Praying Mantis - It Won't Eat People

 Praying Mantis: Kamakiri (カマキリ) in Japan

We've seen these characters before. This one was found in my garden.

The photo was sent off to iNaturalist, to get a positive identification.

Over there I learned the Scientific Name: Hierodula patellifera.

The Common Name would be Giant Asian Mantis.

The experts let me know, that my subject was a female of the species.

There's Good News for Gardeners

These Praying Mantis females can lay hundreds of eggs, increasing the population.

A Mantis will devour all kinds of bugs, visiting your plants.

They eat pests like mosquitoes, flies, stinkbugs, maybe even lizards, snakes, and mice.

Along With the Good, I Must Share the Bad News, Too

Before you start running around, shopping for Praying Mantis to place in the garden, wait.

These characters will eat beneficial bugs. And, they've been known to eat little birds.

Sometimes, while they're mating, they eat their mate, too. 

More Information You Might Want to Know

A Praying Mantis can rotate its head 180 degrees and look at you over its shoulder.

After taking about 75 photos with my iPhone, I asked my wife if, she would hold it for me.

She said, "Ew, no" and almost crawled away from the kitchen, on the ceiling.

Then, I Googled it some more and learned that Mantis bugs won't bite people.

Resources for More Information

10 Praying Mantis Facts

National Geographic

University of Maryland Extension

Flower Photo and Facts: African Lily

Exotic Plant on Okinawa

Where this specimen was spotted will come later. Taking the photo during the rainy season was

challenging but, nothing like the fun to be had researching this purple beauty.

10 Flower Facts

• AKA Lily of the Nile Agapanthusafricanus (アガパンサスアフリカス) is the Japanese name
• Plants grow fine in southern-facing gardens or planters
• They are attractive to bees, birds, and butterflies
• Deer and rabbits won't disturb, destroy or, eat these plants
• Flowers grow on tall stalks which favor facing the sun
• The plants resist wind and salty air
• This plant has been used to treat colds, coughs, chest pain, heart problems, and paralysis
• Flowers are believed to protect the wearer from thunderstorms
• Some women believe the African Lily boosts strength and fertility
• In Africa, the plant is considered an aphrodisiac

See the African Lily in the parking lot at Kin Public Library.

Learn more about this flower at the links used for research:

A to Z Flowers

Gardenia

SEE MORE OF WHAT GROWS IN OKINAWA

Poinsettia Plants Huge But Not Poisonous

Popular Christmas Flowers

These bright red flowers are sold in locations all over Okinawa around the Xmas holidays.

Legend has it, some kid ate the plants and died. We found out that's BS.

The Flower Society and Ohio State University conducted an experiment.

No parents wanted to volunteer their children so, rats were used for testing.

They fed the rodents large quantities of Poinsettia plant parts and the rats didn't die!

Monster Size Poinsettia Plants

On Okinawa, the Euphorbia pulcherrima (Poinsettia) can become shrubs as large as trees.

The first time I found one taller than me, I was on an outer island.

Not wanting people to start worrying about their pets or children eating poison, I checked.

Doctors at WebMD say the poisonous part is a myth, like flying reindeer.

Over the years whenever I spot a huge Poinsettia, I try and pose with them.

It must have been freezing the day I was wearing that red jacket.

That would be below 60 degrees Fahrenheit or 15 Celcius. 

People worried about pets around these plants should visit the HELPLINE.

Treatment for dogs and cats is rarely required because:

What Kind of Stupid Animal Would Eat Pretty Flowers Anyhow?

Research Cracks Me Up

Sometimes, I roll around on the floor laughing at the things scientists come up with.

Let me give you one last photo of a giant Poinsettia plant next to me.

To prove they're not poisonous sometimes, I touch the fuzzy little things.

Poinsettia Plant Taller Than Me

Texas Cooperative Extension busts the poison myth wide open.

If you have a really stupid child weighing 50 pounds, you could try this:

Feed the kid 500 pounds of Poinsettia parts and, it won't kill them!

This kind of stuff I don't make-up.  It's true. The plants are harmless.

Visit Texas A&M University to learn more about Poinsettias.

Tree of a Thousand Stars and Root Hormone Recipe

Free Stuff that Really Works

This experiment started when, I rescued one of these plants from somebody's garden.

The Tree of a Thousand Stars, I photographed for a previous blog post.

It's Latin name is Serissa japonica and some folks call it a Snow Rose.

For Japanese  ハクチョウゲ would be the termonology.

Once I got done photographing the plant, I didn't want to throw it away.

Taking it back to the spot where it was liberated from, didn't seem like a good idea.

Not sure what kind of jail term the Japanese have for tree rustlers, I didn't want to find out.

So,  I snipped the plant into little cuttings and, tried different methods of planting them.

Some, were placed in cups of water, to see if they'd grow roots.

Others, I planted in flower pots filled with ordinary dirt, which came from someone's garden.

The plant cuttings in water, only had about a 50% chance of survival.

So far, every one planted in dirt, with homemade root hormone has been successful.

 I was going to visit the Japanese Agriculture (JA) store and see if, they sold root hormone.

My Google Translate thing gave me Rootsu-Hormonsu for the Japanese words.

Something told me, they'd think I was some kind of nut if, I asked the farm store for that.

So, I decided to search online and see if, I could make my own root hormones.

That's where I learned about spit.  Yup, spit works as a natural rooting hormone.

Ten of those Trees of a Thousand Stars are growing on in my territory now.

If each one gets a thousand stars on it, I'll have 10,000 flowers all because of spit !

Just in case y'all think, I make these things up, watch this guy's video:

LOL. He spits in his hand and rubs the cuttings around, I wouldn't do it like that.

Get yourself a paper cup or, just spit in the planter, you're going to use.

Some people, lick the cuttings with their tongue but, I wouldn't advise doing that either.

A friend of mine, licked a lamppost and his tongue got stuck because it was freezing outside.

Some Handy Links:

Bonsai Empire

Illinois Edu

 ハクチョウゲ Japanese Flowers Page

Missouri Botanical

Preparedness Mama

Likeable Lichen of the Year: Facts and Photos

It Resembles Spanish Moss

Twice, I visited Yohena Gardens this month and, that plant caught my attention.

Researching it, didn't take long because, I shot a photo of the tag, hanging from the specimen.

Saruogase (サルオガセ) was the name written in Japanese.

With that information, I plugged into a Japanese search engine and learned plenty.

Botanical Name: Usena

Common English: Old Man's Beard

Japanese Name: Saruogase (サルオガセ)

Native to: Just about any forest in the world

Uses: Medical Herbalism, Fire Starter and, To Scare People

Herbalists, Scientists and Witchdoctors

Remember this first: Just because I research it, doesn't mean I am a doctor.

The hairy looking plant has been used by Europeans, Native Americans and Chinese.

If, you want to drink some concoction or, stuff it up holes in your body, follow the links.

Some references, I trust, others we, can't be too sure of. They could be quacks.

At the Medicine Woman's Roots, learn how to make teas and tinctures.

Conservacion Patagonia News, reports, the antibiotic plant, treats lung infections.

Eat the Weeds and Other Things to, nibbles on it for carbohydrates and Vitamin C.

Gardenweb Forums has terrestrial information on growing  Usena.

The Herbalist's Path, gives a world history of the plant's usage as a food and medicine.

Ladies with yeast infections, at Susunweed, learn how to, add this to vodka, for treatments.

Northern Woodlands, reports the plant is stronger than penicillin.

Safety Issues, concerning internal usage of the herb, are addressed HERE.

Sustainable Homesteading, gives internal and external uses for Usena.

Those wishing to visit a Japanese Website, may want to check Mountain Wildflowers.

Some mountain folks, claim the herb is used to treat hysterical women.

And, it can stop men from cheating, too !

Armed with All this Information

Some conclusions, come to mind. I'll ask Yohena if, I can take some Saruogase home.

Sounds like it would be nice, to have some hanging from a tree in the garden.

It helps remove pollution from the air and, would be a good treatment for wounds.

Internally, I would probably, never use the stuff. Maybe, test it on the dog.

Women who get yeast infections, that's something I think, they could fix, without this plant.

Just remember, to always buy your yeast from a reliable source and, it shouldn't get infected.

Ask any dude. We get all our yeast from beer and, never get yeast infections !

Flower Photos and Facts: Misty Plume

Scientific Name: Iboza Riparia/Tetradenia Riparia

This one's been in the pending identification files for a few years.

It taught me a lesson: Never start thinking the wife and her sister, are crazy, again.

They kept insisting the name of the plant was Mayflower (メイフラワ-). Huh ?

Before posting anything , botanical online, I like to insure accuracy.

Three or four years ago, I first noticed these blossoms, starting around February.

They bloom in cities, along rivers, up in the hills and all over the countryside.

Ask any Okinawan and, they don't what it is or, they say Mayflower.

If, you go online and search for Mayflowers, ya ain't gonna see anything like this.

The Plant Experts Live in Holland

The wife, her sister, librarians, everyone, I apologize for thinking they were nuts.

It took a few days, after submitting some photos but, I got it now.

A Facebook Closed Group, some sweetheart hooked me up with, nailed it.

Determinatie van planten en dieren is my source. Bless them all.

A Latin, Scientific or, Botanical nomenclature, does the trick every time.

Only in Okinawa, Japan is this called a Mayflower.

Common Names

 English: Ginger Bush, Misty Plume

Japanese: Fubukibana

Okinawan: Mayflower or Fubuki-sou

Country of Origin: Africa

Medicinal Uses: 

Respiratory problems, headaches, malaria, Influenza

Headaches, stomach aches, swollen legs, fever 

Gotta Love Survivalist Stuff

Once, I have a Latin name, the research goes on, in English and Japanese.

No sense in boring the non-gardening readers with details.

Like, fragrance, soil conditions and propagation instructions.

Links provided below, will get flower fanatics, whatever they need.

This is a mystical plant and, I must quote from the source:

"Mrs Doom was ill with swollen glands, sore throat, headache, sore ears, blocked sinus,

 and was generally miserable.

I made a very simple concoction which was gargled, and then drank (I will detail the

 recipe and treatment later). Immediately the sore throat was soothed and the

 headache dulled, shortly after her sinuses cleared, about 30 minutes after treatment

 her headache was gone, not long after her glands went down, and finally her ears

 stopped hurting. She felt fantastic. This plant is magic."

Certainly, the man did some deep research probably, more thorough than, mine.

Not sure whether Mrs Doom is his wife or mother-in-law.

Suppose, he just puts a Mrs. Doom name tag on the poor gal, for scientific studies.

Anyhow, everything seems to have turned out just fine, I'm glad to report.

Visit the Doom Survival Guide for more. It's fascinating !

RESOURCES ENGLISH:

Dave's Garden

Mountain Herb Estate

Sanbi: Tetradenia riparia

Sprig: Iboza the Wonder Plant

Top Tropicals

Wikipedia

JAPANESE:

フブキバナ

Okinawa Life Photoblog

Plant Nadoyama Blog

Wikipedia

Flower Photos and Facts: Peace Lily

First Some Nomenclature

Common Name: Spath or Peace Lily

Botanical or Scientific Name: Spathiphyllum

Japanese:  スパティフィラム属

Native of Tropical Americas and Southeast Asia

It is not a member of the lily (Liliaceae) family.

The leaves and flower are mildly toxic. Don't eat them.

The plants are grown for landscaping and make good houseplants, as well.

Recognized for it's ability, to purify air, it's good to grow them indoors.

The plants, remove toxins from rooms and, produce oxygen.



Those practicing Feng Shui, claim these plants work wonders.

Four Leaf Clover - It Found Me

Yotsuba no Kuroba (よつばのクローバー) in Japanese

If I had been looking for a four leafed clover, I wouldn't have found this.

Out back, getting some fresh air and nicotine therapy, I was sitting on a concrete block.

Today I didn't feel like, pumping concrete weights over my head.

Looking at green, helps relax the eyes if, you've been staring at computer monitors.

My eyes were relaxed, the cigarette ran out on me and, I started heading back to the office.

That's when I saw it.  The first four leaf clover, I ever found in my life.

Maybe, it was trying to say "Pick me. Pick me."  

I grabbed it even though, it wasn't in my garden.  Mrs. Yamashiro, won't mind.

She's always telling me to pick some of her vegetables and, take them home.

Probably, won't notice one four leaf clover, turned up missing.

Once inside, I experimented with a few different compositions with the leaf.

It's hard to tell, that's me and the clover in front of a mirror and, I'm shooting the Pentax.

My fingernail, should give you an idea of the lucky leaf's size.

When enough photos were taken, I started feeling guilty and, took the thing back.

It's in the center of this image, just about where it originally came from.

That's not the end of the story.  Next, I did my research and, learned a lot more.

 

Causing Me to Go Back and Find It Again !

 

 

These clovers are so rare, you're supposed to eat the thing if, you find one.

A genie will show up and, give you three wishes, which must be used within the year.

They are so rare, only one in 10,000 clovers develop with four leaves.  Dang.

You can read all about them at Wikipedia if, you believe those folks.

More about four leaf clovers in Japan, was discovered in JAPANREFERENCE.

Another, fortunate find today, was Hanakotoba. I'm bookmarking this one.

In Japan, you can give someone a flower, not talk and, they'll get the meaning.

Certain flowers mean love, longing, sex, truth, respect, faith, shy or, whatnot.

Well, just like many other places, the four leaf clover means, "Lucky."

So, I ran back and swiped the clover from the garden, again. I have a plan.

It got straightened out on a white background and wrapped in wax paper.

It will be given to someone special, in Japan, for good luck.

Checkout Wikipedia's Hanakotoba and, learn the language of flowers.

Plant Images: Climbing Fig (Ficus pumila) AKA Creeping Rubber

Everybody Should Grow These

When I first started to research this plant, I thought it was some kind of fern.

There's a batch of them, covering part of the rock garden behind my office.

This close-up photo may be a bit misleading. I should have stuck my thumb in there.

Five or six, of those tiny leaves, wouldn't cover a thumbnail. Hence, I figured they were ferns.

Walking around with a Canon G12, I spotted these, growing on a cement block wall.

Just going to grab some lunch, I decided to see how many of these plants, I could find.

The leaves, are unmistakeable. Little, bumpy, heart-shaped things, I'd know anywhere.

They grow in places you'd never believe a plant could exist.

It looks like, as long as they get light and moisture, they can grow on any surface.

That rusted shutter door probably, hasn't been opened for at least a few months.

Here's an example of the vines, climbing up a tree trunk and, they'll reach the top, I bet.

Notice how the vines thicken as the plant matures.

Who Would Have Guessed ?

These climbing vines, make figs !

A few of the above photos, were sent to a Facebook Group for identification.

It's called "Determinatie van planten en dieren" whatever that means.

See, I don't speak Dutch but, they understand English and got me a scientific name.

Within a few hours, two members responded, "Ficus pumila."

Once I had a Latin name, the research was easy and, I learned plenty about this climber.

In the lower right corner, are some baby leaves on the vine.

Centered, is what the mature leaves look like and, one of the fruits this plant produces.

The fruit was liberated from somebody's plant and, brought to my territory.

It was for a instructional purposes (higher education, let's say) so, that's not stealing. 

The fruit makes a tasty jelly, according to Eat the Weeds.

Cover your house with it if, you can't afford ivy to hide the walls from graffiti artists.

Okinawans use it to treat high blood pressure and diabetes. 

It's Fun Researching Plants

With a scientific, botanical or Latin nomenclature you can learn tons of good things.

Over at Philippine Medicinal Plants, I came up with valuable information. 

In China, they use the leaves of this plant for treating painful or swollen piles.

That's why I recommend "Everybody, grow this Climbing Fig."

Get some planted on the rocks behind your house, before the next family gathering.

When one of those relatives starts complaining about their rear end problems...

TELL THEM TO GO OUT, DROP THEIR DRAWERS AND SIT ON THAT ROCK !