Rare to See Spicebush Swallowtails in the Yard – Critter 32

We always see monarch butterfly during Spring to Summer seasons in our yards or our city gardens and parks:

- From Caterpillar to Monarch Butterfly – Critter 18 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Fig 01- Colorful of a swallowtail.

Contrary, we rarely see the swallowtails butterfly. We don’t know whether this is just for our cases.

Two contradict facts:

1) Monarch butterfly includes in endangered species list by “International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).”

2) The Spicebush Swallowtail butterfly with scientific name, Papilio troilus Linnaeus, is excluded from IUCN list. It means that the swallowtails butterfly should be seen more than Monarch butterfly in nature.

Fig 02- Flowers, just illustration

As reported by UF IFAS (2015: Featured Creatures) that butterfly of the Spicebush swallowtail is “relatively common” in the nature and in the botanical gardens or city parks.

The species distributes in the states throughout the eastern and the mid-western parts of the USA.

Fig 03- A swallowtail is flying under flowers

How often do you see Swallowtail butterfly in the nature?

# Previous postings:

- Bee Swarm Removing Cost – Part 1 - Gardening and Hobby 23 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Women Equality as Conflict Paradigm Example – Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Using Woods for Fireplace in the Winter – Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Could Available Drugs Regenerate beta Cells? – Part 2 - Diabetes 28 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Bee Swarm Removing Cost – Part 2- Gardening and Hobby 23 | Tanza Erlambang Update

What is Negative Interest Rate Mean? - Part 1

At previous postings, we have talked about negative price such as negative oil price, it was happened around April 2020 few years ago. That was the first time in American history.

Fig 01- Negative interest rate (credit to Money for the rest of Us).

You may read about oil price goes negative:

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

- Why does Oil Price Go Negative in the Market?- Part 2

How about with negative interest rate?

It means that if we save (deposit) our money, then the bank will charge it. Some banks have specific limit, the charge is applied only to excess cash.

Another meaning that you will get some “amount of money or credit” if you get loan from banks.

Fig 02- A corner at neighborhood, just for illustration.

What countries experienced with negative interest rates?

Here are some:

- Switzerland, interest rate sits at -0.75% (minus 0.75%).

- Denmark has interest rate at -0.60% (minus 0.60%).

- Sweden with interest rate at -0.10% (minus 0.10%).

- Japan has interest rate of -0.10% (minus 0.10%).

Fig 03- Empty Street, just illustration

Have your countries experienced negative interest rate?

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- Could Available Drugs Regenerate beta Cells? – Part 1 - Diabetes 28 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Bee Swarm Removing Cost – Part 1 - Gardening and Hobby 23 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Women Equality as Conflict Paradigm Example – Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Using Woods for Fireplace in the Winter – Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Could Available Drugs Regenerate beta Cells? – Part 2 - Diabetes 28 | Tanza Erlambang Update

The Typical French Garden Style in Louisiana – Sign 34

After a while, we are aware that the specific part of our city, Baton Rouge, LA botanical garden has a geometric pattern. The pattern origin was from one of French kings.

Fig 01- A geometric pattern of garden

The king was King Louis XIV, rained the country from 1643 to 1715, more than 400 years ago.

The miniature of this geometric garden was established in 2017 in our city. Then, maintained by:

- Baton Rouge Botanical Garden Foundation

- and Baton Rouge Recreation and Park Commission (BREC).

Uniquely, we may see hedges to “fence” flowers and grasses. The hedge was kept short enough, so we can observe surrounding easily.

Fig 02- Entrance of geometric garden

When Spring or Summer, we may see plenty flowers and plants, just few of them are Yellow jasmine, Ferns, False Indigo, Loropetalum, Holly, Azalea, Irish, Rose, Lily and Confederate jasmine.

Image 3- At the middle of garden

Have you seen geometric garden style of King Louis XIV in your areas or other places?

# Previous postings:

- What are Tempe Health Benefits? - Part 1 – Food Variety 16 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The Reasons Raccoon Visit Our Neighborhood – Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Do People Keep a Pig as a Pet? - Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- What are Tempe Health Benefits? - Part 2 – Food Variety 16 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Could Available Drugs Regenerate beta Cells? – Part 1 - Diabetes 28 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Blooming of Starfish Cactus - Gardening and Hobby 29

The cactus with scientific name Stapelia hirsuta, strarts blooming after July, during summer months in Northern America every year. Since we live in the southern state, some of flowers blooming in February.

Fig 01- The Starfish flower

Flower looks like “a starfish,” and quite bigger compared to the plant size. In our case, the flower may reach 36 cm (14 inches).

I think, our flower is mixed of flesh and yellow colors. Other blooming colors may different from species to species.

Some of other flower’s colors are:

- gray

- yellowish

- reddish and purple

Fig 02- No single flower yet

In term of odors, we smell quite offensive aromas such as foul odors, stink smell, rotten meat or dead animals.

Fig 03- Close up of starfish flower

The smell to invite pollinators like flies and other insects to come and pollinate the cactus flowers.

Have you seen Starfish cactus?

# Previous postings:

- Push-Ups are Good for Our Health – Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- How Nature could Make Human being Happy? | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The Reasons Raccoon Visit Our Neighborhood – Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Do People Keep a Pig as a Pet? - Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- What are Tempe Health Benefits? - Part 1 – Food Variety 16 | Tanza Erlambang Update

How Could Scientists Cure AIDS Patients? - Part 2 – Virus 40

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- How Could Scientists Cure AIDS Patients? - Part 1 – Virus 40 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Fig 01- Handcrafted, just for illustration

The mutated protein is crucial, because it could block HIV to enter and infect immune cells.

Bone marrow ultimately produces immune cells which able to resist HIV, and slowly replace infected or vulnerable cells.

Then, HIV patients will be cured in certain periods. WHO (2022) reported that the first man who remission from HIV got 12 years treatment by “bone marrow stem cell transplant.”

Fig 02- Hibiscus flowers, illustration

Fairly interesting that there are plenty of donors, about 22 thousand and even more have mutant CCR5 proteins, and donors mainly from the countries of Northern Europe so far.

Scientists could identify more donors from any part of the world if they wish in the near future. 

Fig 03- Yellow Jessamine flowers, illustration

This is the good news for all of us to combat AIDS epidemic!

# Previous postings:

- 40 million Guests Sleep on Camping Sites in the USA – Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Push-Ups are Good for Our Health– Part 1

- Growing Some Sweet Fruits at Our Backyard – Part 2 - Gardening and Hobby 22 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- 40 million Guests Sleep on Camping Sites in the USA – Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Push-Ups are Good for Our Health– Part 2

The Friendly Himalayan Cat – Critter 31

The Himalayan cat is a result of cross breeding between Persian and Siamese cats. Some people said it is the best combines. However, others said that it is just a kind of a Persian version of breeding.

Fig 01- The cat looks at you

They call the Persian version cats it is because the breedings are “super friendly” with a very sweet expression.

Some other important characters that the cats have:

- large round eyes

- a snub nose

- small ears

- and love to stay indoors, sure they will be happy if we bring them outdoors.

Fig 02- The cat is ready to play

The beautiful coat is another reason why many people love this cross breeding critter as a pet.

I love blue coat colors. Some colors may include chocolate, cream, lilac and many others.

Fig 03- A cute Himalayan cat

Have you known about the Himalayan Cat? What do you think?

# Previous postings:

- America is Top Importer of Ornamental Fish – Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Halloween in Our Neighborhood – Photos | Tanza Erlambang Update

- What Habit may Contribute to Diabetes? - Diabetes 27 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Growing Some Sweet Fruits at Our Backyard – Part 1 - Gardening and Hobby 22 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- 40 million Guests Sleep on Camping Sites in the USA – Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Homemade Local Pecan Candy - Part 1 - Food Variety 29

I bought pecan candies from a small vendor sold at the corner of our neighborhood long time ago. He said the candies are made by himself.

Fig 01- Pecan candies on the plate

It was first time I tasted pecan candies, the special candy from Louisiana. I can not eat more than two, since they are so sweet for me, due to higher sugar content.

Based on report from SparkRecipes (2023: Calories in Pecan Pralines Candy) that calories content per serving candy (18.92 gram equal to 0.7 oz) is 131 calories. Quite higher, I think.

Bsic ingredients of pecan candy are granulated sugar, dark brown sugar, butter, salt and evaporated milk.

Fig 02- The ceramic teapot, illustration only

Pecan is a tree, native to southern parts (states) of USA such as:

- Georgia

- Texas

- Mississippi

- Alabama

- Arkansas

- Arizona

- California

- Florida

- Louisiana

Fig 03- Candies inside boxes.

Scientific name of Pecan tree is Carya illinoinensis. The trees produce nut, also called as “pecan.”

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- Understanding Diseases in Human Body through Knockout Genes – Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- America is Top Importer of Ornamental Fish – Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Understanding Diseases in Human Body through Knockout Genes – Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- America is Top Importer of Ornamental Fish – Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update