Hibiscus Blooming in December - Gardening and Hobby 27

Weather was quite “good” in the last couple weeks, temperature was around F 73 (C 23), and could reach peak at F 82 (C 28) degree in our state, Louisiana.

Fig 01- Red Hibiscus blooming

I think this “warmer” temperature is not typical December or “winter” in our city and state. I don’t know why.

Hibiscus and some other flowers are blooming in our Neighborhood. This month should be the “winter” season: “no flowers blooming.”

In case of Hibiscus, the time of this flower to bloom start from Early Summer to early Fall every year.

Fig 02- Two Hibiscus flowers

Fig 03- “A pink” Hibiscus

Fig 04- Yellow flower

Fig 05- A bunny, belongs to my neighbor

In term of months, this flower comes in May until September, but no later than October. Moreover, as you know that Hibiscus has plenty colors, some of them are white, lavender, orange and combine colors. Blue is a rare color.

We have few colors that are red, pink, orange and yellow. All flowers used to bloom in the summer season.

Finally, how about with temperature during winter in your areas?

# Previous postings:

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Do You Know that Your Cat Love you? - Part 2 - Critter 20

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- Do You Know that Your Cat Love you? - Part 1 - Critter 20 | Tanza Erlambang

Fig 01- A black cat looks at you

Other “lovely” signs of cat to their owners are following:

1) Lick their owners

- Licking and kissing are indicating of friendship and trust

2) Blink at owners

- It is a kind of body language that owners have no threat and everything is cool.

3) Purr at owners

- Actually, cats purr to their kitten only. Purr to the owners could be signs that cats are anxious, ill and hungry. They need attention from their owners.

Fig 02- Just for illustration

Fig 03- A cute cat in the room

4) Knead the keepers

- Cats knead things or places to mark or claim those as their own belonging. Kneading the human could be mean that cats feel strong bonding to their owners.

Sure, there are many other signs of cats toward owners, other human, other cats and their kitten. You may observe in details.

Finally, do you have a cat? What are familiar signs of cat to you?

# Previous postings:

- Cutting Down Trees Due to Fungus Diseases - Gardening and hobby 1 | Tanza

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Public Education from the Rose Society – Sign 25

We have talked about herb society in our city at previous post:

- Herbs Show at Our City Park – Sign 19 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Fig 01- Rose society of our city

Like other societies, not surprising that Rose society has public education about anything relate to this flower.

However, what special for me that this society opens consultation to whoever interest in roses.

Common people may consult about growing rose and the problems they may face with having roses. Even-thought consultation is a kind of simple matters only, but free of cost and helpful for beginners.

Fig 02- Plants show, illustration

As you may know that roses have no more than 10 different colors in nature, but industries have developed at least 60 colors and its combines.

Fig 03- Roses in the garden

There are many favorite colors in the market, few of them:

- pink and red

- orange and yellow

- lavender

- white cream

- coral and peach

We love red, pink, yellow and white roses. Do you love roses? What color do you prefer?

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Why does Oil Price Go Negative in the Market? - Part 1

In case you did not know or forgot, just to remind that we experienced negative price of crude oil in the market in 2020.

Fig 01- Oil reached negative price (-US$ 37.63).

Credit to Google.

Surprisingly, crude oil price plummet sharply below zero or in the negative trading zone.

The price reached negative value (- US$ 37.63) for the first time at least in American history. The trading of future contract price was for West Texas Intermediate or WTI crude oil.

Negative price means that if we are consumers, then the producers will pay us to take their oil from their hands.

Fig 02- Hot chocolate, illustration

Fig 03- Late Autumn in our area.

We might ask the question, Why Oil Price Goes Negative? The multiple possible answers could be:

- oil supply more than market demand.

- oil stores are overflow or no spaces to store over supply of oil

In term of stock market, oil was traded in New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) since 1983.

# To be continued to Part 2

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Injured Hawk on the Yard – Critter 24

We found an injured hawk on the ground of our yard recently. We did not know why this “young” bird injured.

Fig 01- A hawk on the ground

We believed the hawk might be attacked by big birds (predators), then we tried to contact anyone who could help.

While finding some helps, we aware that injures might be due to several factors, the most significant causes relate to predators.

Interestingly, the bigger hawks attack smaller and medium size hawks for unknown reasons.

Then, what other possible predators to attack hawk?

Fig 02- Pitcher, illustration

From Googling, we may find some predators which may attacks and even consume hawk.

Fig 03- Missed hawk’s feathers

The predators include crows, eagles and owls.

Little weak hawks or hawk’s eggs could be targeted by several other animals such as foxes, raccoon and snakes.

By the way, we finally find a foundation (institute) which could help injured hawk. The foundation is close by our neighborhood.

Wings of Hope, a Wildlife Sanctuary promised to take care injured hawk, and please to contact it in the future.

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A Flower Called Cat’s Ear Dandelion – Part 1 - Gardening and Hobby 26

A Common dandelion and Cat’s ear dandelion are two different flowers, but both of them looks very similar for me.

Fig 01- Cat’s Ear Dandelion

From a source in internet, It is said the different between a Common dandelion and Cat’s ear dandelion are following:

1) Hairs on leaves

- Cat’s ear Dandelion has dense hairs on leaves, but the Common Dandelion has no hairs at all.

2) Notched

- Notched is less deep in Cat’s ear Dandelion than in the Common Dandelion.

Fig 02- Butterfly and flower, illustration

Fig 03- Just like Dandelion

In respect to scientific name, both are not only different in species but also in genus:

- Taraxacum officinale for Common Dandelion

- Hypochaeris radicata for Cat’s Ear Dandelion

Actually, Cat’s Ear Dandelion is weed, not flower or fake flower

Both Cat’s ear Dandelion and Common Dandelion are perennial flowers, means that they are blooming in Summer to early Fall. Died in the colder seasons, then grow back in hot seasons

# To be continued to Part 2

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Duskywings Butterfly in the Southern States – Critter 23

Interestingly, there are contradict reports about the presents of Duskywings butterfly in Canada. One report said no recorded of Duskywings in Canada.

Fig 01- A Duskywings flies in the garden

I believe with reported from USGS (1999: Butterfly of North America), Duskywing was detected in the provinces of Manitoba and Ontario, Canada

However, yes, we may see this butterfly flies around from Northern to Southern states of the USA.

As reported by Mass Audubon (2022: Butterfly Atlas Species Accounts) that limit of duskywings distribution is “in extreme southern New Hampshire.”

I observed a quite number of duskywings during summer seasons when I visit gardens and parks in my city, Louisiana.

Image 2- A butterfly on the back of window

Image 3- A duskiwings on the flowers

They are abundant in the areas of Gulf of Mexico, parts of Louisiana and Mississippi states.

Duskiwings fly and have habitats in other southern states as well, include the states of:

- Texas

- Alabama

- Georgia

- and Florida

Erynnis sp is known duskywings genus. This genus has at least 17 species in the USA.

Do you know about duskywings butterfly? Do you see in your areas?

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