Plants Bundle in the Corner - Gardening and Hobby 13

Fig 01- Bundle of several plants

Bundle of plants both in the house corners and indoor getting popular recently. Many nurseries, include online nurseries sell them with discount prices.

I saw the prices range from US$ 20’s to US$ 60’s depend very much on the varieties and number of plants.

The number could be 3 to 10 species. The popular plants include:

- pink begonia

- Boston fern

- blue torenia

- aloe vera

- variegated airplane

- spider plant

- yellow four o' clock

- pink flowering sedum

- Snake Plant (Sansevieria Punk)

- Mother in law’s tongue (Snakey Sansevieria)

Fig 02- Variegated airplane and aloe vera

In addition to beautiful looking, bundle of plants may purify the air in our yards and indoors. 

Fig 03- Ferns with another a flower plant

Many of these plants are amazing properties in terms of their function in the nature and their prices.

Fig 04- A kind of Torenia plant

These plants could remove toxins such as Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) in the air around us, hence very good to improve environment quality and our health performance.

Its have many advantages which include easy to care, it is said the specific selection plants are very good for:

- home office

- kitchen

- bedroom

Do you have Plants Bundle? How many type or species?

When Will be the First Shot of Covid 19 Vaccine? - Virus 29

Vaccine production in December and per month afterward

The bad news that Corona virus causes increasing of infection and deaths in recent days.

Good news, American people will get vaccine shots soon, probably by first or second weeks of December 2020. Quicker than predicted.

Vaccine inventors, Pfizer and BioNTech applied emergency use of their vaccine to “the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).” on November 20, 2020.

Emergency use is fast track vaccine authorization. The normal authorization usually take months. The process then as following:

- from November 20 to December 9, 2020 about two or three weeks, FDA will process the application.

- on December 10, 2020, the independent committee to review and vote the application.

- from December 11 to December 14, 2020, then FDA will make final determination and decision to authorize using of Covid 19 vaccines.

When the best guess of the first shot? 

Flax Lilies, just for illustration

The first shot is likely between December 11 to December 14, 2020. December 13 is the best possibility D day.

The vaccine is free of cost in the USA. There are 3 phases of vaccine rationale based on group population:

1) Phase 1 – 15% population

- the population includes front line health workers, first respondents and cleaners

- who have two or three preexisting conditions

- 65 or older who live in nursing home

2) Phase 2 – 35% population

- all people of 65 or older

- high risks workers such as teachers and social workers

3) Phase 3 – 45%

- who works in industries such as hotels, factorie and bank

4) Phase 4 – 5%

- whoever living in the USA

It is said that herd immunity will be achieved if 70% - 90% population get vaccine (please read previous post: Is Herd Immunity without Vaccine the Worst Strategy? - Virus 9)

In case of Covid 19, 70% population is vaccined is good enough. Thus, we will back to normal life about in May, 2021.

Are Raw Peanuts Good for Health? - Food Variety 6

 

Fig 01- Peanuts without shell, ready to consume

We always buy green peanut during spring and summer at farmer market, then we boiled them at home.

In the fall, raw peanuts only are sold by farmer market. I think the raw peanuts are peanuts in the shell, harvested from ground.

These peanuts are ready for:

- blending

- grinding or powdering

- roasting

- salting

- drying

- glazing (with honey)

Fig 02- Peanuts with shells in the plastic bag

In addition to boiled peanuts, I think I love to consume drying and bake peanuts. Both contain equal amount of:

- protein

- fat

- carbs

Fig 03- Price of green peanuts in the farmer market

The peanuts also rich in nutrients, contain more than minerals and vitamins include:

- potassium

- phosphorous

- magnesium

- B vitamins.

It is recommended to consume peanuts per day with amount of:

- 1 to 2 ounces of raw peanuts

- 2 tablespoons of peanut butter

Do you like to eat peanuts? What type of peanut you like: raw or processing?

Have You Heard about Second Infection of Corona Virus? - Virus 28

A kind of succulent in the corner, just for illustration.

Based on our knowledge that if we infected by let’s say “virus A,” our immune systems develops antibody.

In case of future infection by “virus A,” our body’s immune system will contain this virus quite easily.

Unfortunately, a patients may get re-infection, after recovering. For simplicity:

- a patient let’s say “Robert” infected by virus Sars Cov 2 (Covid 19)

- “Robert” then recovered after treatment

- several months later, “Robert” may get second infection (re-infection) of corona virus with or without symptoms.

One case in America showed that the second infection more severe than the first one.

In this case, it is fact that corona viruses at first and second infection are different strains. It might be the reason why patient’s immune system did not recognize the second strain of virus.

A lost cat in our neighborhood, just for illustration.

Other reasons for reinfection are:

- immunity is fragile to face Corona virus

- the immunity is weaken over time, might be for several months only to fight virus.

Moreover, cases of re-infections are increasing recently. Some countries with re-infection cases:

- Mexico, 285 cases

- Qatar, 243 cases

- Sweden, 150 cases

- Brazil, 95 cases

- Netherland, 50 cases

- South Korea, 24 cases

Many scientists said that these numbers are underestimated, due to lack of reports.

Do you aware of re-infection of Sars Cov 2 virus (Covid 19)?

Take care, stay healthy and virus free.

Bonsai Trees Show in the City Garden – Gardening and Hobby 12

 

Fig 01- A bonsai tree called as weeping fig (Ficus benjamina)

We just visit a kind of bonsai show by our city bonsai society recently. The show was not that big, just less than 100 trees.

Our city bonsai society also presented:

- lectures and demonstrations

- discuss between members and visitors about caring bonsai trees

- sale different types of bonsai trees.

You may be know that bonsai is a small tree by design, not because of genetic. Simple ways to make bonsai are:

- pot confinement

- root reduction

- defoliation

- prune and trim

- wiring and clamping

Fig 02- Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia)

There are many good trees for bonsai, just some of them are:

- pine

- azalea

- olive

- Indian banyan

- Chinese elm

- Fukien tea

- Crape myrtle

- Ficus benjamina

- Pomegranate

- Common beech

Fig 03- Bonsai from variety of plants

In the USA, the most popular tree for bonsai is a pine. It is because:

- pine is easy to shape with a lot of styles

- ever green

- full grown to 40 years

Fig 04- Visitors for bonsai show

The pines for bonsai, mainly come from native:

- New Mexico

- Colorado

It is said that bonsai pine trees is good if we place indoor. They grow well in the constant room temperature, and in position under light.

Do you love bonsai? What kind of bonsai trees?

Vaccine Efficacy Rate Increases from 90% to 94.5% - Virus 27

The Covid 19 vaccine from Pfizer and Biontech companies

(Credit to Health Industry Hub)

Several days ago, we learned that cooperation between Germany pharmacy company, Biontech and USA company, Pfizer produced vaccine to contain coronavirus, Sars Cov 2.

The Pfizer and Biontech provide data of 90% “efficacy” rate of vaccine called BNT162b2 from third clinical trial.

Then, we got second surprise when Moderna announced 94.5% “efficacy” rate of its Covid 19 vaccine.

You might wonder what the meaning of efficacy rate and effectiveness is.

The simple meaning is that:

- the result of treatments (trials) in the ideal and control condition for “efficacy.” 

- the result of treatments (trials) in the real world for effectiveness term.

Moreover, what are differences between Pfizer and Biontech – Pfizer vaccines?

Moderna Covid 19 vaccine (credit to Reuters)

Several advantages of Moderna vaccine (called as mRNA-1273) are:

- can be maintained in the refrigerator with temperature of F –4 (C –20) for 30 days.

- refrigerators are available in the most doctor offices and all drug stores, both in the cities and rural areas.

- easy to deliver

In contrast, Pfizer – Biontech could be maintained 5 days only with the same refrigerator temperatures.

In term of price:

- US$ 38 a dose for Moderna

- US$ 20 a doses for Pfizer – Biontech

However, 90% efficacy for Pfizer – Biontech and 94.5% for Moderna are great performance vaccines so far.

These two vaccines will be produced about 50 million doses at the end of this year (2020) and 1.3 billion doses by next year (2021).

It is expected that these vaccines to have great impact globally, and we will soon back to normal life before pandemic.

Is Spanish Moss Coming from Spain? – Gardening and Hobby 11

Fig 01- Spanish moss is hanging off the trees

We just aware that there are plenty Spanish moss hanging of the trees on the near by of our jogging paths.

Then, is Spanish Moss coming from Spain? No, the moss is not coming from Spain. It is said, its common in the areas (regions) such as:

- Central America

- South America

- Caribbean

- Mexico

- the USA

In the USA, the moss grows well in the south states, because of moister condition.

The moss is abundant in the states such as Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. The moss also may be found from south areas until north states such as Virginia.

Fig 02- We may see Spanish moss attaches to the trunk of trees

How this an epiphyte plant gets foods and water? By using its leaves:

- absorb nutrients from air

- get water from rainfall 

Fig 03- Spanish moss grows on the ground

There are some negative effect of Spanish moss to the host trees:

- thick moss will block sunlight to reach host tree leaves.

- moss may reduce growth rate of trees. 

Fig 04- Moss covers the trunks

However, the Spanish moss will not kill the host trees, because they are not parasites, and just need the trees to support their life span.

Not all trees are attached by Spanish moss, two most favorite hosts are:

- live oaks

- bald cypress

These two trees are common in the southern states of America.

Do you recognize the Spanish moss in the nature? Do they attach your own backyard trees?

Chemothesis - What a Kind of Covid 19 symptom? - Virus 26

 

A concrete table with two benches.

We have known that there are a lot of symptoms for whom infected with Covid 19.

Some well known symptoms or common symptoms are:

- headaches

- fatigue

- muscle pain

- joint pain.

- or other persistence of pain related symptoms

For severe infections, the symptoms might be following:

- encephalitis, cause brain inflammation

- Chronic pain, long term pain.

Moreover, you may like to read my relevant previous post about common symptoms for infected persons

- How to Know Someone Infected by Wuhan Virus? - Virus 1.

A cat, just for illustration

Moreover, the strange symptom for me is called chemethesis. It is happen when an infected person almost lost his or her taste sense, but he or she able to detect cool peppermints and chilies.

From “definition.net,” the summary of chemethesis is following:

“Chemesthesis is defined as the chemical sensibility of the skin and mucus membranes. Chemesthetic sensations arise when chemical compounds activate receptors associated with other senses that mediate pain, touch, and thermal perception. Examples of chemesthetic sensations include the burn-like irritation from chili pepper, the coolness of menthol in mouthwashes and topical analgesic creams, the stinging or tingling of carbonation in the nose and mouth, and the tear-induction of onions.”

Hope, no one of us be infected by virus Sars Cov 2. Stay safe, healthy and virus free.