Some Flowers in the Brazilian Springtime

October-November 2012; Springtime in Brazil --

Grumpy likes flowers [also Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage and Carrots for breakfast!], but one of his biggest disappointments during this adventure so far has been the absence of unusual, native Brazilian flowers. My brother told me that many plants commonly seen in yards and parks in Brazil are imported from other lands. Nevertheless, I have photographed some of the more spectacular and/or unusual ones that I have seen so far, and present them here for the reader to see.

A very common shrub seen here is the Poinsettia. It is native of Mexico/Central America, and is seen in the Pacific Northwest typically during the Christmas season. I made a point, when Rachel came here with me in June, to watch for a grand display of them; unfortunately, in this climate the Poinsettia does not go into the dormancy where lower (green) leaves are shed and the spent red flowers are eventually pruned away (or cattle are used to feed on the flowers, as in fields of Poinsettias in Southern California, eh Ruth?), thus doubling the number of flowering branches the following season. As a result, the examples here look "leggy", as this picture illustrates.

 A rather impressive flowering shrub is this thorny bush. It is used for virtually impenetrable "fences", but must be kept pruned along its length, and the pruned parts must NOT be left to lie on the ground as they will take root and spread their domain far and wide!

Grumpy spied many Hibiscus flowers of various colors as we drove along, but so far has not had the opportunity to walk by any when his camera was with him. There have been some fairly spectacular trees (some of them native) which are in full-flower, but again these have appeared while riding on an inter-city bus at 100-120 kmh.

A very beautiful and intricate flower is what we call the Passion Flower. Grumpy spied a fence-row of the vine on which this flower appears. The vine was conveniently located on the Tennis Club grounds, near where Uncle Bob and Grumpy "played with" rocks. However, as Grumpy examined the vine closely, all he could see were examples of the "Passion Flower" that looked -- well, rather Passion-less!

 
 

During and after a good rain

As I may have indicated in other recent posts -- certainly in my e-mails -- it has been strangely arid (but very humid!) during this "rainy" season here in south-central Brazil. The other day, the drought [if indeed it is one] was broken with a drenching downpour, complete with flashes of lightning and claps of thunder. What to Grumpy's wondering eyes should appear but many brilliantly displaying Passion Flowers! Of course, Grumpy hazarded getting wet and immediately took advantage of the opportunity to get some photos of this rather rare display.

One other photo before I end this post is this one of a familiar-looking cactus -- Grumpy called it a "pin-cushion" cactus when he saw them on the prairie in SD. I was attracted to this sample because of the brilliant red object, which Grumpy mistook for a flower. Apparently, it is a fruit of the cactus instead.

"Headlight" Bug; Amazing Creature

9 November; Sao Carlos --

One of the surprise attractions on a recent rainy night was the appearance of this brilliantly lit bug. While flying it had a "landing light" that shone forward and downward -- far more brilliant than the two "eyes" you see here. Uncle Bob knocked it out of the air as it circled an overhead light and we examined it in some detail. 

Note below how you can see his headlights even in the presence of artificial light. Later, I took it to my room where I was told to watch and wait for it to again resume flying so I could observe (and photograph) its "landing light". As I watched, it walked across the floor -- from the bathroom where I had placed it when I entered -- in a beeline for the outside door. I had closed the door, but there was enough space under the door for it to easily go under and outside!

I grabbed a broom, which it seemed to "fall in love with" and got it back inside my room. I watched it as it moved about on the broom for several minutes -- until I fell asleep. Later in the night [don't ask why I was awakened!], there was no sign of the bug. I assume he escaped under the door again and flew off into the night to resume his pursuit -- of his "lady bug"?

Bob's Favorite Sport; Moving Rocks, Part Two

Early November 2012; On Site at the Tennis Club --

In the continuing saga of the movement of rocks, we ultimately encounter disaster -- of a humorous sort! The victory of Physics over Engineering. Keep your toes and fingers out of the way!!

In this second installment of the "rocky" adventures of the inveterate and never-discouraged Z-Brothers, we find them moving the third biggest rock from the pile on the lower side lawn into an elevated position in this meter-high rockery. Please note the use of advanced technology here -- a five-sheave block and tackle! [What is this world coming to that these two would resort to such modern equipment when faced with the trivial task of raising a 6-700 pound rock a mere meter and half above the surrounding terrain?]

After using "normal" brute force and cleverness to move this rock from its long-time place on the lower side lawn, to a judicious position below its intended place atop some previously-placed large and intermediate rocks, the brothers decided to employ a recently re-strung set of block and tackle. This set, using five sheaves (pulleys), would provide a force on the rock end of roughly five times the pull on the rope at the other end of this gadget. A carefully-placed and Mechanically-engineered ramp of two-centimeter thick lumber would provide a bridge along which this rock would be moved uphill on rollers to be positioned by the Physics-ian brother. BSME brother, the ever-inventive Engineer of the ramp-bridge, would provide the grunt-power on the working end of the block and tackle rope.

Victory of Physics (gravity) over Engineering (design errors).

All went well as the rock moved smoothly up the ramp, past the judiciously-placed bridge abutment that had been previously placed by the thoughtful Engineer. Disaster, in the form of the victory of Physics over Engineering, struck -- exactly as subsequently calculated by said thoughtful Engineer -- as the rock came to the mid-span point between the bridge abutment and the final end of the ramp-bridge. Previously-thoughtful Engineer had neglected to continue his thoughtfulness and provide a support at this critical mid-span point. 

Subsequent steps were taken which rescued this rock from its "comfortable" place in front of the rockery, to its proper place on top. No record of these "after thoughts" and actions were made. But here the rock is, nicely capping a continuation of this beautiful rockery.

Bob's Favorite "Sport" -- Moving Rocks: Part One

Late October into Early November 2012; On Site at the Tennis Club --

Uncle Bob's real favorite sport is tennis. But, for the sake of this and a few future posts, Grumpy will resort to sarcasm by depicting the subject of moving rocks as his "favorite" sport. Bear with me, please; then perhaps you'll understand why.

Bare spot on lawn defines original resting place of BR

The "Big Rock" [hereinafter simply referred to as BR] will be the subject of this first story. This rock was the largest of the lot strewn over the side lawn at the Tennis Club. For reasons that only my brother might be able to define, this challenge was the first one to be addressed. BR started out in this place, at a relatively lower elevation than my designer brother desired its ultimate place in this one meter high rockery.

Moving 1000-lb rock with cleverness

Using ingenuity, mechanical advantage and brute force, it was slowly "coaxed" uphill to a location -- and orientation -- preparatory for the final "big grunt" that would position it into almost its final resting place.

BR in its next-to-final postion

The "big grunt" was implemented by "Super-Body" Fabio, on the short ends of a pair of tough Eucalyptus poles, while my wily brother took the "more challenging" [but definitely less strenuous!] long ends. Grumpy participated by lending his tried and true "Supervisory" experience -- grunting, urging and documentation photos -- to this final brute-force effort.

"Big Rock", neatly wedged into place using selected smaller rocks

After some nudging with a metal crow-bar, the BR was at last in its place, where it was neatly "tucked" with smaller rocks into its bed for future time immemorial. The physics of gravity had been overcome. But more "rocky" challenges will be forthcoming; stay tuned!

Where in Heck is the Wandering Grump?

17 November; Campinas, S.P., Brazil --

Results of an Engineering (and Physics!) failure.

Here sits Grumpy, early on a Saturday (I think!) morning. We left R.B. a couple days ago; stayed two nights in Sao Carlos, moving rocks, and then yesterday we were joined by Adelaide and went by bus on down here to Campinas -- about 200km more down the road.

Obviously my back pains are nearly gone -- being able to participate in the Uncle B's sport of moving rocks, and all! -- and I am feeling almost like new. NOT NEW ENOUGH TO GO SWINGING ON ANOTHER VINE, HOWEVER!!!

We were met at the bus terminal by Bob and Adelaide's good friend, Sergio. On the way to Sergio's digs, we stopped at the Capri Pizzeria where we had a cheesey (and how!!) basil and oregano-flavored pizza. It had tomato slices on it besides cheese, cheese and cheese. It was delicious -- and filling! -- then we came on to Sergio's apartment where we made/listened to guitar music and singing until 11 p.m. last night. I got up at the usual time -- because it was daylight. I will probably take a nap -- or two! -- this afternoon to make up for my delinquency in sleep last night.

I took a bunch of photos of banana trees at Sao Carlos the other day. I will include a few here to show what a banana tree looks like at various stages of giving ''birth" to a bunch of bananas:


On the right is a newly- erupted banana "flower" and the developing bunch of bananas. The "purpl-ey", cone-shaped feature to the left of the tree trunk, is the flower; the small bananas are just above.

Here, on the left are three very healthy "baby" banana trees in three stages of their life. They grow for six to 12 months, produce a bunch of bananas, then die, if not chopped down beforehand. Around the base of the "spent" banana tree grows a ring of new, young plants, repeating the cycle.

On the right is an overhead view of the beginning of a new bunch of bananas. These leaves are different than the ordinary leaves. The flower part comes out of the center of this bunch of leaf-forms.

More views of plant and wildlife in Brazil will be forthcoming in future posts; stay tuned.

Concluding Saga of a Small Brazilian Dove -- Pt III

12 November; Adelaide's Casa --

As those who have been following this thread of Grumpy's adventures in Brazil, you may remember this story of the small-variety Brazilian dove that had made her nest under the roof of the carport at Adelaide's Casa. Grumpy has been attempting to provide a sequel of photos (and some video clips) of her progress in incubating and pledging her young.

Alas, when I looked out this morning, the nest appeared empty! Further, closer examination revealed that it was indeed empty. As I attempted to climb up on a pile of used tires, I detected a motion in the corner of my eyes. Investigation revealed a nearly full-grown chick! He seemed to be still feathered in what I would call "baby feathers"; he was not able to fly, although he definitely could scoot around on the carport deck in such a manner to make my attempt at rescuing him difficult.

Ultimately, I caught him and placed him back in his nest. But later, I found him again on the floor. I then gave him over to Marta, the tenant who lives in back of Adelaide and cares for her dogs and house when she is gone. Still later, I received news that the baby dove had died. A sad day for Grumpy.

Continuing Saga of a Small Brazilian Dove--Pt II

November 7th; Adelaide's Casa, Brazil--

In a recent post, I introduced a small Brazilian dove mother whom I said was sitting on one egg. I had taken Uncle Bob's word for the single egg; as it turns out, there were two eggs in that nest! No more; now there are two little, half-naked, fuzzy chicks!

I noted, when we returned from visiting Bob's friends in Sao Jose de Campos, that the mother dove seemed to be sitting higher in her nest than before we left. Sure enough, she was semi-standing over the product of her incubation! As I sought to get a photo of her new attitude, she flew out of her nest. The good thing was that this gave me an opportunity to get up closer and view what was the reason for her new positioning.

Now I shall take periodic photos depicting the development of these two chicks, hopefully even a video of the mother feeding them. And, hopefully, of these new creatures making their first solo flight!! [Do baby doves take flight instructions?]

 

Dream on, Grumpy, dream on.