Saturday, 23 December 2023

Is Brisk Walking better than Slow Walk? - Part 2 - Healthy Life 28

You may read the previous post (Part 1):

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Is Brisk Walking better than Slow Walk? - Part 1 - Healthy Life 28


Image 1- A Pepsi truck stop by in neighborhood

ScienceDaily (March 16, 2021) also reported surprising finding from UK scientists that:

- there is connection between fitness level and Covid 19 virus infection.
- walking fast will less likely to get severe case of Covid 19, and less chance to die.
- live longer, up to 20 years

So, how often should we walk fast and how long?
- every day, about 20 minutes





JJ
JJ

Saturday, 16 December 2023

The Alligator in the Lake - Nature 114

We spotted a small alligator in the one of our neighborhood lake few days ago when we just walking around the lake. 


Image 1 - A small alligator, swimming.

We have seen small children playing in the backyards around the lake. We don't know whether their parents aware or not of an alligator nearby. We live not that far from this lake.

You might surprise with the size of alligators in our areas:
- the largest size could reach 14 feet (14.3 meter) with weight 500 pound (227 kg).
- the smaller size is about 7 feet (2.1 meters) with weight 250 pound (113 kg).

When talked to neighbors who live around or closer to the lake, they said there are actually two other larger alligators.


Image 2 - A neighbor house

They have tried to catch alligator, but not success yet. Some suggested, may be time to get professional help.


Image 3 - Just illustration photo.

They would call wildlife and fisheries or homeowners association to remove the alligators as soon as possible.


Image 4 - A little alligator in the lake.

Have you seen the wild alligator in the nature?

# Previous postings:

Saturday, 9 December 2023

The White Bunny Runs around the Corner - Nature 113

We spotted a white little bunny when we walk regularly. We believe the rabbit is a domestic rabbit. 


Image 1 - A bunny runs around the corner.

It is mean that the bunny is a pet, not a wild rabbit. Another possibility, the white coat bunny is kept or let it plays outdoor, since the bunny need space to exercise, play or explore.   

Bunnies need special attentions sometimes, include their food. Some foods of domestic bunnies are fresh vegetables.

Moreover, there are plenty popular breeding of domestic bunnies in our areas or city, Baton Rouge, LA. At least, there are about 12 most popular breeding which are sold in the markets.


Image 2 - One of corners in neighborhood

We are quite confident that the rabbit in our images (image 1 and 2) is belong to the "Netherland dwarf" breeding.


Image 3 - Another corner, illustration only

The Netherland Dwarf breeding is characterized by its gentle nature, playful personalities and small size.


Image 4 - The bunny just stops moving.

Do you know about kinds of bunny breeding (species)?

# Previous postings:

Wednesday, 6 December 2023

The Purslane Flowers in the Pot - Nature 112

Some of our neighbors choose Purslanes as one of their popular flowers to grow in the pots and containers.


Image 1 - Purslane flowers in the pot

The flowers have plenty colors from single colors to bicolor to multiple colors. Examples of colors are:
- yellow, red, pink, orange and purple (single colors)
- pink with yellow, and white with red (bi-colored)
- combined of red, green, pink and yellow (multi-colored)

Identification by GoogleID, the scientific name of Purslane flower is Portulaca oleracea. The flower common names are Moss rose purslane, Portulaca and common purslane. 


Image 2 - The liittle Purslanes.

The flower is native to North America, Europe and Asia, but we may find the flower in many parts of the world nowadays.


Image 3 - Two cute cats, illustration only.

This flower is easy and low cost to care, together with just need limit space, hence, to be great choice for gardeners.


Image 4 - Yellow Purslane flowers in the pots.

Do you familiar with this flower?

# Previous postings:

Sunday, 3 December 2023

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:

JJ

Wednesday, 29 November 2023

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:

Saturday, 25 November 2023

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:

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 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...