Wings at Work

“Spending time with nature offers us all precious breathing space away from the stresses and strains of modern life, it enables us to experience joy and wonder, to slow down and to appreciate the wildlife that lives side-by-side with us.”-Sir David Attenborough


Butterflies offer a great deal to the our ecosystem which is far beyond what we see as they flutter past. Apart from adding colour and beauty to our surroundings, they support our environment in multitude ways  like:

Pollinate plants:

Butterflies are attracted to bright flowers for nectar. Their bodies collect pollen and transport it to other plants which helps fruits, vegetables and flowers to produce new seeds. Although bees are the best-known pollinators, butterflies so their fair share by pollinating differently. Bees pollinate in smaller areas where as butterflies travel longer distances, ensuring large coverage of flowering plants.

Sensitive indicators of the health of our environment:

Butterflies play a major role in increasing biodiversity by bringing native bees and birds. They are the low-level members of the food chain and a source of food for spiders, lizards, mice and other animals. Caterpillars are also eaten by bats, birds and other animals.

Natural pest control:

Along with nectar, butterflies eat aphids thus acting as a natural pest control.

Provide a clear indication of changes in the ecosystem:

Butterflies are sensitive to habitat and climate change. If their populations diminish, the impact will affect the entire ecosystem.

I enjoyed participating in the Big Butterfly Count this year which aims in protecting these remarkable insects and conserving them for future generations.

This post is part of Blogchatter's CauseAChatter

  https://www.theblogchatter.com/causeachatter

Nature's Artistry

"Nature speaks to us through different images, landscapes, colors, patterns, and forms of exquisite beauty. As we admire nature’s extravagance, our emotions and feelings become part of it. This harmonious balance makes our souls happy."∼ Ralph Waldo Emerson

These photos showcase the remarkable beauty of the Lavender field.

Invite a robin for tea!

Nothing in the world is quite as adorably lovely as a robin when he shows off and they are nearly always doing it.-Frances Hodgson Burnett

Robins and their red chests are an iconic sight in gardens. Capturing the beautiful moment when this songbird joined me for tea.

Beautiful Winter Sunrise

“Ô, Sunlight! The most precious gold to be found on Earth.” ― Roman Payne

Getting up early to catch the glorious winter sunrise is definitely worth waking up for. The rutilant rays across the landscape make it perfect for photographs. Presenting the sky’s winter artistry.

A True Summer Marvel

Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature - Gérard de Nerval


Hollyhocks are biennials. In the first year they put on roots and foliage growth. In the second year they flower, set seed and then die. The showy bright blossoms along a single stem attract butterflies, hummingbirds and bees. The flowers come in various shades of red, white, purple, pink and yellow. Here are some interesting facts:

• Hollyhocks are edible and can be added to salads.
• The plant is a source of food for butterflies, worms and insects.
• Their woody stems can be used as firewood.
• The hollyhock is related to the hibiscus.
• Hollyhock roots are used in traditional herbal medicine and a lotion made from the flowers can heal sunburn as well as dry skin.
• Traditionally these flowers have been planted near the front door to welcome prosperity to the home.
• They are considered as the colourful cottage plants and are a delight to the gardners because they are drought resistant and grow well in full sun. 

Presenting the stunning blooms of Hollyhocks.

Small Wonders

Cultures around the world see ladybugs as a symbol of luck, trust and good fortune. They come in a variety of colours and patterns such as red, orange, brown, yellow and can have spots or stripes. Ladybirds are usually found in grasslands, meadows, urban parks, forests, wetlands and gardens.

Why Are Ladybugs Important?

They form an important link in the insect food chain in our gardens and agriculture by voraciously feeding on aphids which are considered as pests. Ladybugs are an effective exterminator and more natural than pesticides.

How Do Ladybugs Protect Themselves? 

• Bright coloured bodies and spotted patterns deter predators.
• Tougher outer shell offers protection to it’s wings and soft inner body.
• They can play dead when attacked.
• Release a foul odour when provoked.
• Upon being eaten, the ladybirds taste unpleasant or even potentially toxic, depending on who the prey is.

These creatures may be tiny, but they're certainly important and have a big impact on our environment.

Nature's Treasure

"It's a natural resource. But it's not unlimited." - Billy Mayes

Presenting the colourful display of beautiful gemstones, rocks and minerals which I came across during my recent museum visit. 

Protecting our natural resources is necessary for both our planet and our economy.

Gem Stones

Blue John


The Ostro Stone(Topaz)


Gem Stones


Amethyst


Granite


Quartz

Dazzling Pink Sunset

 “How gracious is nature to begin every day with a reminder of its beauty and conclude it with equal glory.” 

Everyone marvels the dazzling reddish-orange hues of a sunrise or sunset. Although, red-orange sunsets are common, certain regions witness pink sunsets. What causes pink sunsets?

During sunrise and sunset, the sun is low on the horizon than during the day. Thereby the rays pass through almost 30 to 40 percent more area of the atmosphere before reaching the human eye. 

Aerosols are fine solid or liquid particles in the air, arising from both natural and human-caused activities. These include dust, spores, pollen, salt from sea spray, volcanic ash and smoke which scatter the light as it travels.The greater are the number of aerosols,  more is the light scattering and more vivid the sky appears.

Pink, purple, or dark red sunsets are indeed glorious to watch but it also indicates our air is heavily polluted. 

These no-filter, no-edit images prove that nature's beauty doesn't need a Photoshop for a stunning shot.

 

A safer and cleaner future?

"The day before something is truly a breakthrough, it's a crazy idea." - PETER H. DIAMANDIS

The world embraces fossil fuels, even though they severely damage our environment. Since carbon dioxide is the primary cause of global warming, the idea of capturing and storing it has raised interest. In this way we can aim for a circular carbon economy.

Carbon capture is a technology which removes carbon by capturing it from sources such as fossil fuel driven power plants and converting it into useful products like building materials. During my recent visit to the Science Museum, I came across this technology which inspired me to write this blog.

Sack of coal: Coal is being phased out as an energy source to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Climeworks develops, builds and operates direct air capture machines. The air-captured carbon dioxide can either be recycled, used as a raw material or removed by safely storing it. Below are a few products which are made from carbon.

Having understood this technology, here are the pros and cons:

Pros:

• Reduces emissions at the source.
• Carbon dioxide is easier to remove at point sources.
• Other pollutants can also be removed at the same time.

Cons:

• The implementation cost is high and that is a fundamental challenge.
• Carbon dioxide transport and storage sites could be dangerous due to the risk of leakages.
• Public perception of storing carbon dioxide near them is negative.

Working with nature is quintessential to reduce the impacts of climate change. Our choices may affect the delicate balance in nature . Let us learn where and how we can intervene to stabilise the climate...

This post is part of Blogchatter's CauseAChatter

  https://www.theblogchatter.com/causeachatter

Flower Power!

Where flowers bloom so does hope.- Lady Bird Johnson

Summer meadows spring up with a fabulous flush of colorful wild flowers. Besides their natural beauty, wildflowers offer a lot to our planet in the following ways:

• The picturesque blooms support our native pollinators whose loss could threaten our own food supply.
• Wildflowers are an intrinsic part of the food chain. Their seeds are an important source of food for birds in wintertime.
• Like all plants, wildflowers absorb Carbon dioxide and pollution from the air.
• Their root systems stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.
• Provide nesting habitats for insects, butterflies, birds, small animals and other wildlife.
• They are relatively easy to care for and rarely need pesticide applications.
• Wildflowers encourage a more natural ecosystem where different species work together to manage pests and diseases.

Devastation of meadows endangers wild flowers and re-connecting with them is absolutely vital for a healthy planet..

LET US CREATE  HABITATS THAT BUZZ WITH LIFE.

This post is part of Blogchatter's CauseAChatter

  https://www.theblogchatter.com/causeachatter