Dandelion Alternative For Rubber

Discovery News is highlighting an interesting development in the field of rubber. According to new research being done in Ohio, dandelion root sap could be made into a rubber of equal quality to traditional rubber from trees, at a lower cost.

Scientists from Ohio State University's Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) and the Ohio BioProducts Innovation Center (OBIC) recently received a $3 million grant to design and build a processing plant that would turn sticky white dandelion root sap into quality rubber for less money than current methods, say the scientists. Read the entire article.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

I took this photo of a woodpecker on the holly tree outside the dining room window. I thought it was a hairy woodpecker from the size and beak and didn't give it further thought until my neighbor mentioned the odd coloring. Checked the bird book and it's a juvenile yellow-bellied sapsucker. They are here in Virginia this time of year and there are juveniles through March. To confirm I checked the tree for the pattern of holes they drill for sap as they circle the trunk. Yep, they were there.

© Donna L. Watkins - Juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Although the flowers are gone in the garden and the trees are bare, the positive side to all of this is that I can certainly view the birds more easily without all the foilage they normally hide in.

Our woodpeckers are a delight. I enjoy their sounds as they arrive and depart from our suet feeders (and grab a few black oil sunflower seeds for dessert).

I don't often get to see the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. The tapping is not as bold as our other woodpeckers and they have different food preferences since they like sap (hence the name :-)

Read detailed information on this bird with awesome close-up photos of this beautiful woodpecker at the Hilton Pond Center site. He calls them sap-lappers since they lap rather than suck the sap.

Hawks and Owls Eat Dogs and Cats

Large hawks prey on small mammals. The Red-tailed Hawk feeds on rodents and rabbits but also catches larger animals, including pheasants, hares, and jackrabbits. Likewise, Ferruginous and Harris's Hawks chase rabbits, rodents, and ground squirrels. Swainson's Hawks eat mice and large insects.

Of the prey items I've mentioned, jackrabbits are the heaviest. They weigh no more than 10 pounds, less than your pet. Since a small dog could look about the same size as a hawk's usual prey, however, it's possible that a hungry raptor might at least attempt to capture the dog, injuring it in the process.

Be more cautious, though, about leaving your dog outdoors at night. Great Horned Owls are powerful hunters that eat a wide variety of prey, including raccoons, porcupines, and house cats - all of which can weigh as much as your pet.

Recently in Great Britain, a Eurasian Eagle-Owl made headlines when it repeatedly attacked at least five dogs. The owner of one of the dogs, a miniature wire-haired dachshund, said, "It is very frightening for Heidi to have this giant bird trying to eat her all the time. I have no doubt that it wants to make her into its next meal. I guess Heidi looks like a rabbit or a tasty snack." A falconer captured the bird, which was believed to have escaped from an aviary.

Source: Q&A at Birder's World Magazine's Website

Have a bird question? Ask it at Birder's World.

Video: Squirrel Eating Apple

We throw our fruit and veggie scraps out for the wildlife and we often catch great entertainment for the small effort. No reason to throw food into the landfill when it can provide life for an animal.

We also notice that we don't have problems with raccoons getting into our trash can. I guess we have an unspoken agreeement. View video of squirrel eating apple.

Plants Communicate With Other Species

Plant communication is more widespread than thought, in fact, researchers suspect that it is almost universal among plants. Plants not only communicate with their own species, but with other plants and even with animals.

Some, like the wild tobacco, even know not to communicate when the intended recipient of the message is not around. It does not emit its anti-caterpillar scent until night time when nocturnal moths are liable to be around to lay eggs on them. Should the moths lay eggs on the plants the plant will signal to an all-purpose insect ally to eat the eggs. That same ally will also eat other insect pests that harm the plant.

Scientists say that not only are the plants’ messages specific, it appears that an individual plant will vary its message based on its experience.

That plants even communicate with other species is a wonder that cannot be explained by chance mutations. That their messages are so specific bespeaks the intelligence of their Creator.

I always talk to my plants as I work amongst them dead-heading or pruning, explaining why I'm doing what I'm doing ... but then maybe they already know from knowledge passed down within the seeds.

Certainly a fascinating and amazing subject for scientists to be studying, but didn't we gardeners already know that plants communicate with other species? Mine have communicated with me for many years.

Source: Creation Moments.
Reference: Discover, 4/02, pp. 46-51, Sharman Apt Russel, “Talking Plants.”

The The Secret Life of Plants is the book that opened my eyes to the incredible ability of plants to communicate. There is so much in Creation that we know nothing about.

Avoid Bee Killing Pesticides

The massive honeybee colony collapses are threatening the world’s food supply and has worried farmers everywhere. Up to 70 percent of honeybees have disappeared, and many hives have died off completely.

Ninety-nine percent of bees in a die-off in Germany carried pesticides of the neonicotinoid family, and Germany has now banned these pesticides from being used. France banned them in 1995 because of their toxicity to bees.

Neonicotinoid pesticides are a synthetic version of nicotine. They are applied systemically to the plant and is highly neurotoxic to insects. All of these pesticides are classified for general use. Imidacloprid was first registered for use in the U.S. in 1992 and is possibly the most widely used insecticide of the group. It, and Thiamethoxam, are highly toxic to honeybees.

Neonicotinoid pesticides are commonly available as dusts, granules, seed dressings, soluble concentrates, and suspension concentrates. Brands include Assail®, Tristar®, Acetamiprid®; and for Imidacloprid, Admire®, Advantage®, Gaucho®, Merit®, Premise®, Touchstone®; and for Thiamethoxam Cruiser® and Platinum®.

Source: Green Living at Care2.com

Nature's Lessons For Life

by Donna L. Watkins

With our world that buzzes from the sounds of technology and traffic, it's more important than ever for your brain and eyes to experience some green space on a daily basis. Stress-filled lives wear and tear on the adrenals and other areas of health until we "get sick."

© 2008 Donna L. Watkins - Zebra Longwing - Costa Rica
Just as taking a bit of time for meditation, mild (non-competitive) exercise, and deep breathing can stop your body from continually living in the "flight or fight" response mode, time in the natural world balances out the mind and body. It helps us to get back to the basics and simple ways of life.

Maybe taking care of a small patch of earth with flowers would entice you. It's amazing to watch the bees, butterflies and hummingbirds that will visit a small flower garden. How satisfying it is to be able to provide refreshment and a source of life itself to these small, but so very important, creatures of our earth.

You can't watch a butterfly flutter and float around feeding, as it travels on a seemingly leisurely journey, without feeling a bit like you're making life too complicated. With such a short time they still have to mate and lay eggs for the next generation, but they sure do seem to enjoy the entire process. Maybe we need a shorter lifespan to appreciate each day so delightfully.

Watching the lifestyles of birds, insects and animals gives us a lot of insight into our own life choices. Somewhere near you there is a patch of the natural world that can fascinate you. If it's your back yard, it's exciting to know more about what is going on around you. To notice the cycles of life for a particular species. Spring is a great time to notice that with so many birds courting, breeding, feeding, releasing their children out to the world.

With a bit of time each day or even a few times each week, you'll be linking it all together one piece at a time ... and it will help you to piece your own life together. Be a part of its harmony by watching and listening to what's going on around you. It's critically therapeutic in our hustle and bustle world.

The Bible tells us to consider birds to know how to live this life on earth. Matthew 6:25-27 says, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

Worry is empty and gets you nowhere. We need to learn to trust God. He gave us our life and he will sustain it. An example is the birds of the air. Birds don’t plant any crops. Birds do not store any food in barns or silos. Birds do not shop at supermarkets and they don’t use refrigerators or freezers. Each new day they must hunt and gather food, yet they don’t seem to worry. They are up every morning singing joyfully.

It seems to me, they just believe all is well. They go about their day with a "knowing" that they will find their nourishment. When some tragedy happens to their nest and they lose their young, they spend the day flitting about looking and searching and seemingly grieving over it.

And then, the next day, they begin again to court, mate, nest and bring forth more young. They move on with life. Oh! to be able to emulate their example to us. Only by watching with daily wonder and understanding can we be changed and encouraged to believe that life is always good! Then, we can get up each day joyfully singing also.

Please share some of the life lessons you are learning from the natural world by leaving a comment with the link below. It will remind you how precious it is and will encourage others to get out there in it. Thanks!

Copyright and Reprint Information
All photos remain the property of Donna L. Watkins and may not be republished without written permission. You may forward or use this copyrighted article on a website if you include the following credit and an active link back to this site:
© 2000-2008 Donna L. Watkins - This article was reprinted with permission. Visit the author's website, TheNatureInUs.com for more articles and free email subscription.
Link URL: http://www.TheNatureInUs.com

5 Natural Pest Repellents

By Sid Kirchheimer, at AARP.com

Here are safer alternatives to commercial pesticides:

Ants: Sprinkle cinnamon, bay leaves, cayenne pepper or baby powder in problem areas and along baseboards and windowsills.

Cockroaches: Sprinkle equal parts of baking soda and confectioners’ sugar in problem areas.

Mice: Place cotton dipped in peppermint oil near problem areas. Used kitty litter is another repellent.

Mosquitoes: Mix 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water placed on your deck or balcony or dab lavender oil on your wrists and elbows.

Flies: Small sachets of crushed mint placed around the home will discourage flies. So will a potted sweet basil plant.

Get Your Garden Growing in Winter

The weather outside may be frightful or it may be making you think of gardening. Either way you can still exercise your green thumb during winter. "This is the best time to plan your garden and decide what you want to grow," says Maureen Heffernan, director of public programs at the Cleveland Botanical Garden. It's also a good time to start planting seeds - indoors, that is.

Here's an article at National Wildlife Federation to give you some ideas and how-to information.

Dealing With Annoying Pets

From Cheryl Falkenburry, Animal Behavior Coach

Question
I’m sick and tired of people allowing their dogs to bark incessantly and animals that roam and poop in my yard — including cats. Is there anything I can do to get the neighbors to control their animals? I work hard to keep my animals under control, and it’s so inconsiderate that they don’t do the same.

Answer
Everyone has different ideas of how to take care of their animals. Some feel that dogs and cats should be free to roam like animals do in the wild in order to keep them happy. Some like to leave animals outside for a warning system if someone approaches. Although, I can understand this thought process, it is difficult to keep animals safe when they are left to roam or kept outside all the time. They do not understand boundary lines unless they are taught and supervised. There are wild animals, cars, and diseases that can harm animals who are allowed to roam.

Dogs kept tied up or kept in a fence all day begin to bark at everything out of boredom, soon the barks are ignored taking away the effectiveness of a warning system. It is much more responsible to keep animals at home and supervised.

Cats should be kept indoors to keep them from catching serious diseases like Feline Leukemia (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). If people are concerned that their cat will not be happy indoors, they can build an enclosed cat run where cats can go outside in a safe environment.

As far as barking dogs, a bored dog is a loud dog. As much as I love animals, I don’t like to hear them barking incessantly either. It’s difficult to think or sleep with all the noise. People should be considerate of their neighbors even if they live in a rural area.

Some barking is to be expected. Dogs bark when they play, they bark when someone approaches, and they bark at deer running by. I personally like to have my dogs bark a little to warn me that something needs my attention. I also enjoy watching dogs happily playing and barking with joy. However, uncontrollable barking is annoying. Dogs should have an “off” switch to their barking—such as a “Quiet” or “Enough” command. Unfortunately when a dog is left outside all the time, there is no human there to give the command.

For those of you who have a barking Bowser next door, you may want to give your neighbor a gift basket with interactive toys for the dog (Kongs and Bustercubes) and a copy of my Barking Bowser article found on my website. (If you don’t have Internet access, call me and I’ll send you a copy.) This is a nice way to give a hint that perhaps they need to work on their barking issue.

If cats are relieving themselves in your garden, you can get some motion sensor sprayers (Sscat is one brand for cats) to put around and make your garden less attractive. Tin foil under the bushes also helps as cats don’t like to walk on the crunchy foil.

The bottom-line is everyone should be responsible for their own animal. Even if you live in an area where there are no leash laws and barking dogs are exempt from noise ordinances, take the time to pay attention to what your animals are doing.

Is it possible they are being a nuisance to someone else? Is there something you can do about it to be a good neighbor and a responsible animal guardian? When we make animals a part of our family and teach them to be responsible canine and feline community members, everyone is happy — the neighbors, the family, and most important — the animals.

Cheryl Falkenburry, Animal Behavior Coach, helps make sense of mind-boggling animal behavior. Visit her website for other behavior tips. Set up a private session to work directly on your pet's problem.