Blooming of Zinnia Flowers - Gardening and Hobby 32

We failed to grow Zinnia from seeds to flowers last year due to several reasons, one of them was unstable weather condition.

Fig 01- Blooming of Zinnia.

Another reason that we have no experience, just try and fail. We start to grow again Zinnia in the small pots this year, and luckily we success to have beautiful blooming of Zinnia flowers.

There are bout 20 species Zinnias in the world. The flowers native to Mexico, Central America region, and the USA.

Many Zinnia flowers are found in the wild, just few species with hundred of hybrids are grown in the gardens or recreational parks in several countries around the globe.   

Fig 02- A kind of hybrid flower

We grew Zinnia where there were plenty of sun rays. Seeds just few inches below soil in the small pots, it is because light will stimulate seeds to germinate.

After several months, flowers grow and blooming. In our state, Zinnias are blooming around April to May.

Fig 03- Bright color of Zinnia flower

Have you experienced to grow Zinnia flowers?

# Previous postings:

- Cutting the Tree Before Hurricane Coming – Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The Orb Weaver Spider in the Yard – Critter 14 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Demanding of Tofu was Increasing During Covid 19 Pandemic – Part 1 – Food Variety 21 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Drinking Problem in the USA – Sign 18 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Mockingbird’s Eggs Near my House – Critter 36

We saw a nest a few days ago, then, there are 4 eggs recently. We believe the eggs belong to a Mockingbird.

Fig 01- Four eggs of Mockingbird’s

It is because, Mockingbirds fly around the place sometimes. However, based on GoogleID, the possible birds:

- Mockingbirds

- American Robin

- and Cowbirds

The Mockingbird is also known as Northern Mockingbird with scientific name Mimus polyglottos. The Mockingbird is a resident in our state, where we may see the bird year round.

Fig 02- Magnolia flowers, illustration only

They start to lay eggs from March if temperature quite warmer, and reach peak in April. Number of eggs from 2 to 6 eggs. However, Mockingbirds often have eggs about 3 to 4 eggs.

Fig 03- An entrance of a garden, illustration only

Both male and female guard the nest. They are very aggressive during incubation periods. Female will incubate eggs for about 12 to 13 days. After hatching, the babies need 12 days only to leave their nest.

Fig 04- A mockingbird sitting on the twigs

Have you seen Mockingbird’s eggs in nature?

# Previous postings:

- Less Books in the Box – Sign 17 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Pug was a Breeding Dog for Royal Families – Critter 13 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Peanuts in the Farmer Market – Part 1 – Food Variety 20 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Cutting the Tree Before Hurricane Coming – Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Are Cage Free Eggs Healthier than Regular Ones? - Part 1 – Food Variety 32

I like the taste and flavor of cage free eggs than regular ones. Some people said the cage free eggs is the healthiest eggs, the other said no (nutritional) differences of the two.

Fig 01- Regular and cage free eggs

It is required that all groceries in the USA must sell cage free eggs by 2025, not so long time from now.

Some states require that groceries must sell cage free eggs by January, 2023 (Lyon Recorder, 2022: Effective January 2, 2023 grocery store eggs must come from cage-free farms). The sates are: “Utah, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, Massachusetts, California and Michigan.”

A cage free hen is not mean that hens are roaming around in the grass field or a very huge place.

Fig 02- Regular eggs packed

However, the hens are much more better live in the huge cage, hence, hens have good live than confined ones. 

Fig 03- Just for illustration

Advantages of cage free hens are following:

1) Consume organic feed

2) No antibiotics

3) No or less exposure to pesticides

Fig 04- A chicken, from previous photo

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- Declining Population of Mammals with Cube Feces | Tanza Erlambang

- Small Business at Nearby Neighborhood – Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang

- The Attractive Flower to Butterflies and Bees | Tanza Erlambang

- Less Books in the Box – Sign 17 | Tanza Erlambang Update

A Tradition to Honor Who We Love with a Tree – Sign 42

When jogging in the city park, we saw a new planting little tree with an honor sign under its.

Fig 01- A sign to honor someone

Other days, we found some trees with honor signs in other public parks. The, we try to find out what the meaning of this.

By searching through internet, we understand that planting a tree to honor, commemorate and celebrate someone life is a tradition in America since WW I, about a hundred year ago.

Actually, this tradition had been “copied” from European tradition. Then, the American Forestry Association (now, called as “American Forest”) campaigns it across USA.

Fig 02- A growing tree with a sign

There are plenty of trees as a candidate for a memorial tree to plant. Sure, depend on regions where we live.

Fig 03- A building in the corner, illustration

As suggested by Grief and Sympathy (2023: The Top 10 Best Memorial Trees to Plant) that there are 10 goods trees as memorial trees to plant for love ones.

The trees are: Blue Spruce, Red Maple, Sargent Cherry, Weeping Willow, Rose Shrub, Magnolia, Oak, Gardenia, White Crape Myrtle and Olive tree.

Fig 04- A little tree with an honor sign.

Have you experienced with “planting a tree to honor, commemorate and celebrate someone life?”

# Previous postings:

- Market of Ornamental Fish for Pond – Critter 11 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Cutting the Tree Before Hurricane Coming – Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- What is Tang Soo Do? - Sign 16 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Our Yards are Visited by Bees Regularly – Critter 12 | Tanza Erlambang Update

The Swag as Decoration for Easter – Sign 41

We may familiar with the word wreath than swag. My guess, the difference that wreath is more symbolic and generally used in daily life.

Fig 01- A sign of Happy Easter

On the other hand, swag is less formal and free form in style. Both have the same goal that is for decoration of celebrations, either for specific celebrations such as Christmas and Easter or for any occasions.

Swags for Easter decorations attach several symbols, decorations and symbols may include these:

- lilies and flowers

- candies and baskets

- Easter bunny, eggs, carrots, and crosses

Fig 02- A carrot swag for happy Easter

Many of my neighbors have designed their own beautiful handmade Easter swags with the Happy Easter sign.

Fig 03- Crochet bunnies on the lawn, just illustration

Some of them have accepted handmade custom orders of swags and wreaths, not only for Easter but also for any seasons and occasions.

Fig 04- Happy Easter to you all

Happy Easter to who celebrates its.

# Previous postings:

- State Rules to Prohibit Pets in Stores – Sign 14 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Small Business at Nearby our Neighborhood – Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Raccoon Hiding under the Hood of the Car – Critter 10 | Tanza Erlambang Update

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What is Negative Interest Rate Mean? - Part 2

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- What is Negative Interest Rate Mean? - Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Fig 01- Chocolate covered strawberry

Moreover, the Bank of England, the British central bank was planning to have negative interest rate, then the rate was negative few years ago or by February, 2021.

We may wonder: what are the purposes of negative interest rate?

The main purposes that banks (the central bank) want or encourage people to:

- spending their money instead of saving in the banks

- investing more into the markets

- borrow money from the banks for any purposes, include consumption.

Fig 02- The Monte Carlo Aster Purple flower

These encouragements will boost the economy, the fact is based on economic experiences in Japan, Denmark, Switzerland and Sweden.

Fig 03- The Yellow Rose, taken from garden

Have you experienced with negative or close to zero interest rate in your places?

# Previous postings:

- Slow Cat Crossing in Neighborhood – Sign 13 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Are Rattan End Products Expensive than Plastic? | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Database in Everyday Aspects of Life - Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Have you Seen Cube Feces Animals in Nature? | Tanza Erlambang Update

- State Rules to Prohibit Pets in Stores – Sign 14 | Tanza Erlambang Update

The Butterfly Milkweed Plants - Gardening and Hobby 31

The milkweed plants belong to the genus of Asclepias which have plenty species, about 140 kind of plants.

Fig 01- Butterfly milkweed plants.

The 140 species of milkweed plants are found mainly in the areas of North America, Africa and South America.

I have known just two species grow beautifully in our neighborhood, Baton Rouge, LA: Common butterfly milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and Mexican, also well known as Tropical butterfly milkweed (Asclepias curassivica)

As reported by USDA (2023: Which Milkweeds Do Monarch Butterflies Prefer?) that the Common butterfly milkweed plant is preferred by Monarch butterfly to lay their eggs.

Fig 02- Unidentified butterfly, illustration

However, we always find Monarch butterfly drinking nectar of Mexican (tropical) milkweed flowers in our neighborhood areas during Spring times.

Wisconsin Horticulture (2023: Tropical Milkweed, Asclepias currasavica) suggested that Monarch butterfly prefer Mexican Milkweed than other Milkweed plants in Wisconsin state areas.

Fig 03- A Monarch butterfly landing on the Milkweed flower

Do you recognize both Common butterfly milkweed and Mexican (Tropical) butterfly milkweed? What do you think?

# Previous postings:

- Database in Everyday Aspects of Life - Part 1 | Tanza

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- Finnish Nightmare in the Eyes of Far Eastern Countries - Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Ornamental Fish for Pond in the Garden – Critter 9 | Tanza Erlambang Update

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