Goal For The Green

Chris, is one of my very best friends.  She lives in Rockledge, Florida.  Imagine my surprise when I received these pics in my inbox.  Here is what she had to say.

I took these pictures this morning they were right across the street from our home. These are my favorite birds. They are Sandhill Cranes, and they are So-o-o-o cool.  They walk around like they own the place, can you tell?  They are So-o-o-o loud – they remind you of the noise a teradactyl would make,  like the ones in the movie Ice Age.  Share and enjoy! 🙂

So, how’s that for a little nature strolling through for your front yard viewing?  Gotta, love it!

Nature at it’s finest!

Ladybugs are also known as ladybirds.  They are not just considered one ladybug, but a family of them.  There are nearly 5,000 different species of ladybugs, of which more than 400 species are common in North America.

In her lifetime, (usually several months) a female ladybug will lay more than 1,000 eggs. The male ladybug is slightly smaller than the female.  As they age, their spots fade.  Under the right conditions , the Asian Lady Beetle,  can have a lifespan of 2-3 years.

When they fly, they beat their wings on an average of 85 times per second.  However, they won’t fly if the temperature is below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.  They also, don’t like being in direct sunlight and hot temperatures.

It has been said that ladybugs stink.  This is because, if they sense that they are in danger, they can create a chemical smell that both stinks and tastes terrible, so that birds and other predators won’t eat them.  Pretty smart for a little bug.

Their favorite food is aphids, of which they will eat more than 5,000 in their lifetime. No wonder they are so valuable to your garden.  They chew their food from side to side.

It has been said that Red Ladybugs are a symbol of “luck.”  Fact is, we are the “lucky” ones, when ladybugs show up in our gardens and eat our unwanted garden pests!

See where the cutest ladybugs live!