Thursday, July 9, 2015

* 7/09/15 What do you MEAN I'm not a bear?


 Okay. I may or not have gone a month without updating... I feel really bad. I've been busy (ultimate excuse), but not so busy that I couldn't spare some time for a couple posts a week. Which is why I feel so bad. Anyway, this post is to make up for all the days I haven't posted, and hopefully I will begin posting regularly again!


Honestly, this a top koalaty post, as in for VIP only. Don't worry, you koalafy. However, why are Koala's not bears? I mean, they have all the koalaficatations. Okay... All these koala puns are getting unbearable...

On a more serious note, they really aren't bears, so I have my doubts about the person that named them. The Koala bear,  Phascolarctos cinereus, is a marsupial, not a bear, as you may already know. When born, the baby koala--or joey--is the size of a jelly, and is blind, hairless, and deaf. This tiny creature makes it's way to it's mother's pouch all on it's own! Like all marsupials, a Koala mother comes equipped with a handy pouch on her stomach, so the newborn joey can stay swaddled up, safe and cozy, for six whole months.

After that life of luxury, the infant emerges, and spends approximately another six months clinging to it's mothers back and having little escapades on it's own. A day in the life of a joey would consist of 18 hours of sleep, waking up, suckling, then as it gets older feeding on faecal pap--which is, in a sense, specialized poop (a specialized kind, that is actually very nutritious for the joey)--then at last leaving it's mother around the age of year when his mother has another joey to take care of.

Once it is on it's own, a koala has to find it's own territory, where it can hopefully start a new generation of Koala's living wild in Australia. Of course, from here on it's life isn't easy. Over 10 koala's die each day under the wheels of cars, dogs, and habitat loss. That's around 4,000 each year!

These amazing creatures, although not bears, are just as fascinating.


Sorry little guy, but you don't.. Koala's are in a completely different order of classification then bears, belonging to the order Diprotodontia, while bears are in Carnivora--yes, Koala's aren't even carnivores! Instead, they feed entirely on eucalyptus leaves. That's a big difference in two similar looking species.


Tuesday, June 2, 2015

+ 6/02/15 The Garden Updated

Its been 19 days since I posted a picture of my garden, and its already doubled in size! Sorry for the really long wait. I haven't really changed much myself to it, except planted the carrots and beans (the beans sprouted, but not the carrots, so I can't weed the spot where the carrots come up at. That's why its so messy there). Cue the lights! *lights turn off and projector displays picture on wall... I wish*
 
 


My garden from the last post times 2. It was raining when I took the picture, hence the dripping plants and wet soil (with dry grass blocking out the weeds).
 
My tomato plants. Compare this to the picture of my tomato plants in the last post and... wow. Its even flowering now!
 
 
 
 
My pepper! Wet, but big ☺
 
 
Sorry for the bad angle I took the picture at. But the Rosemary hasn't really changed... So that doesn't matter that much.
 
 
!!!♥♥♥The beans have sprouted ♥♥♥!!!
 I have 6 bean plants, but one of them is cut out of the picture on the top, and the other hasn't dropped it's seed cap yet. Its in between the 3rd and 4th one from the bottom.
 
 
 
Lastly, I am going to make a list of all of my current plants, plus pictures of them.
 
#1. Tomato1 (picture above)
#2. Tomato2 (picture above)
#3. Pepper (picture above)
#4. Rosemary (picture above)
#5. Beans (picture above)
#. Carrots (not sprouted)
#7. Purple Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea)
 
#8. Purple Shamrock (Oxalis triangularis)
#9. Neanthe Bella (Chamaedorea elegans)
#10. Boston Fern (Nephralepis exaltata)
 
#11. Orchid
 
#12. Unidentified (new)
 
#13. Unidentified (new)
 
#14. Chamomile
 
#15 - 19. Unidentifed (new)
 
#20 - 21. Unidentified (new)

       So yes, I have a lot of plants I have figured out what they are yet, and I am working on it. If anyone knows what any of them are, please tell me ;) thanks. Till the next post.


 

+ 5/14/15 The Garden



Here are a few pictures of my garden, which is still pretty small. It's still small, even though I expanded it since last year. I currently have two tomatoes, one rosemary (new), one pepper, and will have a row of bush beans, and a row of carrots (new).


This is a picture of the entire garden from above. the grass in the bottom right corner of the picture is the edge of my garden.


These are my two tomatoes--although it looks like one. There is actually two separate stalks at the base, that I couldn't separate for fear of damaging the fragile root ball when I was planting it.


I also planted Rosemary for my mother, and it's doing well so far! In fact, all of my plants survived the transplant and began growing almost immediately afterwards.
My one pepper plant, which is the smallest thing in my garden as of now. I will soon plant some beans and carrots hopefully.

I will make another post on my garden soon ;) till the next post.

 
 
 
 
 

Thursday, May 21, 2015

* 5/12/15 Say No to Water Bottles


Yes, so Earth Month passed, but that's no reason to give up efforts. I came across this video while doing some research, and it was certainty worth posting here. This relatively short clip is about bottled water, and it's negative effects on the environment. Like many of the environmentally friendly alternatives, using filtered tap water over bottled water saves money, and of course nature. The video covers most everything needed to be known, but I will gloss over the main idea.

The main reason bottled water became so popular is because of manufactured demand. This is when companies draw attention to their product. As the video explains, bottled water companies use methods to get you think their product is better then tap water. One such method is scaring you into thinking that tap water is unclean. This is not true, as a study shows that bottled water is sometimes even less pure then tap water, and doesn't taste as good either.

 Also, companies like Aquifina picture pristine mountains and wildlife on their label--when the reality is that the water comes from the tap. Bottled water is 2,000 times more expensive then tap water, when you really are purchasing something you can get for nearly free in your own kitchen. Can you imagine buying a 10,000 sandwich?

Lastly, bottled water companies mislead their costumers in advertisements in paper or on television. Nestle posted a full-page ad stating that, "Bottled water is the most environmentally friendly consumer product in the world." However, all along the water bottle's life cycle, the environment is being trashed. When the bottles are being manufactured, enough oil is used in one year to fuel 1 million cars. Even more energy is used to ship it around the planet to where you live, and all of that is just to be thrown away two minutes.

In conclusion, water bottles are polluting our planet, while people can simply take a cup of tap water that is 2,000 times cheaper. When traveling, a reusable plastic bottle can carry more water for a far cheaper price. And even if you do buy a water bottle, be sure to recycle it and spare the environment another deadly blow, or else the bottle will end up in a landfill waiting for countless years, before it's precious materials degrade away. It's so simple to take action, so why don't we all come together to ensure our lives are as environmentally friendly as possible and give the future generations a safe, healthy world to live on.


Monday, May 11, 2015

+ 5/10/15 The First of Many



      The first plant of this years garden is planted! At least, for my garden. My dad already has 6 of his 9 tomato plants in the ground, as well his cucumber plants. I planted one tomato plant... But, at the same time, it's not really one. It's more like 2. Two tomato's sharing a root ball, and their stems smushed up together like they are one plant. I'll call them the Twins.

For the second plant I have... Which I have had for seemingly eternity (since January 26th, as I wrote in my plant log), I provided some additional care for it's little leaves. My Nephrolepis exaltata (yes, I memorized it's scientific name for whatever reason I don't know), now has this;





 
I started off with a circular tin tray. I filled it with pebbles, and filled the tin with water.
Then, I placed the Boston Fern on top of the tray, and the tray + pot on top of my dresser counter. In this picture you can see the orchid (far left), Boston Fern (second from left), Palm Tree (Middle, Green pot), and my newest addition, Oxalis triangularis, a.k.a. Purple Shamrock (far right). You can also see me holding my fathers phone in the mirror.

 

Saturday, May 9, 2015

+ 5/08/15 Garden


I finally got some work done on my garden--and it's marking the start of a lot of progress. I technically got this done on the 9nth, but I'm posting a day before. (I'm confusing myself). So my dad tilled (roto-tilled) his garden, and I relented and said he could till my garden (I was prejudiced about tillers because they crush worms, but my dad said that tilling also loosens the soil and improves the conditions for the worms).

Then he said that he can do my garden, but I have to take out the fence. So I did, he tilled it, and it took a lot less time then April 2nd, when I did it by hand. Now, my dad said that we can purchase plants for our gardens this week, and hopefully by next week it'll be all done. That will be around the 20-30th, and that's the time my garden was finished last year. So I'm on track. Somewhat. (dials Longwood Gardens) Any clue how much the tomato plant are? Alright, be right over. Till the next post.

* 5/06/15 Killer whales


Alright, I promised an essay, and so here; Killer whales are fascinating creatures, and often misunderstood. They are one of the fastest creatures in the sea, and can travel up to 30 miles per hour. They are also able to control the flow of blood to their hearts and brains to prevent suffering from a lack of oxygen. Also, to provide the energy for all of their actions, Killer whales have to eat around 5% of their of weight every day. That means over 500 pounds per Orca.

Orcas are very social, and interact within their own pod. However, they socialize with other pods too. They are indeed known for being aggressive, but not to humans. The only cases of a killer whale attacking a human are in captivity. Orcas get their name for feeding on other dolphins and even some whales.

+ 5/04/15 Oxalis Triangularis


Last post I mentioned my new plant Purple Shamrock. This is pretty much more about it. I'm going to do an informative post next time, I promise. I got it from my grandmother to take care of, and I'm going to try and see if I can bring it back to full health. I've already logged it in with the rest of my plants in a document I have, and this is it;


Plant #4.
Common Name: Purple Shamrock

Scientific Name: Oxalis triangularis (OX-uh-lihs try-AN-gyoo-lair-ihs)

Date Acquired: May 7th, 2015

Treatment/Care:

Sunlight: Little sun.

Range:

Watering Schedule: Water when top soil is dry.
 
 
(It's weird logging it in for "May 7th" when the supposed date for this post is before that. I come from the fuuuuuture!) I'm going to add a picture here, then a week later (the 17th, not the 12th) I'll post again on how it looks and see if there is a noticeable difference, and if there is, hopefully it looks better rather then not. Now, I'm thinking of Undead. My zombie pepper from last year
, that I hoped could bring back to life. It died. Lets hope I have better luck here. (Then again, Tumbleweed was a bring-back-to-life project too, and became one of my best tomato plants--ever). Till the next post.

Friday, May 8, 2015

* 5/02/15 Gardening Tips


I was originally freaking out that I don't have a planted garden by the start of May, but then I looked at my post from last year and saw that I made my garden the 21st! So I'm no longer in any rush, except to pick out soil amendments (I've been pestering my dad for fertilizer to provide more nutrients to the drained soil of our gardens). So far, I have gotten a plant, whish does not happen to be for my garden (I'm stocking on houseplants). First the snapdragon, now an Oxalis triangularis. Translated into common speak, Purple Shamrock.

But anyway, I did not write this post to provide updates, more so to give you a genuine post. So I provide you with a special for the "first day" (it's the 8th that I'm typing this). A list for gardening tips, that might come in handy someway or other.
 
Gardening Tips:
 
1. Buy plants local.
2. Pay attention to the plants life cycle.
3. Give plants a good growing environment.
4. Chose plants that are well-suited to your climate.
5. Space plants so that they will shade weeds at maturity.
6. Concentrate compost and fertilizer where plants are growing. 
 7. Water seedlings with a fine stream of water that will not damage them.
8. Transplant seedlings late in the day when it is overcast to reduce transplant shock.
9. A week before transplanting a seedling, take it outside to get used to full light and wind. 
10. Buy a gallon of water, place it on it's side, and put germinating seedlings on for warmth.
 
 
        I arranged the tips in a tree-like formation (XD) so it looks cooler... And stranger. For those of you that do plant, I hope these are helpful. Till the next post.
 
 
 
 

 

- 4/30/15 Science (Wattpad)


Even though it's well into May I'm still typing up the last post for April, since back in March I made a promise not to skip a day. I also said I hoped to get my garden finished by May, but that obviously has not happened. This post is not going to be typed here, it's on another website and it's not even a "post". Its just a book that I wrote on a place called Wattpad, that all about science. I tried to explain things simply, and I provided a Words to Know: at the bottom to define some of the larger words in each chapter. I hope you enjoy! The link is here. After clicking on it, click Start Reading. Again, I hope you like it. Till the next post.

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

+ 4/28/15 Strange Growth 4


An original. Had a sequel. Became a trilogy. Now I provide a fourth to my series of posts for my pitcher plant alone, which had "strange growth" in the center. In fact, if you type in those two words in the search bar of my website, all the past posts on it will come up. The stalk is now 1 ft 4 inches, and the "bud" opened up to reveal I-have-no-idea. But I'm still posting about it while simultaneously searching for a clue as to what it is. It has pollen--I know that much. This is how it looks now:


     Its... Very tall. Very, very tall. But I think it's done growing now. I also got a close-up of the top but I cant get it to post :(

I've decided to go over my posts this year and add a * on the title of posts that are informative articles, and + on the titles of posts like these that are about my plants or garden. That way, you can just search * in the search bar of my website if you want essays. Thanks! Till the next post.

 
 

Friday, May 1, 2015

+ 4/26/15 Snapdragon



The start of the planting season has begun! One plant down--not in my garden, but in my room. I still have my pitcher plant, fern plant, and palm tree, and now I have a snapdragon! Well, not yet. I have the seeds planted, and it is now in it's egg-shaped container next to my pitcher plant.


Yes, this is the egg-shaped pot, and the non-visible seeds buried inside the growing medium. Well, hopefully by the next post I'll have another plant! Till the next post.

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

- 4/22/15


It's Earth Day! This post will be about my schedule for the last of Earth Month, April. The 30th will be of Park Day Clean Up (I always do the post Thursday since the cleanup is Wednesday), and somewhere from next post to then, will be my garden, (adding soil amendments, purchasing plants, planting), and hopefully by the start of May, my garden will be finished. My gardening post schedule will be every 4 days, and/or will something extreme occurs such as a new plant or sudden growth. I should (hopefully) have a row of beans, two tomatoes, and 1 pepper, and 1 (other). I want one less pepper then last year because I don't think they adjust well to my garden. Till the next post!

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

* 4/20/15 Tips for a Better World


April is drawing to a close, and the end of Earth Month is in sight. But there is still a precious week and a half to go! There are plenty of things you can do, and they all start at the simplest. Try these 5 tips, and you won't regret it.

#1. That ordinary lightbulb still in your ceiling? Swap it for a compact florescent bulb and use %75 percent less energy. Impressive? Listen this--if every person changed their lightbulbs, it would be equivalent of taking 1 million cars of the street!

#2. Turn off your computer at night. The impact is large--and beneficial not only for the environment, but you! Save $14 a year by pushing a button.

#3. Try a vegetarian diet once a week--just cancel meat off the menu. The result? A healthier planet, and a healthier you. It takes 2,500 gallons of water just to produce 1 pound of beef. And get this, you will also be saving trees! For each hamburger that came from an animal raised on rainforest land, around 55 square feet of forest have been destroyed. I'll take the soup!

#4. In a year, the average American uses about 2,200 napkins, around 6 each day. If everyone only used one less napkin, more then 1 billion pounds of napkins can be saved from the landfill. Excuse me while I purchase a reusable handkerchief.

#5. Share this! This is the best and simplest out of all of these, because if you and the person you share it to follows at least 2 of these tips, the effects will be doubled. Spread the word!  Email this link to at least one person, and the environment will thank you! So will your budget.

- 4/18/15 Natures Navigator; Jewelry Theft.

I'm working on a series of short stories following the lives of two young girls who work together to solve nature-based mysteries! I'm hoping to print the stories and sell them, to raise money for IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) and WWF (World Wildlife Fund). Hopefully, I can raise $20 or more for each organization, by selling the books for $5. I'll make about 3 books in the series, and I'm finishing up the first. I will sell the books at the Zakat Foundation Community Center, and possibly the Walnut Grove Co-op. I'll update when the book comes out, and how much I make after I sell them.

The storyline for the first book is as follows:
Annika Halim spent the first of the last three days of spring break normally; reading a book in her treehouse, totally disconnected to reality. That's when her friend Amber brought horrifying news; her newest jewelry had been stolen! Annika and Amber decided that, no matter what, they would figure out the mystery before spring break ended. Then Amber's expensive ring got stolen. The situation suddenly got a lot more serious... And the two sleuths were determined to get to the bottom of it.

Thursday, April 23, 2015

* 4/16/15 Live and Let Live



         The most common creature based fear is arachnophobia, fear of eight-legged critters, namely spiders. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with it because... I have arachnophobia too! Yes, if I see an eight-eyed, many legged arachnid scurrying across the floor or sitting placidly on a web, I will resort to a shivering, panicked state. However, after my initial shock, I come to my senses and follow through a simple series of step ensure we both stay alive--and comfortable. And let me tell you this, I am not very comfortable with a spider in close proximity with me, and I don't think it is very comfortable with a monstrous beast goggling at it. Needless to say, I think we are both scared out of our minds.
          I have a ready prepared method for spider-saving. Most people might resort to grabbing the nearest shoe for DIY pest control, but this a one way solution. It works out something like...

Human = :); Spider = X_X

This is not the best of techniques, but nevertheless efficient. Equally efficient, yet a lot more satisfactory for the poor spider, is a short and simple method for saving a spider.

1. Most people find that spiders look freaky, and I do too! So calmly look near it, not at it, and picture something pleasant.
2. Once you've calmed yourself, proceed to take a paper and cup, and gently place the cup over the spider. Slide the paper beneath the cup and lift it up gently. If the spider is on a web, put a book or other hard board beneath the spider and bring the cup down from above and clap it to the book with the spider inside.
3. With the book/paper in hand, flip it upside down so that the paper or book is sitting on top of the cup that the spider is in. Exit the house, slide the paper off, and deposit he arachnid somewhere safe and out of the way.

These steps lead to a win-win situation.

Human = :); Spider = :)

Bit if you don't want to go through the trouble of rescuing the spider, consider this before grabbing the nearest shoe--spiders do a lot more good then you might think, and actually help you! Yes, spiders eat the bothersome pests in your house such as earwigs, flies, moths, and mosquitos. And not only that, but get this--spiders even kill... Other spiders! One big spider to guard your house, and you won't see many others. In fact, long-legged cellar spiders even kill black widows!

I'm afraid of spiders. But if I see one, 70% of the time it is in my sight will be spent trying to save it. I'll reserve the 30% left over for shuddering, shivering, and more or less freaking out. But I'll still do all in my power to give it the chance it deserves to live a long and healthy life! That means you can too! Spiders deserve more credit then they are given. They are not any less elegant then the butterflies we love to observe, and as colorful as a ladybug. So why do arachnids like spiders and scorpions receive all the hate? Show spiders what they deserve, a well-spent life in peace, and I promise you wont regret it.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

* 4/14/15 Aquarium Trip



         I'm still away--and seeing a lot of cool things! I went to an aquarium in Minnesota (I've been to Ohio and Wisconsin so far too), as one of the many fun destinations we've been to. Others include lots of museums (about 5?), the Mall of America (largest mall in the U.S.), many restraunts (not that impressive) and the aquarium!
        The aquarium was called Sea Life, and was a part of the Mall of America, taking up a whole level. We could touch stingrays, although I didn't get to that due to the time limit, and learn about new species of creatures beneath the sea. One of the ocean creatures I won't forget in a hurry is the Moon Jelly Aurelia aurita, simply because there was a whole room dedicated just to displaying their stunning forms gliding through cylinders that stand vertically around the room.


This is a Moon Jelly! Aurelia aurita, as I have memorized. This is, however, a picture I found on Google Images, and is not one that I took, unlike the following pictures.

 
I regret to inform you that I am not in possession of a quality camera at the moment... So the graphics of the pictures will not be in quality resolution, or perfectly clear. Anyway, this is me observing the sea life though the glass walls of a tunnel.

 
      

This, in a fairly blurry appearance (taken from my mother's out-dated Blackberry), is one of the many fish and sharks I viewed through the tunnel.


 
 
A flagtail! With a very big mouth too....




I am pointing at a flower, beneath a sign that displays an interesting fact.

 This is the "fun fact" close up.
 
This is the last fact, as well as the last picture, and the second to last sentence.
 
Till the next post!

Saturday, April 18, 2015

* 4/12/15 Playing Possum

Opossums are commonly known for 2 things, 1, "playing 'possum' a.k.a. playing dead, and 2, hanging by their tails.

But is the common knowledge that opossums hang by their prehensile tails true, or not? You might be surprised to find that the answer is no, they can't. Baby opossums can, which might be where the myth got started. But even juvenile (young) opossums lack the legendary ability, and adults cannot hang by their tails for more then a second.

What about their second ability, equally famous if not more so? Yes, 'possums do indeed play dead, or "play possum". In fact, after they go into a coma-like state, they excrete a scent that makes them smell like death! Cool act. Till the next post.

Friday, April 17, 2015

- 4/10/15 Update


For the next few weeks I wont be able to post frequently (or at all) but I will whenever I can! I'll be home the 26th and I'll be planting my garden in the following days! That's when the real excitement of the year will begin. I've been waiting for it all year! And hopefully I'll do a better job of managing weeds then last year... I hope my whole garden does better, and I'll have a successful and healthy crop. I don't care as much for the harvest though, more so the well-being of the plants. Till the next post!

* 4/08/15 Earthships

I apologize for the late update--sorry :(  This is about Earthships.

          Earthships are environmentally friendly houses, built out of recycled materials. Each house is made of tires packed solid with dirt, and staggered like bricks to form walls. The walls are load bearing and provide thermal mass, which stores heat and releases it slowly, so that the indoor temperature stays the same.
          Earthships are designed to use available natural resoucres. Rainwater is stored, and gray water (relatively clean waste water from baths, washing machines, e.t.c.) is recycled. Solar energy is also taken advantage of, and is stored for later use.

          Sorry again, this time for the hasty post!

Monday, April 6, 2015

* 4/6/15 Matter in Ecosystems



      So... For today's post, which I am typing up a lot later then I would have liked too, is about... Well, read this:



Energy is not the only thing transferred in ecosystems. Matter is also transferred. Earth is a closed system for matter. All the elements needed for life come from the elements that were present on Earth's crust when it was formed 2.5 billion years ago. The law of conservation of matter states that matter cannot be created or destroyed, it can only be transferred and recycled.

Carbon, Oxygen, and Nitrogen are essential to life. Nitrogen makes of 78% of the atmosphere, and is an odorless, unusable gas. The nitrogen cycle converts unusable nitrogen into a usable form. The nitrogen cycle is the continuous process in which nitrogen is exchanged in organisms an the environment. Some of the free nitrogen in the air combine with other elements in the soil to form compounds that are deposited in the soil. These compounds are then converted into organic compounds by certain forms of bacteria. Then, these compounds are converted into nutrients that can be absorbed by the roots of green plants. The nutrients are forms of nitrogen that living things can use. Producers absorb the nutrients by their s roots, then primary consumers eat the nitrogen containing plants. Decomposers return nitrogen to the soil when they break the waste materials of the consumers or the remains of dead producers or consumers, all of which contain nutrient. Finally,k a kind of bacteria converts it back into atmospheric nitrogen.

Primary consumers eat green plants. Decomposers break down the consumers waste materials as well of the remains of dead consumers and producers. By doing this, Decomposers cycle some carbon into the soil and release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is absorbed from the atmosphere by green plants, algae, and certain bacteria. These producers then use light energy from the sun to convert the carbon dioxide along with water into oxygen and glucose through photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide is also returned to the atmosphere when plants and animals convert oxygen and glucose into carbon dioxide and water through cellular respiration,.

Saturday, April 4, 2015

- 4/04/15 Fox!


         Take happiness. And multiply it by infinity. Then add Ï€. You get how happy I am: ∞. Why? I will proceed to explain.... I might have a fox in my backyard again!!!! My evidence:

Evidence:
 
         *Foxes are active in spring. It is spring.
         *Foxes produce a musky, skunk-like smell to mark their territory. My dad smelled skunk.
         *Foxes dig holes in search of beetle larvae and worms. There were shallow holes in the sand in my backyard.
         *Foxes have dog-like paw prints. I saw such prints in the sand where the holes were.
         *Foxes often make dens under sheds, decks, or houses. My dad thought he saw movement by our deck.
 
          Conclusion: We have a fox!!!

Thursday, April 2, 2015

+ 4/02/15 Garden


        The second post of today--way off schedule. It was supposed to be at 4:00 p.m..... but it's 8:00 p.m. Whoops. Got a little side-tracked. Anyway, I at least prepared my garden, hoed it, added potting soil for soil amendments (oh, dear), and raked the bed smooth. So you can get a better idea of how this all went, take a look:

I used these tools; A pair of clippers, a shovel, and two rakes (one pitchfork style)

And so my garden went from looking like this; a complete and total mess....
 

To this neat, healthy-looking plot of land!



      Thus concludes my report of the transformation of a weed-house untouched for a year, to a piece of land that can be properly cultivated with a likely chance for success--like last year. Unlike last post, I can properly say (no, type) these words, Till the next post.





 


- 4/02/15 1st Even Day of April Celebration

         Well, today actually came! I kind of thought it never would,  or that something would go wrong and despite the fact that I said today would be a celebration day--I wouldn't actually post. Silly me. I did! And with this post--the first one in Earth Month--I have lots of news.
         I'll start this post with something totally awesome that I saw yesterday (April fools day, yes, I know. This is not a joke!). I saw--in my backyard--2 snakes. Mating! So... I have a thriving population of Garter snakes in my backyard! And lots of mice too, so they and their future snakelets (I don't know what you call a baby snake) will not go hungry. I even got a picture! I'll figure out a way to post it here....
        News #2: I did the first Park Day clean up of the year--guess where? As luck will have it, it was at the exact same place as my first park day clean up last year. Now, my friend that did the park day clean up last year wasn't there (noooo), but the clean up was still successful. I even forget the name of the park, but I'll post a picture I took of the sign when I can. I'm really excited--the first day of Earth Month and I've already found an awesome way to contribute! And today, I will be allowing microorganisms and worms a chance for an extremely healthy life when I prepare my garden tiller-free. As in, not chopping worms to death with the deadly blades of a rotor-tiller. I'll get the job done by hand!
        My last and final "news" for today is the already-known fact that I will be preparing my garden. I'll get it done by the end of the day, no doubt! I'm just a little tied up with my brother's appointment and my own schoolwork at the moment (11:30 a.m.) But, no worries, by around 4:00, the second post today will be up on my website, so just keep an eye out her at that time! Till the next post--wait, that's today! Till the next 4 1/2 hours, then.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

- 3/30/15 Blog Redesign


        So... Have you noticed it? I gave my website a new look! More green (awesomeness) and fancier script. How do you like it? My eyes take a few seconds to adjust to the newness (is that even a word?). I'm not posting tomorrow, or the day after that (both are odd days) but April 2nd, like I mentioned in the last post, will be my 1st even day of April celebration in which I will prepare my garden.
        Can't wait till then! Till the next post.

* 3/28/15 Atoms


          Now, like two posts ago, this post is going to be about imformation from my online homeschooling website, Time4Learing (time4learning.com) and this time, it's about Atoms.


          Have you ever wondered; what makes up people? You might think; guts, or recycled food, or molecules. These are all true, but you are made of atoms. No one has ever seen an atom, but scientists realized that matter behaves like it is made of these really small particles.
          The middle of an atom is called the nucleus. Unlike the nucleus of a cell, the nucleus of an atom is densely packed and made of these two; protons and neutrons. Protons have a charge of (+1) while neutrons, hence their name, have a neutral charge (n).
          Surrounding the nucleus of an atom is a sort of cloud, that are made of electrons, with a charge of (-1).
          Most atoms follow the octet rule (big word alert). A stable atom have 8 electrons in the outer electron shell.
         Say there are two atoms. Sodium (Na) is the first, and in it's outside ring has 1 electron. The second is Chlorine (Cl), and it has 7 electrons, grouped in two's except for the last one, which is by itself. Since atoms try to become stable, the Chlorine wants to have 8 electrons. So, it takes an electron from the Sodium atom. Now the Sodium atom-which is now a Sodium ion, become positive, because it has more positive protons in it's nucleus, but no negative electrons. But the Chlorine atom gained a neutron, so it has more negative neutrons then before. The Chlorine therefore becomes negative. As you might already know, positives and negatives attract. The two atoms form something called an ionic bond.
           Sometimes, there are certain situations where an atom wants electrons, but doesn't have enough strength to steal it. Lets say we have a Carbon (C) atom, that has 4 electrons. Unlike Chlorine, which has 7, it is not very strong. The second one is Hydrogen (H), that has one electron. Both atoms would like the other's electron. So the two share one, forming a covalent bond.
Covalent Bond

         Have I boggled your brain enough for today? I should hope so. And I have news! The next, next post will be April 2nd... And a few posts ago, I mentioned that my celebration for the "first even day of April" would be to clean out my garden! And so I will. Till the next post!

Monday, March 30, 2015

+ 3/26/15 Strange Growth 3


     Some books have a sequel. And often, they are part of a trilogy! This is third but likely not last update on Tropic, my Sarracenia purpurea subs. purpurea, a.k.a. purple pitcher plant. As you might know (if you don't, read Strange Growth 1 & 2), Tropic has grown a stalk (since when did pitcher plants grow stalks?) and it is huuuge with a bud at the end. Now for it's height.... The first post, it was 1 inch. At the end of the week, it was eight inches. Now, it's--(drumroll please)--12 1/2 inches!!!!! That's a foot and half an inch! MAJOR GROWTH, HERE. I'll provide some pics for you.

This is the full height of Tropic's bizzare and awesome stalk.
 And this is a really blurry close up of Tropic's stem's bud's inside. Phew, enough apostrophes!


 And, as of today, I saw your average interesting weed, and I did your not-so-average actions. I made a pot (yes, made it) out of a paper plate and a bag blowing across the street. Then I stuck the two together with neon green duct tape and popped in the plant. And... You get Glory! She's your not-so-average plant in a not-so-average pot.

Till the next post (who knows, maybe Tropic will be 1 1/2 feet by then!).
 

* 3/24/15 Asland Nature Center Trip


        So.... I said I was going to go to Ashland Nature Center... And I did! So this post will be dedicated to my trip there. So... At 10:30 p.m.  (I wrote a whole diary entry about this trip, I know exactly what time things happened) We did a Stream Ecology Workshop. We (my group, Peach Blossoms) went down the stream called Wildflower Run, and did these really cool tests on the water to see if it was clean. We tested the water's PH, and collected insect larvae and nymphs. We saw Stoneflies (which can only survive in really clean water) craneflies, mayflies, and all these other kinds of insects that I forget. Here are my notes:

         NOTES:
         *Water always flows downstream to the lowest point (the ocean)
         *A headwater stream (like Wildflower Run) is the original stream that often originates from a spring or other source.
         *Dissolved oxygen is what organisms with gills use to breathe. The colder the water, the more dissolved oxygen. Water with 18 parts per million of oxygen is considered saturated.
         *PH is potential hydrogen ions, ranging from 1 to 14. 1 is acidic and 14 is more basic. 7 is the optimal PH, neutral.
         *Turbidity is the amount of objects floating on the surface.

         After that we did a team building exercise which I will not go into detail because of it's lack of nature-related content. So at 6:30 we had a nocturnal animals workshop, and I learned some more facts.

          NOTES:
         *Great horned owls are active in the fall
         *Prehensile means furless
         *Owls can hear better because of their dish-shaped face
         *Female American toads are larger
         *American alligators can grow up to 6 feet

          Now I am aware of how random those notes were but... Hey, they're notes. Now is for the interesting, interesting awesome part!
          After the nocturnal animals workshop, we went for a night hike (7:30). During this hike we heard--(drum roll please)--a woodcock! I sense your confusion... So I'll straighten things out. The woodcock performs a courtship dance for a female. It first struts around and makes this peeping call, then shoots up into the air and flutters back down in spirals, with it's wings making twittering noises. And the awesome part--the woodcock only does it once a year for a short period of time! And we all heard it! AWESOME DAY.

* 3/22/15 Life Characteristics


         This is pretty much more information from my online homeschooling website Time4Learning. And... it's about life. This may seem very simple and basic, "You are alive, I am alive, if you are able to do stuff you are alive." Yeah, that might be going through your head, and it is right in a way, but there is more. More simple stuff. But still, fascinating all the same, so I'll share it with you.

         So pretty much, there are a few characteristic that makes something alive. In easy-to-understand speak, there are requirements to join the Living club. Some of these are...

          *Cells
           Now, there is more to cells then you may think. Yes, they are the building blocks of life, and yes, they make up every living thing, but no, that's not all they do. Think of each cell as creature in itself--even though there are indeed single-celled organisms. Each cell has functions and abilities. Some cells can get around with cilia or a flagellum (single-celled organisms), or take in 'food' and expel waste, and preform cellular respiration.
         
          *Metabolism
          Generally speaking, a metabolism kind of means the ability to use energy. But much, much more then that. The metabolism of a plant is pretty much their photosynthesizing and their respiration--both of which use energy, or in the case of photosynthesis--make it. The metabolism of a person is quite simple. You eat food, and your body breaks down what you just ingested with enzymes. Then your blood--yes, your blood--absorbs the good stuff and carts it away to your cells.
         
          *Responding to Stimuli
          What is stimuli? Lets walk you through. Stimuli is anything that evokes a response in your body. Like, say, if I stick you with a pin, you'll probably scream bloody murder. So the stimulus is my bizarrely aggressive behavior (external stimulus), and the response is the "AAAAAH!!!!!!" In the same way, if a frog feels the need to chow down on something, it finds a worm or an insect to snap up. The stimulus in that case is hunger (internal stimulus) and it's response is to find something to eat.

          *Reproduce
          If living things did not reproduce, there would one generation of that species, and when they die, you'd never see another one in your life. Thankfully, reproduction keeps things moving. One generation succeeds the generation that succeeds the generation that succeeds the generation that... Need I continue? Anyway, reproduction is simply when the two organisms from the same species mate and the female has offspring that will in turn have their own offspring when they mature.

         *Adaptation to Change
          Hmm.... What is adaptation? You probably know this; it's when an organisms changes to adjust itself to a change. But there is a limit to the change something can do. If I put you outside on a 70 degree day, the melanin in your skin will become darker. If I stick you on planet Venus when it's 864 degrees Fahrenheit... You're a dead person. Not a soul alive can adapt quite that much. If a plant is by a windowsill, it will crane it's length to bend towards the sun. If you alter the sun so that it somehow rises beneath the plant, you can't expect it to double in half and grow straight down.

          *The end.
          This is when things end. One of the things that will be ending right now is this post, but the lives of living things end too. I memorized this not that long ago, Death is the state of being dead, when the homeostasis that keeps the organisms alive ends. Another generation typically succeeds it. And luckily for you, another post will succeed this one. Till the next post!

Sunday, March 22, 2015

- 3/20/15 Ironic Spring



       This post is, in fact, the FIRST DAY OF SPRING! But wait. I can't quite say I'm jumping for joy... Mother Nature, please cut out the irony, because the week before spring was genuine spring weather and the first day of spring it snows. SNOWS! On the day where people are expecting warm sunshine and clear skies there is frigid temperatures and heavy clouds. Thanks a lot, Mother Nature, thanks a lot... Perfect for my brother's birthday, which just so happens to be tomorrow.
        Now, I haven't really told people about what I want to be when I grow up, except that I am hoping to be an ecologist or something of the sort. But right now, I really want to volunteer at the Tristate Bird Rescue which is near my house. Not work and get paid, but get to work with Aves and increase my knowledge of ornithology--wait, making the assumption that you don't understand those two words, Aves is the class for birds, and  ornithology is the study of birds. I don't have specific sights set to become an ornithologist, but I'm not going to lie and say that I have no interest in the field. I do! I study crows and starlings to determine the meaning of their calls and I try to identify the flight patterns, appearance, and scientific/common names of the birds that I see. But I'm not sure that I want to take my bird-watching to the next level of studying it, so I'll stick with 'aspiring ornithologist'.

- 3/18/15 Ashland Nature Center


      *singsong voice* It is almost spri-ing, it is almost spri-ing! 2 more days until the time when I can plant my garden and watch it grow... Well, I won't quite be doing that in two days. Rather, I'll be leaving for a show on the 26th and be back on the 30th... So, as a "First Even Day of April" celebration, my post on the 2nd of April will be of me cleaning out my garden! No, I'm not going to be planting anything, but I will hoe it up, shovel and loosen the soil, and add in soil amendments or fertilizer.
         Okay, I'm going to conclude my rant about planting and begin something a tad bit more interesting. I am going to the Ashland Nature Center soon for a sleepover! I'll be taking midnight hikes, doing a reptiles and amphibians exhibit! I can't wait to share my notes that I took and post them here! I am unaware of the precise date, so I can't quite give you that... But anyway, it should be a really fun and interactive and knowledgeable experience!
    

Friday, March 20, 2015

- 3/16/15 Energy Study



      So my dad had this awesome idea; a very simple way to conserve engery! After giving it a bit of thought, I realized how awesome it was. His idea was to make a study--despite the fact that I'm 11--which shows how long it takes for your hands to air dry, then how much energy it would save. After completing my study, I could call different rest stations or stores to put up a sign reading, "It takes (number) secs for your hands to air dry. Try it! And if that worked, think of how much energy it would save--and how completely, totally, AMAZING it would be! I give full credit to my amazing father for this idea. I can't wait to get on with the study!

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

+ 3/14/15 Strange Growth 2


      This post, unlike my last two, is not an informative essay. Rather, it is a well-due update on my plants. More specifically, Tropic. You know that really odd thingy coming up from the center that looks like a mushroom? I wrote a post about it not long ago. Well, I managed to get a picture of it.  First, let me give you an idea of how big it is. Lets compare it to a mushroom again. Generally, the stalk of a mushrrom is the same height of the mushroom top. Say the mushroom stalk is 2 inches. The top will probably be 2 inches too. So that's s(stalk) = t(top). s = t is the formula we have based on a general mushroom. My mushroom-thing's stalk is 15 times bigger then the top. !!!!!!  The top is half of an inch (1.25 cm) and the stalk is.... (drumroll)... 8 inches! That's a big stalk. Take a look:



I told you it was tall. Now my big question is: What is that little circle thing at the top going to open up into? A flower? A seed case? A..A... mouth with fanged teeth? I have no clue. Again, please, if you know what this bizzare growth on my Sarracenia purpurea subs. purpurea then please let me know! Or I'll just figure it out as time goes on...
 
 
 

* 3/12/15 'Death Zoo'


       Trapped in a small, dirty cage. Laying in the soot for countless hours, alone with nothing but silence for comfort. Slowly starving to death, limbs growing thinner, tail as thin as a rat's. Lying in the cold, cement-floored cage, rotting away. This is how it is for Melani, a emaciated and sick Sumatran tiger, before she was rescued from the Surabaya zoo in Indonesia. She was so sick that even a specialized veterinarian could not save her, since Melani suffered from digestive disorder after being fed tainted meat. Melani died soon after being rescued from her torturous prison, and she wasn't the only one. In fact, Melani is one of the hundreds of animals that died from neglect at Surabaya zoo. Three more tigers, dozens of Komodo dragons, and a giraffe all died recently from starvation and abuse in the Surabaya zoo. This has led the zoo to be nicknamed, "death zoo".
             These animals are being tortured, starved, abused, and forced to live in overcrowded, dirty cages. We cannot let the deaths continue. Animals deserve the freedom and peace, and we deserve to give them that. By signing a Care2 petition, emaciated animals like Melani can be spared a slow and painful death. Worse, when they die, their valuable body parts are sold to the illegal wildlife trade. If the Care2 petition reaches 100,000 votes, the Indonesia officials will be notified, and with enough pressure, they may agree to shut down the 'death zoo' and let the animals go to a sanctuary. Save lives, and take a stance against the cruelty animals around the world are being faced with. Sign this petition.  
                                                               Sign The Petition


 

Melani
         

Monday, March 16, 2015

* 3/10/15 Just One Word



          I have my own business selling flowers made out of duct tape, and I attend shows monthly. During these shows, I set up a stand and sell my products. Over the years I have increased my knowledge of selling, and how to get peoples attention. Many times, as I sit behind my table, I call out, "Hello," to people passing by. One time when I said this, a lady stopped and came over to me. After talking for a little bit, she bought something, and told me to "Keep on saying hi!" If I had not caught her attention, she would not have seen me there, and in turn not have purchased anything. In this way, some people are not aware of certain things until it is brought to their attention, in which case they would gladly help.
          Right now, there are certain major issues that need to be addressed. In Idaho, USA, for example, native wolves had been hunted down until no more existed there. Recently, wolves have been reintroduced, and the population was thriving. Then, even more recently, the state began killing them off again to raise game animal numbers. Now, few wolves remain, and those that do are being steadily hunted down, sometimes gunned down from the air or caught in traps. Very few people are aware of this brutal killing, it is one of those problems that remains hidden in the corner until it is made known. It's up to us to call these issues to attention, and sometimes it only takes one word.
          Certain people, when aware of something, will provide help without a second thought. Bringing problems to attention will not only help it be resolved, but prevent future related issues from occurring. Like how it was for me, it often only takes one word to let others know. And if one word doesn't work, a quick message might. By forwarding the link to this article, more and more people can become aware of common problems and we can all work together to solve them. It's not that hard! You don't need to call out, "There are problems that need to be addressed!" at public places, but you can post similar articles on other blogs or websites, and/or make brochures or flyers to hand out. These simple things can bring people together, and unite them for a single purpose; doing good to the world and our own future. It just takes one word.

Tuesday, March 10, 2015

- 3/8/15 Chip


     I'm happy out of my mind. I met Chip! Okay, I can't say "I met Chip" because you don't even know who Chip is... Okay, let's get a few things straight: Chip is a gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis to be precise. And I fed him! Okay, that's not the greatest accomplishment, nor is it 100% good. But wait--I know that feeding animals (ducks, fish)n is not good for them, but of course I did research on it and it is fine to feed squirrels.
       And that's not the best part--the best part is that I can call Chip to me, and he will run to me until he is 1 1/2 inches away from my foot. I swear I have never been so close to a squirrel in all of my life. He (or she) tries to take the food for my hand, but I have more then a little bit of concern for my fingers, so I let her (or him) eat the bread that I give him from the ground right in front of me. Now, I've only seen Chip once. And I've only fed him once, before I did my research. And I discovered that bread isn't exactly the most nutritious food for Chip, so the next time I see him (I don't know when, he lives my grandmother's house), I will feed him Nut Balls (if I make it to the pet store in time).
      

- 3/06/15 For the Benefit of Nature



         This is something I want everyone that visits my blog to know; this blog is not for me to be personally documenting my life, but for others to become aware of the condition our planet is in and act upon it. I will still post about my own plants like I always have, but most importantly my posts will be informative. I post articles and essays explaining how you can help, and I hope I am truly making a difference. You, also, can make an online project like Forever Nature, and contribute to the effort that wildlife activists are devotedly making. If anyone visits my blog, I want them to realize just how much the Earth needs our help, and how simple it is to provide it with the care it needs. But it isn't all so simple. The majority of the work that is most critical requires money and tons of effort--both of which not everyone can supply. But my personal goal is to supply both, and perhaps others will take my goal as their own. I am now donating money approximately twice a year, in amounts of around $15-20 per time, and I am going to be restarting my Park Day Clean Ups in Spring. Hopefully, with the help of the members of Forever Nature along with those who stumble across my blog, I bring about a genuine change for the better. But I can only accomplish this with your help. Thank you, again. Till the next post.

* 3/04/15 Earth Hour


      Have you ever heard about Earth hour? Earth hour is a global event that is raising awareness about climate change. On Saturday, March 28th, 8:30 p.m. thousands of people will turn off their lights. This event was started by WWF (World Wildlife Fund) in 2007, and now has spread across the world as it celebrates it 8th anniversary of making a difference. The first step in taking a stance towards climate change is the simple switching of a light--which, when done alongside of thousands of other people--can make a real difference. But the goal of Earth Hour is not limited to a light switch. Rather, it goes beyond the actual date, hoping to inspire people to continue to do good for and to the environment, helping our planet grow alongside us.
        In many cities, you might notice large neon signs or lights out on this day, along with dark buildings and houses. For the minimum negative effect on the environment, keep every light off in your house, using candles and/or torches to see. And even after Earth Hour is over, and the lights of the city are gleaming bright as ever, you can still make a difference. Starting your own project to help raise awareness, or adding your voice to another's project are both beneficial ways we can protect the Earth we live on and ensure we and the other organisms on Earth with us have the best life possible for many years to come.


       I hope this essay that I wrote inspired you all enough to participate in the upcoming Earth Hour, and I can promise that my family and I will be! To quickly register for this event, visit http://wwf.worldwildlife.org/site/R?i=NRTyfCDJkjy48n2htIMIZA
       Thank you! Till the next post.

Monday, March 9, 2015

* 3/02/15 Cat Speak


       I write a post every 2 days on average, and going from the 28th to the 2nd isn't quite "2 days". My reason: I want to post on every even day! Meaning the date has to be even. So rather then the 1st, I'm posting on the 2nd. Hope you don't mind. I do recall promising never to miss a day, so I won't break it just yet (hopefully never). Now, for this post's subject... Cat speak!
         Yes, cat speak. How to talk back and forth with your cat, fluently. I promise, this works.
   
          #1. "Hello!" Every cat needs to say "hello", and you got to know how to say it. Well, you can't "say" hello to a cat. They say it to you in body language, and they'll understand it if you say it back. Say you walk into a room, and the cat there sees you, walks up to you, and stretches out it's head towards you. That means, "Hello!" You can respond by holding out her hand and lowering your middle finger, and hold it out just in front of the cat's face. In response, your cat will touch noses with the "nose" that is actually your middle finger.

       #2. "I'm no threat!" You don't want your cat to see you as a massive, harmful creature to be feared. Telling your cat that you mean no harm will let them know that you care. If your cat is already relaxed about your pretense, the following gesture can also mean, "I love you." To tell that to your cat, look them in the eye and think in your head, "I". Then slowly close your eyes, and think, "love". After another pause, open your eye and think, "you." This slow blink is a way of showing that you trust your cat enough to close your eyes and leave yourself vulnerable.

       #3. "I want food!" This you cannot say to your cat, unless you have a sudden craving for cat food. Rather, you need to understand this behavior in your cat, so you can respond to it's needs. Pacing near or around the area where it gets fed, and looking up at you while meowing insistently are all signs that your cat is hungry.


       #4. "Come!" This you can tell to your cat, and you can do it easily. All you havge to do is kneel down at eye level with your cat, look at the ground next to your cat, and not at your cat's eyes. Then extend your hand to your cat and lower your middle finger in the "Hello!" gesture, until your cat walks up to your hand and rubs up against.

      To all of you cat-lovers, I hope this helped! Till the next post.