DIY All Natural Fruit Fly Killer

 Just A Drop of Dish Soap

There has been way too much rain this month for my usual Full Moon photography.

It did make some short appearances but, avoided my fooling around with the camera.

Spending plenty of time indoors I noticed fruit flies hanging around the kitchen.

 

In Japan, this is what Apple Cider Vinegar in a bottle looks like.

It's been a while since I searched the internet for a natural way to eliminate these bugs.

So, you might want to Google it yourself for recipes.

Here's how it all started. Just put one drop of dish soap in a container.

If you like feeling silly, sing a Mary Poppins song, the pesty insects might like it, too!

The Bottle of Vinegar May Last a Whole Year!

Sometimes I'll put a splash of vinegar on my salad but, not even a teaspoon full.

For the month of December, I'm posting a photo of how many fruit flies have drowned.

 Not bad, considering I spilled the thing once after the first week, trying to count the bugs.

There aren't any more fruit flies buzzing around my apples, bananas, and pears.

Some folks would probably suggest keeping fruits in the refrigerator.

But, that would put way too much restriction on how many beers could fit in there!

Here's a Pioneer Woman's Recipe, I found for you to try.

Have Safe and Happy Holidays!

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 !

Citrus Fruit Known as Kumquat

Known as Kinkan (きんかん) Locally

 

This shrub was located behind my office and, I had to do some research to find a name.

Scientists would call it Fortunella japonica.

The little round fruits are edible, skin and all. Sometimes they are used in cooked preserves.

Originally from China, these fruits are grown worldwide.

Loaded with vitamins A and C, a cup of them sells for about 3 bucks in Japan.

The plants can become a few meters tall; this one isn't two feet tall, yet.

This photo was taken from a low position with a wide angle lens and close-up to the plant.

The shrub happens to be growing out of a rainwater drainage ditch.

Once, I figure out, who owns that little patch of ground, I'll see if I can transplant the thing.

A little experiment was conducted by me, after I learned the fruits weren't poisonous.

A few of the little orange fruits, were swiped, washed and eaten, to see what they taste like.

They were delicious, now, I want my own kumquat tree !

More About Kumquats:

Encyclopedia of Life

Purdue Edu

6 Images from a Mikan Orchard in Motobu Okinawa

Pick Your Own Tangerines

 

 

Mikan season goes from October through January in the Izumi district of Motobu.

Doc Graff and I, went up north to find out when mikan gari (tangerine picking) starts.

 The stepladder by that tree is a hint that the orchards are ready for customers.

 This assortment of photos was taken to give readers an idea what the fruits look like.

There are a few different varieties that are eaten when the tangerines are green.

There must have been millions of them hanging from the trees just on this farm.

It would be a good idea to wear long sleeves and shoes to go through this area.

The gal at Shiroma Mikan Farm was worried about me, going in there wearing flip-flops.

When, I took of my flip-flops and showed her my suntan marks, I was good to go.

My feet make me look like a native of these parts because, I rarely wear shoes.

 The place made me remember words from an old Johhny Horton song.

We went and, "Ran through the briars and ran through the brambles and,

ran through the bushes where a rabbit couldn't go."

 The orchards are dense with trees and brush and, you could get lost in there !

For under twenty bucks, you could pick fruits with your family all day long.

And, you'd have more tangerines then the whole neighborhood could eat in a year.

 There are orchards loaded with these fruits all over the hills of northern Okinawa.

It seemed, to me, this farm had the most friendly owners.

Anyone, who doesn't speak basic Japanese should bring along a date to help translate.

That way, you can go around pickin' and a grinin' without any worries.

There are signs that say "みかん" everywhere along the roads of Izumi.

This just happens to be the PLACE, I'd visit whenever, I get the urge to go pickin' again !

 

Flower Photo: Unidentified Passion Fruit Blossom

This one has me stumped. There are over 500 species of  Passiflora.

And, before we got a chance to see if this one bears fruit, a typhoon, blew everything away.

Camera: Pentax K3

Lens: Pentax 300mm

Exposure: f/6.3  1/200   ISO 400

In the Mountains of Okinawa They Have Shiikuwasa !

Don't be alarmed.  There's nothing to worry about.  We're all safe.

 Zooming in so you can see them a little better.

 There ya go.  See, it's only some kind of fruit.

There's my thumbs up to let you know everything is OK and show how big they get.

They are pretty powerful little fruits.  I'd say a cross between a lime and lemon.

 Shiikuwasa is called Citrus depressa by the scientific dudes.

If you Google Search the Cirtus depressa you can find out all kinds of stuff.

Some scientists say it can help you lose weight.

Some people mix the juice in their drinks.

Other people put it on their stinking fish.

I don't know about you but, I won't eat a stinky fish and I don't need to lose weight.

So, I guess I'll try some in a drink !