The Roles of Dirt Dauber in the Nature - Nature 111

 Many people called it as a "Dirt Dauber," since the insect makes its nest with a kind of mud.

Image 1- A wasp nearby its nest.

By GoogleID, the insect is identified as wasp or paper wasp with scientific name Pachodynerus sp. 

This wasp loves to build nests in shelter areas include under the house roof or inside structures made by men. 

There are many roles of Pachodynerus sp in nature. Two most important roles, my opinion, are:

- Pollination

- Biocontrol

Image 2 - A tall building, illustration

The Pachodynerus wasps help plants (trees, shrubs and flowers) in their reproduction in order to exist in nature.

Image 3 - A unique structures, illustration.

This wasp may control pests such as to control potato beetles. The beetles are well known as known as pests of potatoes in Colorado.

Image 4 - The wasp in the nest.

Do you know this kind of wasp?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Watching the Bluebird Broods Playing Around – Nature 40

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Fruits with flavored chia in cups – Part 1 – Food 25

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Canadian Geese Live Permanently in Neighborhood – Part 1- Science 23

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Sweet Tangerine at Backyard – Food 26

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Simple Homemade Coconut Oil glazed Beef Jerky – Part 2 - Food 24

JJ

A Little Fig Tree in the Yard - Nature 110

 Many people love fig fruit, but some avoids consuming it because of sweetness or high calorie contents, especially for diabetes patients.

Image 1 - A little fig tree in the yard.

The scientific name of fig tree is Ficus carica. Other names of fig tree are edible fig tree, common fig tree or just a fig tree.

The plant native to Asia and Mediterranean regions, hence, it is good to grow in the states with warmer climate.

We may find this plant in the states such as:

- Louisiana, Texas, Florida

- California, Oregon

- Georgia, North Carolina and many others.

Image 2- The plant starts to produce fruit.

If we plant the fig trees in our yard, they could produce the first fruit about 4 years. Some people said between 3 to 6 years.

Image 3 - The young fig fruit.

The timing to begin to bear fruit, sure, depend on several factors, some of them are:

- variety

- climates

- and growing conditions.

Image 4 - The ripe fruit, ready to be picked up.

From the time fruit emerges (sets), the ripe of fruit needs about 70 day, then the fruits are ready to be picked up.  

Image 5 - Several ripe figs fruit.

Price of fig fruit is relative expensive compared to other 10 favorite fruits sold by many groceries, includes Walmart.

Image 6 - The fig plant, green.

Do you like fig's fruit?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Tax Free Outlets in the Special Area of Our State

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Using of Cordless Electrostatic Sprayer for Killing Virus - Part 1 – Science 21

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Blue Crab Turns Red Crab – Science 22

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The SHIELD is a New Hope to Protect Our Brain – Part 1 - Alzheimer's 10

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Watching the Bluebird Broods Playing Around – Nature 40

The Free Ranging Chickens - Nature 109

 We might find free ranging chickens in rural areas or countryside in America, if we lucky enough.

 

Image 1 - The free ranging rooster.

Just to let you know that we have two previous posted related to chickens:

- The Rainbow : Are Buff Orpington Chickens Excellent Pets? - Nature 93

- The Rainbow Before Evening : A Rooster on the Run - Nature 90

In case you don't know, the free ranging chicken is a chicken or chickens roaming at outdoor freely. The chickens have advantages to access sunshine, fresh air and food sources naturally.

We buy eggs of the free ranging chickens at suburban areas of our city sometimes. The eggs are sold by small vendors or chicken's owners.

Image 2 - Chicken eggs, sold by a vendor.

The eggs contain vitamin D and "higher in omega-3 fatty acids," better than caged or conventional chickens.

Image 3 - A chick from crochet, illustration

The chickens less chance to be infected by diseases, include E.coli and Salmonella, since they are healthier by moving around and doing exercises.

Image 4 - A caterpillar, just illustration

Image 5 - A Hen and her chicks

Have you tried eggs of far-ranging chickens?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Dungeness Crabs from Gulf of Mexico – Science 19

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Simple Homemade Coconut Oil glazed Beef Jerky – Part 1- Food 24

- The Rainbow Before Evening : A Red Tail Hawk in Our Neighborhood – Science – 20

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Young Coconut Water as Folk Remedies – Part2

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Tax Free Outlets in the Special Area of Our State

Should We Install Solar Panels in Our Roof? - Part 2 - Science 38

You may read previous post (Part 1):
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Should We Install Solar Panels in Our Roof? - Part 1 - Science 38

Image 1- Solar panels on the roof.

Much research showed that housing value could increase by up to 20 times if we have a 5 kW solar system on our roof.

In term of dollar, solar panels could make housing value up to US$ 24,000 in the market. Quite good for investment.

It is estimated that 20 solar panels need roof space of 5 hundreds square feet, then, it would produce 5,000 watts.

However, in Louisiana, let’s say we pay US$ 150 per month for electric bill, we might need solar panels system to produce 9500 watts.

Image 2 - A lot of pumpkins, illustration only

Interestingly, the solar system may last for 25 years. We avoid rising cost of electricity for so long, hence, save thousands of dollars.

Image 3 - A small house with solar panels in Louisiana 

(credit to Sunpro Solar).

Should we install solar panels in our roof?

# Previous postings:
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Learning a New Language Against Alzheimer's Disease – Part 2 - Alzheimer's 9

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Asparagus Contains High Dietary Fiber – Food 23

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Why Should not We Take Aspirin Daily? - Part 2 - Healthy Life 24

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Dungeness Crabs from Gulf of Mexico – Science 19

The Varieties of Succulents in the Singapore - Nature 108

 We have talked about an indoor garden in the Singapore at previous post:
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Captivating Indoor Garden in Singapore - Nature 107

Image 1- Round shape succulents.

It was estimated that there are about at least 1,000 species of succulents in the small country, Singapore.

In respect to family, the five well known succulent families in Singapore are:

1) Apocynaceae, an example of species is Adenium

2) Asclepiadaceae, characterized by foul smelling succulents.

3) Aizoaceae, two examples of the species are Haworthia and Lithops

4) Cactaceae, the cacti are seen commonly in Singapore's park or garden.

5) Crassulaceae, the members are popular as houseplants such as Sedum.

Image 2- Some forms of succulents.

Image 3 - The Agave variety of succulent.

Image 4 - A group of Bromeliads.

Image 5 - One corners of an indoor garden.

Image 6 - An outdoor garden, Singapore

How many varieties of succulents have you seen?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : What is the Reason Specific Plants to Trap Animals? – Science 18

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Young Coconut Water as Folk Remedies – Part1

- The Rainbow Before Evening : A Canadian Goose with a Broken Left Leg – Nature 39

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Learning a New Language Against Alzheimer's Disease – Part 2 - Alzheimer's 9

Captivating Indoor Garden in Singapore - Nature 107

 As a small country, Singapore has tried to design gardens and parks, outdoors and indoors. The purpose of these gardens and parks is to attract tourists from around the globe.

Image 1 - The artificial waterfall in the park 

One of gardens is a Jewel Changi airport, its size about 14,000 square meters (0.005 square miles), quite "big" to Singapore, but too small compared to be called as "a garden" in the USA. 

There is "artificial" waterfall, and it is said to be the tallest indoor waterfall in the world with 40 meters or 131 feet tall, surrounded by little forest. It is quite impressive for many visitors.

The garden has about 2,000 tress and 100,000 shrubs. In terms of species, there about 120 comes from countries such as China, Australia and America.

Image 2- Trees in the corner of garden

Image 3 - Several palm trees

Image 4 - Green every side of garden

Image 5 - We may see trees from another story

Image 6 - Trees with waterfall as background.

Image 7 - Visitors in the garden waterfall

Image 8 - Green in the indoor garden

Image 9 - Trees on the highest story

What do you think about indoor garden?

# Previous postings:

- Learning a New Language Against Alzheimer's Disease – Part 1 - Alzheimer's 9

- Is America a Wine Exporting Country? - Part 2

- The Rainbow Before Evening : A Simple Steamed Layer Cake – Food 22

- Why Should not We Take Aspirin Daily? - Part 1- Healthy Life 24

- What is the Reason Specific Plants to Trap Animals? – Science 18

What is the Species of Frog? - Nature 106

Never have seen this frog before. We believe that this Amphibian spends most of its time just under the ground.

Image 1- A strange frog, we never seen before

I hadn't seen one until a few years ago. You'll run across them digging around water. Or at least that's when I've found them. Rare though.

Based on GoogleID, there are 3 possibilities of this frog species:

1) An eastern narrow mouth toad

- native to the eastern parts of America

- yes, they are living underground, most of their time.

2) Fowler toad.

- This species is native to Mexico and the southwestern America.

Image 2- A toad emerges to the surface

3) The Banded Bullfrog

- could reach 8 inches long, the largest frog in the North America. frog is important in the ecosystem to control insect population.

Image 3- A toad in the nature

Have you seen this kind of frog in the nature?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Does Red Bell Pepper Contain more Vitamin C than Orange? - Part 2– Food 21

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Flooding after Raining in Our Neighborhood – Nature 37

- The Rainbow Before Evening : What does Hypertension Mean? - Part 2 – Cardiovascular 3

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Purple Gallinule Visited Our Neighborhood – Nature 38

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Learning a New Language Against Alzheimer's Disease – Part 1 - Alzheimer's 9