The Assassin Bug in the Yard - Nature 152

We saw this bug in our garden recently. After searching from internet, we believe the bug is called as an Assassin Bug.

Image - Eastern Blood-Sucking Conenose Bug 

The bug scientific name is Zelus longipes, a beneficial assassin bug that feeds on aphids and other garden pests.

Our areas known for its humid and warmer climate, the common garden pest may include:

- Leafhoppers

- Whiteflies

- many kinds of insect species

Hence, it is good to have the Assassin Bugs in our gardens. Just be careful not to touch them. They definitely bite.

Do you recognize ihe Assassin Bug in your garden?

# Previous Postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Social Status Affects on Physiology and Behaviors – Part 1 – Brain Plasticity 3

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Have you Tasted Broad Beans? - Food 39

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Owls Population at our Neighborhood – Nature 53

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The Ghosts of Paris by Tara Moss – Part 1 – Reading 12

- The Rainbow Before Evening : A Duck Lays Eggs in the Pot – Nature 54

The Pagoda Plant or Giant Salvia? - Nature 151

Many people mistakenly to distinguish between the Pagoda Plant and Giant Salvia. Actually, there are "simple: appearances of both plants.

Image 01 - Pagoda plant 

We believe the plant is Pagoda plant with scientific name Clerodendrum paniculatum. The simple reasons:

- colors of flowers are red-orange

- well grow in our warm areas

Giant Salvia (Salvia spp) have several colors of flowers such as:

- blue

- purple 

- pink and red

Image 02 - Wild plant, illustration

Our judgement is supported by GoogleID. Actually, we may find both Pagoda and Salvia plants in our areas.

Image 03 - The red-orange flowers.

Do you know about Pagoda and Salvia plants?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The Crazy Chicken Pollo Loco at Neighborhood – Food 38

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Joker, PBA, and Alzheimer's Disease – Part 2 - Alzheimer's 12

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Bonsai Show in Our City – Part 1 - Nature 51

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Blooming of Amaryllis at Neighborhood – Nature 52

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Social Status Affects on Physiology and Behaviors – Part 1 – Brain Plasticity 3

A Sweet Polish Chicken - Nature 150

Many people raising chicken in their backyard for fresh eggs and or meat, but others just for fun.

Image 01 - Crest on the head.

A Sweet Polish Chicken is one of popular breeding for fun in our areas, others include:

- Wyandotte

- Silkies

- Cochins

- Bantams

- Sussex

- Ameraucanas

Image 02 - Ageratum, wildflower, illustration only

Another interesting breeding is Wyandotte. In addition to beautiful feather and calm behavior, this chicken produce quite good eggs.

Image 03 - Not sleep in the coop. 

Do you know about a Sweet Polish Chicken?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Are Bald Eagles not Endangered Species Anymore? - Nature 50

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Brain Changes during Reproduction Process – Part 3 – Brain Plasticity 2

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The United States Produces and Exports Dates Fruit – Food 37

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Flowers as Objects of Paintings – Part 2 - Art 11

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The Crazy Chicken Pollo Loco at Neighborhood – Food 38

Harvest of Early 2025 - Food 48

 Our two main plants, Tomatoes and Peppers did great. We harvested some of these vegetables for salads. 

Image 01 - Grape tomatoes and peppers

The tastes are delicious and juicy. Some people like them added to a spinach leaf and grilled chicken salad.

There are probably still about 100 tomato and some peppers blossoms in our garden, ready to be picked up in second terms. Some neighbors grow okra, herbs, basils, tangerine, satsuma and Myers lemon. Others discouraged to plant anything due to:

- squirrels

- voles

- and other vermin

Image 02 - Okra, fresh ones.

We believe a cat could deter squirrels to enter our yard. However, Cayote could attack cats or other small pets.

Image 03 - Tabasco peppers

How do you like yours?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The Pulmonary Hypertension Type – Part 2 - Cardiovascular 4

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Is Mockingbird a Smart Bird? - Science 32

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Could Parasite Control Human Mind? - Science 33

- The Rainbow Before Evening : How often Should we Consume Blueberries? - Part 2 – Food 35

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Are Bald Eagles not Endangered Species Anymore? - Nature 50

The Herd of Goats at Neighborhood

We just saw for a herd of goat grazing on the grass at our neighborhood recently. This is the first time for us, and we don't know the owners yet.

Image - A Herd of Goats, grazing on the grass.

We thought that this is just the cutest thing. Not for the owners but definitely our smile for the day.

Some suggest that it could be a new lawn service. It's gotten out of hand. At least the goats don't have to come out and give you an estimate. They just get the job done, no questions asked.

There are lots of businesses that can be hired to bring herds of goats to clear out overgrown properties or "mow" a field.

It's a cute business model -- the goats eat free, the property owner gets beneficial "soil amendments," and the goat owner gets paid for the effort of hauling them around.

We've never seen it here!

What do you think?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Winter Storms during Cold Season – Nature 48

- The Rainbow Before Evening : White Hominy Pearls Tossed with Coconut Shreds – Part 3 – Food 32

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Impacts of Winter Storms – Nature 49

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Sugarcane Sticks Sold in the Mexican Grocery – Food 36

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The Pulmonary Hypertension Type – Part 2 - Cardiovascular 4

The Pears on the Yard - Food 47

We have a pear tree full of pear last summer, sometimes, animals in the backyard stealing them before we pick them all.

Image 01 - Two pears hang on the branches. 

If the critters use that pear tree as part of their tree or bush pathway around our yard, they usually will take the pears.

In case of our pears, there are 4 main critters to steal the fruit in our neighborhood, they are including:

- birds

- squirrels

- raccoons

- rodents

Image 02 - Pears on the floor

# Important postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Have you ever Tasted Boiled Peanuts? - Food 29

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Differences between American and Italian Mozzarella Cheeses – Food 28

Image 03 - A little tree, pears

We may pick the fruits when their sizes about fist or tennis ball, then store in the dark place for a week or weeks, and they will ripen.

Image 04 - Plenty of pears, ready to be picked.

Do you like pears?

## Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Joker, PBA, and Alzheimer's Disease – Part 1 - Alzheimer's 12

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Mockingbirds are Permanent Residents of Our State – Nature 47

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Learning Process Based on My Own Experienced – Part 3– Science 28

- The Rainbow Before Evening : The First Exhibition of a Local Artist – Art 12

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Winter Storms during Cold Season – Nature 48

Why is my Hen Molting? - Nature 149

If we are raising chickens, we might not aware that chicken plumage falls down on daily and falling increases at a certain time. 

Image 01 - The molting hen 

Based on internet resources that temperature is the main factor to cause falling of chicken's feathers. As degree of coldness drops in certain seasons, the chickens cast off, might resemble leaves dropping down from the trees. 

Moreover, another factor that "broody chickens may begin to molt once they have finished caring for their chicks."

So, we no need to worry or wonder, because chickens molting is a natural process. The old feathers will be replaced by new ones.

Image 02 - The broody hen

Have you noticed the molting hens?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : How often Should we Consume Blueberries? - Part 1 – Food 35

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Million Chickens are Killed in the USA

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Brain Changes during Reproduction Process – Part 2 – Brain Plasticity 2

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Flowers as Objects of Paintings - Part 1 - Art 11

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Joker, PBA, and Alzheimer's Disease – Part 1 - Alzheimer's 12