A Touch of Nature - 11/15/06

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Here At Bluebird Cove

We've had some really nice weather and I got to do quite a bit of gardening last week. I leave my plants in till the birds eat all the seeds and then pull them out. I also gather a lot of seeds so I can have a nursery bed of more plants to spread around Bluebird Cove.

I transplanted 44 Purple Salvia plants that I grew from seeds this year. Since the deer eat so much, I appreciate a plant that they won't eat and make more of them to increase the blooms for the nectar-loving critters. The last Ruby-throated Hummingbirds I saw feasting here in Central Virginia was on October 18.

Randal is back from his 10-day trip to Oklahoma City to visit his family for his dad's 80th birthday. Being an only child I don't mind alone time ... but that's only because I know it's not permanent. I miss my honey when he's gone so I'm glad to have him home again.

While he was gone I scheduled all kinds of fun things to do to distract me from missing him too much. I had some wonderful Butterfly Bench time in the front yard and grand lazy sessions of hammock time in my back yard. Most of the leaves are gone now, so views from the hammock are open skies. We'll soon be bringing it in to store for the winter. Until then I will take every opportunity I can to swing between two trees in the woods. There's something that speaks "jungle" to my mind being on a hammock .... and it makes me dream of the rainforests of Costa Rica.

I had a visitor while Randal was gone. Yep, that's a skunk!

Striped Skunk

As you can tell from his position, he's a bit disturbed. I had already taken 7 shots with the bright flash from only 10 feet away on the porch, and then I moved down to the sidewalk which was only about 5 feet so he got a bit nervous.

You would think I'd have enough sense to be nervous. The last shot I got isn't too clear, but it was only the rear end. One of us must've moved. Those night shots take awhile to gather enough light.

When threatened, the Striped Skunk will face the intruder, arch and elevate its tail, erect the tail hairs, chatter its teeth, and stomp the ground with the front feet. This usually causes the intruder to retreat, but if it remains, the skunk will twist its back around, raise its tail straight up, evert its anal nipples, and spray scent 10 to 15 feet (3–5 m). The mist may reach three times as far, and the smell may carry a mile.

I backed up and left him alone to finish his meal. He was at the wildlife feeding area right off our walkway where I toss veggie and fruit scraps for the critters. I had the windows open on a beautiful night here last week and heard something approaching on the dry leaves. I had just been discussing skunks with my Auntie. She lives in the woods like we do and sees them often.

Get more information on skunks and see more photos of adults and young at this website: www.nhptv.org/natureworks/stripedskunk.htm

Pileated Woodpeckers

These birds are so fascinating to me. They appear so huge compared to the other woodpeckers we get. They have a loud call that reminds me of being in the jungle.

Pileated Woodpeckers are the largest woodpeckers in North America (with the exception of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, which was thought to have been extinct, but recent findings may discover otherwise in time).

They are about the size of a crow and black, with bright red pointed crests, the red more extensive on the crests of males. Males also have red moustache stripes as you can see on this one, while the females are black.

I had a male visit our small suet feeder and that was very comical to watch since he was more than twice it's size. I got some close-ups of his large beak and claws. The 5 best photos begin here. Click the double arrows to the right to see them all.

Get lots of information on these birds and listen to their songs at this website: www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Pileated_Woodpecker_dtl.html

Q&A

Q: My children found a baby bobcat. Can we keep it as a pet?

A: No. It is against the law to have any wild animal or bird as a pet. Wildlife rehabilitators have special permits issued by the State and Federal governments to care for these animals. Wild animals/birds are just that - wild! They make poor pets and if kept too long in captivity can never be released back into the wild.

Q: I found a hawk that was hit by a car, should I just let "nature take its course"?

A: NO! Of the eleven thousand wild animals that Project Wildlife cares for annually, approximately 25% of the cases are caused by contact with people. PLEASE, get help immediately. The sooner the animal is cared for the greater the chance of survival and eventual release back to the wild. Google a search for: find wildlife rehabilitator virginia (swap Virginia for your own state).

The Orchid That Captures Workers

The relatively rare bucket orchid, Coryanthes, behaves almost like an animal at pollination time. This remarkable ability is essential to its survival.

Coryanthes has a steep-sided flower. Two glands extend over the center of the "bucket" and secrete a clear fluid into the flower after it opens. Just above the pool of fluid inside the bucket, a tunnel opens to the outside of the bucket. At the end of the tunnel are the flower's pollen and stigma.

When it opens, the flower sends out a strong sweet odor that can attract male bees from over five miles away. The bees collect a waxy material on the flower's surface that they later use in mating rituals.

As the number of bees collecting this substance off the flower's surface increases, so does the likelihood that in the excitement one of them will fall into the pool below. When this happens, the sticky fluid makes it impossible for the bee to make it out of the "top" of the bucket-shaped flower.

However, the tunnel provides an easy exit. But as the bee nears the tunnel's end, the flower drops down a projection from the tunnel's ceiling, holding the bee for about ten minutes before freeing him. While the bee is held, the flower glues two packets of pollen to the bee. If it should happen that the bee already has pollen packets, this activity delivers the pollen to the stigma, and pollination is complete.

The Coryanthes orchid not only shows us the Creator, but it shows us how unlimited His creativity and imagination are.

Read or listen to more of these amazing stories about creation at Creation Moments.

Note: The orchid pictured here is my photo and not the orchid written about.

Good News on Forests

Since 2000, US forests have expanded by an area larger than Delaware. -- Jan. 2006 Smithsonian

Musings

I like trees because they seem more resigned to the way they have to live than other things do. -- Willa Cather, 1913

You Can Make A Difference

Starbucks earned nearly $6 billion in net revenue during the first three quarters of 2006, and yet for every cup of coffee Starbucks sells, farmers in coffee-growing countries like Ethiopia earn only about three cents.

Starbucks has begun to pursue trademark rights for its Ethiopian coffees - Sidamo, Yirgacheffe, and Harrar - despite those names describing geographic regions of Ethiopia that have been producing coffee for hundreds of years.

The Ethiopian government has objected to this, asking Starbucks to sign a licensing agreement that will allow Ethiopia to control the names of its coffee. That way, Ethiopia can help determine an export price that makes sure farmers see a larger share of the profits, enabling them to feed their children, send them to school, and get better healthcare.

Fair Trade organizations are calling on Starbucks to sign this agreement with Ethiopia. Control of the names could increase Ethiopia's coffee exports by more than 25 percent, or $88 million annually, which could help lift millions of Ethiopians out of poverty.

You can sign the campaign to help Starbucks make the right decision at this website: www.maketradefair.com/en/index.php?file=starbucks_main.html

Brazil Fueling 1 Million Cars on Sugarcane

Latin America’s largest country, Brazil, is the world’s biggest producer of bio-ethanol and one million Brazilian cars already run on the fuel made from sugarcane. The cars, introduced three years ago, can use either gasoline or bioethanol.

Google to Convert Headquarters to Solar Power

Google Inc. is converting its renowned headquarters to run partly on solar power, hoping to set an example for corporate America.

The Internet search leader announced what is believed to be the largest solar project undertaken by a U.S. company during a solar energy conference in Silicon Valley on Monday. Google believes the sun eventually can deliver as much as 30 percent of the power at its 1-million-square-foot campus in Mountain View — a suburb about 35 miles south of San Francisco.

Read the entire story here:

www.happynews.com/news/10172006/google-convert-hq-solar-power.htm

Natural Herbs, Supplements and Essential Oils

Natural herbs and supplements bring the powerful world of nature into your body for health and healing. We've been using herbal remedies since the late 70's and have been so blessed by them.

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Pets Are Part of Our Nature at Home and We Love Animals

Free Samples of Pet Food, Supplements and Treats - These formulas are developed by Dr. Jane Bicks, a highly respected and nationally recognized holistic veterinarian and author.

Pet Success Stories Using Nature's Remedies - Read how pet owners have used herbs.

Nature's Heartworm Program - Yes, there are successful herbal programs.

Healthy Pet News - Complimentary professional email newsletter with great articles.

Healthy Pet Corner - Resource site for cats, dogs, birds, horses, rabbits and reptiles.

The Frugal Life - Living Well With What You Already Have
Living more simply is a great way to effect change in your own personal environment and it helps the planet. The Frugal Life website has lots of ideas on getting back to basics. They also provide a free newsletter twice-monthly and a forum where you can ask questions or search for information. Visit The Frugal Life site.

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Copyright and Reprint Information
© 2006 Donna L. Watkins

All photographs are the property of the editor, Donna L. Watkins. This newsletter may be forwarded in its entirety by email but may not be placed on any website without written permission.

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The content, suggestions, and web links in this newsletter are for informational purposes only and not necessarily endorsed by our sponsor "The Herbs Place.com." This is a personal publication by Donna L. Watkins. The ideas and information expressed in it have not been approved or authorized by anyone either explicitly or impliedly. In no event shall Donna L. Watkins or "The Herbs Place.com" be liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from any action arising in connection with the use of this information or its publication.