Strange that Purple Magnolia Blooming in the Summer - Nature 86

We know, our neighborhood Magnolia, both white and purple Magnolias were blooming in the cold weather, about January to February in our areas.

Fig 01- Buds of purple Magnolia

Surprisingly, we have observed that our neighborhood Magnolias are covered with buds. It is weird, Magnolia blooming in the very hot summer.

Some neighbors said, the Magnolia did bloom last summer, then blooming again in the spring, January or February.

However. too hot temperature caused leaves turn brown. We just watering it more, trying to save the flowers.

As you might know, in the hot weather, the trees go through transpiration process in which they lose too much water, then the leaves start to turn brown. 

Fig 02- The white Magnolia flower

The process of brown color begins from the tips, then progress to the middle of the leaves. Finally, the leaves fall down. 

Image 3- Purple Magnolias at the corner.

Have you experienced with this kind of strange things? 

# Previous postings:

- Reducing Number of Amazon River Pink Dolphin? - Part 2 – Nature 17

- Rainbow Evening : Biscotti and “The Blissful Feast” by Teresa Lust – Part 1 – Reading 9

- Rainbow Before Evening : Lord of the Ducks in the Garden – Part 1 – Nature 18

- Corned Beef Harsh - The Popular Breakfast in Louisiana – Part 2 – Food 11

- How did Alzheimer find out the change in his patient's brain? - Part 1 - Alzheimer's 3

A Little Young Squirrel in her Nest - Nature 85

 We have experienced with babies' squirrel as we post previously:

-  The Rainbow Before Evening : The Four Weeks Old Baby Squirrel – Science 17

Image 1- Less than 10 weeks old squirrel

Just recently, we saw a little squirrel in her nest. She looks shy, and hiding in her nest when we approach her.

 

As we mentioned that in our state, Louisiana, squirrels have two breeding seasons that are around mid-December to February, and mid-June to August.

Hence, this little baby could be less than 10 weeks old, because after 10 weeks old, she would leave the nest.

At the age of 10 weeks or more, squirrels will be able to climb down and up the tress, so they be able to forage for foods in nature.

Image 2- The old tree, an artificial box

Interestingly, squirrels have their mate for life, however, in case their mate died, then they will find a new one.  A squirrel has average litters about 3 to 4 young.

Fig 03- A nest, and an old tree

Do you have an idea about young squirrels?

# Previous postings:

- Sweet Chocolate Candies and a Yummy Book – Part 2 – Reading 8

- Reducing Number of Amazon River Pink Dolphin? - Part 1 – Nature 17

- The Early Person who Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Diseases - Part 2 – Alzheimer's 2

- Corned Beef Harsh - The Popular Breakfast in Louisiana – Part 1 – Food 11

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Reducing Number of Amazon River Pink Dolphin? - Part 2 – Nature 17

“Let's go” and “Let's play” - Part 3 - Alzheimer's 13

You may read previous posting (Part 1 and Part 2):
- “Let's go” and “Let's play” - Part 1 - Alzheimer's 13
- “Let's go” and “Let's play” - Part 2 - Alzheimer's 13

Image 1- The simple crochets, illustration only

Mrs Brown lose almost all her words. When one walk closer to Mrs Brown, she will say, “Let's play!”. She said the same words every times.

Sometimes she said two sentences. “Le's play! Catch me up!”

Those words could be a chant or mantra, and some research found out that mantra can reduce the worse risk of Alzheimer's disease.

The mantra is done by repeating the words or sentences. This practice could reduce stress and help to placid the mind. Both agitate mind and stress are known as risk factors of Alzheimer's disease.

Image 2- A girl, a crochet for illustration

I hope Mrs Anderson and Mrs Brown feel much easier with their chant or mantra from the severity of this disease.

I also hope our chant or mantra in the morning will work :)

Image 3- Cute three dolls, illustration only. 

How about you, do you have any mantra or chant or good words to spell every morning?

# Previous postings:

-  Take Care of Winter Storm in Early 2022 – Part 1 – Nature 16

- Sweet Chocolate Candies and a Yummy Book – Part 1 – Reading 8

- Take Care of Winter Storm in Early 2022 – Part 2 – Nature 16

- The Early Person who Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Diseases - Part 1 – Alzheimer's 2

- Sweet Chocolate Candies and a Yummy Book – Part 2 – Reading 8

Dropping Price of Cherries in the Summer

 Last year, almost all kind foods have rising in price due to inflation:
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Is Rising Price due to Greedflation?

Image 1- Discount rate more than 50%

Cherry is one of the items that dropping in price, and even discount rate about 50%. It might be due to oversupply, especially during summer seasons.

Another reason is due to competition from imported cherries. As we know the countries such as Turkey, Chile and China are important cherries producers in the world.

However, low price means good news for cherry's fans like me. It is because the fruit are a sweet (a delicious) and nutritious.

Cherries are sources for minerals, vitamins and antioxidants. In addition, this sweet fruit has a lot of health benefits.

Image 2- Cherries in the plastic bags

The health benefits include boosting heart health, reducing inflammation, improving sleep condition and speeding recovery after exercise.

Image 3- Fresh cherries from market

From internet sources, we recommended to consume cherries about 10 to 25 cherries per day.

Image 4- Cherries in the bowl, ready to be consumed.

Do you like cherries?

# Previous posting:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : A Novel of Arian - Then The Fish Swallowed Him - Part 2 – Reading 6

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The signs of late stage of Alzheimer's Disease – Part 2 - Alzheimer's 1

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to You and Yours

- The Rainbow Before Evening : “The Madness of Crowds” and Omicron – Reading 7

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Take Care of Winter Storm in Early 2022 – Part 1 – Nature 16

A Dragonfly and Flowers in the Corner - Nature 84

Dragonflies are commonly seen fly over plants in our little garden at the corner from Spring to Fall. In our city, Baton Rouge, their peak seasons from July to September.

Image 1- A dragonfly in the corner

There are about 3,000 species of dragonflies in the world. Our state, Louisiana has about 118 species which are non-native and native species.

Some of dragonflies in our state are: Eastern pondhawks, Blue dashers, Common green darners, Red-veined darters, Great blue skimmers, Ebony jewelwings, Bluets, Forktail damselflies, and Meadowhawks.

Based on GoogleID, the above dragonfly (Image 1) was identified as the great blue skimmer (Libellula vibrans). This dragonfly is common seen to fly over rivers, lakes and ponds.

Image 2- The Alstroemeria psittacina flower, illustration

Interestingly the dragonfly can fly forward and backward with speed 35 miles per hour, and able to hover or making very sharp turns.

In the ecosystem, this critter is important to control mosquitoes which carry malaria.  You might surprise that a dragonfly may eat about 100 mosquitoes in a single day.

Image 3- The Virginia spiderwort flower, illustration

Do you know the number of dragonflies species in your areas?

# Previous postings:

- Could Botulinum Toxin be Turned to Beneficial Substance? - Part 4 – Science 10

- A Novel of Arian - Then The Fish Swallowed Him - Part 1 – Reading 6

- The Best Tacos which I Love to Consume in Louisiana – Part 2 – Food 10

- The signs of late stage of Alzheimer's Disease – Part 1 - Alzheimer's 1

- A Novel of Arian - Then The Fish Swallowed Him - Part 2 – Reading 6

The Girl with Yellow Skirt – Part 1 – Reading 14

The beginning of chapter “SHORT, 2002” was a process interrogation of a detective to one of two boys.

Image 1- “Lemon” in the lemon tree

The boys are suspected commit a crime in the case of “The High School Beauty Murder”, Han Manu, 18-year-old, in the police interrogation room. Another suspect was Jeongjun, but this boy has an alibi. It was flashback of the first narrator, Da-On, the younger sister of the victim.

The victim, Hae-on, was a senior in one of high school in Seoul, South Korea. Her death body was found in a park, not too far from her school, in afternoon July 1, 2002, when Seoul was crowded with Japan-Korea FIFA World Cup.

Lemon has started with a murder and an interrogation by detective, but this novel more likely brings the readers to think about the cope of grievances than to find out the killer.

Image 2- Part of book.

People cope their griefs differently. Coping strategies are unique to an individual, some of them are unacceptable.

The second narrator in next chapter, Shanghui, was Hae-on classmate. Shanghui and Da-on were in the same Poetry Club in their school. From this narrator, the readers able to see the pictures of the class, clubs. school, and her classmates. She was afraid to get wrong person, but she believes the girl is Da-on.

Then, she found out the girl with yellow skirt, lemon color, did plastic surgery, she changed her face into her sister’s face, and she also always wears yellow dress, like her descent sisters in her last day, wearing yellow dress.

Image 3- A city hall, illustration only

Da-on is really in deep pain from this murder, and pain from surgery.

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- Changes of Parents Behaviors When Caring a Baby – Part 2 - Science 11
- The Best Tacos which I Love to Consume in Louisiana – Part 1 – Food 10
- Could Botulinum Toxin be Turned to Beneficial Substance? - Part 4 – Science 10

The Opossum in Neighborhood – Nature 83

We often see Opossums across on our yard in the evening. Some neighbors saw these critters are able to climb trees and roofs.

Image 1- A baby Opossum

The critters are quite common in our neighborhood recently, luckily they are harmless and not bother to residents.

Opossums are known as omnivore, so they can many kinds of food, some of them are fruits, vegetables, insects and small mammals.

They love to eat insects such as ticks, spiders, ants and Cockroaches. The Opossum also like to consume garden’s pests that are slugs and snails.

Interestingly, Opossums consume ticks in enormous amount, could reach 5,000 (Five Thousand) ticks per season.

Image 2- Geranium, illustration only

Since Opossums may control certain pests and insects, hence they are considered as one of important critters in the ecosystem.

Unfortunately, Opossum they may raid garbage cans, and hiding in the attic. If we think this is a problem, we may call Animal control officers or hire wildlife removal company.

Image 3- Crochet, Illustration

Are there Opossum in your neighborhood?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Could Botulinum Toxin be Turned to Beneficial Substance? - Part 2 – Science 10
- The Rainbow Before Evening : What Autumn is Like in My Town Baton Rouge LA – Part 1 - Nature 15
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Parents Behaviors When Caring a Baby – Part 1 - Science 11
- The Rainbow Before Evening : What Autumn is Like in My Town, Baton Rouge LA – Part 2 - Nature 15
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Could Botulinum Toxin be Turned to Beneficial Substance? - Part 3 – Science 10