and the fig tree is dying.

Some fruits I have never picked up due to some squirrels and wild birds love to eat them.

Back to my yards, I have planned to clean and clear it form weeds and wild flowers.

Image 2- Weeds climb fences, illustration only

But I think back about sustainable environment as Christine mentioned in her posting (Please see at: Important for pollinators).

Image 3- Weeds and grass at the corner of city, illustration only

# To be continued to Part 3

## Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Growing Tabasco Peppers in My Yard – Part 1
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Recreational Fishing in the Louisiana – Part 2 – Nature 13
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Growing Tabasco Peppers in My Yard – Part 2
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Why the Moon Has Thousands of Small Aliens? - Part 1 – Science 7
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Traditional Books versus Electronic Books for Children – Part 1 – Reading 3

Unidentified Bird at the Neighborhood – Nature 76

We just have a visitor, quite difficult to identify. Several friends have different opinions about the species of the bird.

Image 1- A Finch on the feeder for hummingbird?

Some guesses the bird species are following:

- a house sparrow
- a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak
- a finch (a red finch or a house finch)
- a cardinal or a female cardinal

Then, as always, we search through GoogleID, the machine offer two possibilities: first, the Northern cardinal and the second is a house finch. I think the best guess is a house finch.

Image 2- Flowers, just illustration

It is because the finch has “larger beak” compared to other birds, but smaller compared to Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

Image 3- Sky, Just for illustration

You may read about Rose-breasted Grosbeak at previous posts:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Rose breasted grosbeak Comes to Our Neighborhood – Nature 23
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Diet of Rose breasted grosbeak in Nature – Nature 25

Image 4- A finch? Look enjoy on the feeder.

Can you identify what is the bird species? (please see images 1 and 3)

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : New Parents often Faced Depression – Part 1 - Healthy Life 15
- The Rainbow Before Evening : The Prodigy Kid - Marla Olmstead’s Paintings – Part 2- Art 3
- The Rainbow Before Evening : New Parents often Faced Depression – Part 2 - Healthy Life 15
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Recreational Fishing in the Louisiana – Part 1 – Nature 13
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Growing Tabasco Peppers in My Yard – Part 1

Fertilizer Price is Going Down Recently

We always buy several packs of fertilizer for our plants in the yards from Home Deport or Walmart stores every Spring and Summer.

Image 1- Fertilizers, sold in the Walmart store.

As far as we remembered, the price was expensive last year, and we bought less than usual.

This year, like other goods, we feel that the fertilizer price starts to decrease since early January.

About last month, depend on brands and fertilizer types, we believe the price is decreasing between 30% to 60%.

We are quite happy, and we try to buy amount of fertilizers to equal amount like previous years. 

Image 2- Trees and bushes, illustration

Our favorite brand is “Miracle Grow” with potting mix type. It is said this fertilizer is sterilized, hence no pathogens (no fungus and no diseases).

Image 3- Myrtle flowers, illustration

Based on our experienced, this kind of fertilizer is good for all plants. Excellent for indoor or outdoor plants.

Image 4- A little flowerbed

In case for farming, we saw from internet that price index for fertilizer is down more than 45% compared to last year. Price index was 293.73 last year, and only 155.97 for this month.

Image 5- Different kinds of fertilizers

Do you grow plants? What type of fertilizer do you like?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Hurricane Ida Hit Our Neighborhood – Nature 11
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Will Wild Horses Able to Ride Out Hurricane? - Part 1 – Nature 12
- The Rainbow Before Evening : The Prodigy Kid - Marla Olmstead’s Paintings – Part 1 - Art 3
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Will Wild Horses Able to Ride Out Hurricane? - Part 2 – Nature 12
- The Rainbow Before Evening : New Parents often Faced Depression – Part 1 - Healthy Life 15

Should We Install Solar Panels in Our Roof? - Part 1 - Science 38

Renewable resources for energy such as wind and sun are getting popular in our state, and might be in many states in the USA right now.

Image 1- Solar panels, sold at Home Depot

There are plenty reasons why people eager to use these resources, one of them is stable prices.

In case of solar energy, our neighbors consider several benefits to install solar panels on their rooftops are:

- federal incentive of tax credit
- additional the tax credit incentive is provided by some states.
- increase housing value
- and saving electricity cost for years

Image 2- Roses, just for illustration

Louisiana state does not give additional tax credit, but provide property tax exemption. Let’s say, we as Louisiana residents will get:

- 30% tax credit from federal government of solar panels cost.
- excluded added value of property tax.

Image 3- A house with solar panels at our neighborhood.

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Are Freshwater Pearls Less Expensive? - Part 2
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Visiting the Oldest French City in Louisiana – Part 1
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Will We Live Longer if We Think Younger? - Healthy Life 14
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Visiting the Oldest French City in Louisiana – Part 2
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Hurricane Ida Hit Our Neighborhood – Nature 11

Do you Love Tomatoes? - Science 37

If you love tomatoes, there is good news for you. It is because science proves that tomatoes have several benefits.

Image 1- Tomatoes in the bowl

Just to let you know, as reported by Marina Savchenko (2021: What Is the Most Popular Fruit in the World? Top 5 Fruits Ranked) that tomato is the most popular fruit in the world. Other 4 most popular fruit are:

- apples
- bananas
- oranges and mangoes.

Moreover, based on several scientific journals that tomatoes have at least 4 benefits. What are they?

Image 2- Sliced of tomatoes.

The 4 four benefits are:

1. Contain more Potassium (American Journal of the College of Cardiology).
2. Reducing risks of sun damaged skin (Scientific Report)
3. Our body observes iron effectively (Center for Biotechnology)
4. Our wound will be heal faster (International Journal of Surgery)

Image 3- The Homemade tomato sauce

Do you like to consume tomatoes?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Why the Free Meals Program could Attract Kids to Come to Library?
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Lobsters have Good Nutritional Values for Health – Healthy Life 13
- The Rainbow Before Evening : One of Ways to Make Barbeque in the Nature – Food 7
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Are Freshwater Pearls Less Expensive? - Part 1
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Are Freshwater Pearls Less Expensive? - Part 2

Canna had been Popular Garden Plants since Victorian era – Nature 75

Back to Victoria era (June 20, 1837 – January 22, 1901), Canna had been popular as garden plants.

Image 1- Yellow of Canna lily

The Canna plant also known as Canna Lily then separates to many European countries like Hungary, Italy, France and Germany.

As reported by Dennis Carey and Tony Avent (2010: Cannas, Cannas, Cannas – Canna Lilies for Your Garden) that Canna came to America through France was around 1840s.

Moreover, Canna Lilies appeared in many gardens across the United States of America was about 1890s. We may spots this plant in the city gardens nowadays. Is Canna Lily native to European countries?

Image 2- Two flowers of Canna plant

The plant with scientific name Canna indica come from South America countries, include Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru.

We have two colors as you could see at images 1, 2 and 3. However, in the gardens, there are several other colors such as orange, yellow, darker red and brown.

Image 3- Canna plants at yard

Do you familiar with Canna Lilies?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Like Crazy, “a wild child cares for the wild woman who raised him” - Reading 2
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Do you know about E. coli Bacteria? - part 1 - Healthy Life 12
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Birds Fly Over Our Backyard – Nature 10
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Do you know about E. coli Bacteria? - part 2 - Healthy Life 12
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Why the Free Meals Program could Attract Kids to Come to Library?