A Wasp and Spider!

 Spider

I have only occasionally noticed a Blue Mud Wasp in our garden. As they are not commonly seen elsewhere in the world, I have had doubts if it can be something else. That debate in my mind is not yet over. 

In the recent weeks since the jasmines are flowering, there are a few of them, who search for nectar in the bud stage of the flowers. 

I look out for these spiders, one of them above, which are small and are often missed, in the jasmine, and rose flowers recently. They can be sometimes seen in other flowers as well. 

For a while, I missed seeing them. 

The culprit is the Blue mud wasp, whose preferred meal is spiders. In fact, they eliminate the Black widow spiders which are poisonous from the garden. The blue wasp feed their larvae with spider while they thrive on honey to receive energy to fly long distances. The wasp sting the spider to immobilise them and make a feed out of them. 

What was even more  intriguing is the tendency of the buds of jasmine falling off before they bloom. Has it got something to do with the Blue wasp feeding on the buds! 

At the end of a walk into the garden, one wonders about the several silent equations in nature which balance the setting for the wellness of humans. 

Noe that I found out form my current search that Blue mud wasp are fun near the spider web, it gives me another reason to be more observant of the spider web. 

What stays with me the colour of this wasp, blue with a sheen of black! Beautiful to look at!

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)

Barbet's right !

The Barbets, tree pies, Mynas and squirrels find the papaya fruit before we can pluck them! It is about six months, since we were able to pluck one. As we plucked the two fruits yesterday, we felt that we got there before the birds found them!

A garden is for us and for the avians! 

The avians have as much claim as we have on the fruits. The papaya tree came from bird droppings in our garden! We did not plant the sapling. 

A home is for the household. A good portion of the house ought to be designed to meet the needs of children.

A garden is for the family of all living beings. The flora and fauna make the garden eco-friendly. 

A garden is a host for the avians as they do not sow, reap or store in barns their food. They live the calling, 'Give us our daily bread'! All the more reason to have a friendly and hospitable setting for the feathered friends in the garden. 

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)

Solar lamps!

 

Anna replaced the regular lamps with solar lamps having sensors, in the garden and the courtyard. It is a novelty to watch the lights turn on with any movements in thier vicinity between 6 pm and 6 am. We have now well lit areas around the house and along the approach road. 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

The small beings!

Among the small creatures in a garden, Butterflies and Dragon flies capture my attention. 

The bees, ants, grass hoppers, spiders, beatles, bugs, wasp etc are other little beings that I come across in our garden.

Why is butterfly important! There are migrant and resident butterflies in a garden. The migrants come for nectar and the residents live their life cycle in the garden. I keep a watch on the Butterflies because they are normally present in a healthy garden, where chemical insecticides are not sprayed. 

The dragon flies reside where there is grass and weeds carpeting the ground. They also live their life cycle in gardens or beside streams. They avoid paces where there are lots of bird movements as some birds hunt them for their food. 

What is common between both of them is their quiet presence. You find them only when you look out for them. Theirs is unlike the birds who make their presence known through their bird calls and flight movements.

The Butterflies and Dragon flies do not have a protective cover, except in some public gardens, where a corner is dedicated to grow plants, which the butterflies thrive on during their breeding season.  

The colours and designs which they provide on their body, often get noticed and photographers and artists make them as their subject of art. 

They are small, but beautiful to the beholder's eyes. 

They take care of themselves and add to the richness of a garden.

The little beings in our homes are the pre-school children. Yesterday, a Paediatrician in a meeting observed that pre-school children get attended at their homes by a third parent -the visual media! I have come across families who allow the pre-school children to watch entertainment in the TV or mobile phone, mostly cartoons or film songs, all the time when they are awake. They are fed while they watch the entertainment. The human interface of conversation, play, story telling, singing, etc are uncommon in many homes. 

Are we subduing our children to a unhealthy quiet presence!

All pre-school children need social engagement, interactive play, outdoor activities, structured times of creative activities and exploration of the environment for them to grow in a sense of enquiry and observation. They do it by seeing, hearing, touching, sensing, and interacting. Parents are their immediate companions. Parents sometimes look out for parent substitutes. The media has become the third parent in many homes. 

The Butterflies and the dragon flies thrive in a favourable environment!

I wonder whether our pre-school children have a favourable environment at home!

It is one time, when there is an exodus of families to overseas countries for better prospects socially and professionally. With both parents working in shifts, when one parent is with a pre-school child, the parent not being familiar to occupy a pre-school child creatively, yields to the lure of the visual media to occupy the child. That is how the distancing of a pre-school child from parents begins. 

I happened to get an opinion from a specialist in pre-school children's TV programme. He told me that a lot of the cartoon series are fantasies, unreal situations like a rabbit driving a car, and sensationalised content to attract children stay glued to the programme. There are fights, violent scenes, heroic events, dangerous tricks and displays, etc. 

What pre-school children need are language and communication skills, behavioural skills, social skill, pre-school skills of attention, observation, interaction and group activities, etc. The children's TV or mobile phone programmes are not directed towards them. The cartoon figures are so unreal that a preschool child at one or two years, get preoccupied with an unreal world and its ways, so much so some  pre-school children speak and sing in simulating the cartoon language. 

I wonder whether we would be earnest to restore pre-school childhood to a human interface of interaction, instead of the present pattern of a machine interface!

The pre-school child needs the interactive ambience of home and not a passive engagement with the visual media!

The pre-school child needs the protection of parents to grow socially, relationally and behaviourally!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Fruits for garden visitors !

There are fruits that birds, squirrels, and ants find in our garden before we reach them! So some fruits are theirs by right of being resident in the garden!

The news of elephants coming to banana plantations, or pigs digging to feed on the tapioca or other wild animals coming to places of human habitations is common in the areas, where people live at the edge of forested land. Those animals assert their right to find food and water by migrating when the forest no more offers them food and water. 

The eco-system we live in calls for space for birds to survive. With high rise buildings occupying the wet lands and mini forests the water birds and avians are at a loss. They require he cover of bushes and trees to survive. To deny them that right is most unfortunate. 

We have learned during the last ten years since we live in our cottage, that feathery friends need their space and food. It gave us a new outlook to gardening. We have now plants and trees which can attract bees, butterflies and birds for their habitat! We are careful to protect the garden from rats and snakes, because they add to risk to our movements!

Learning to make a garden hospitable to all visitors!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Flowers and Fruits

 

A look around in our garden tells us about the rich bounty of nature in its time! Every year when the monsoon sets in, what surprises us is similar sights of how earth brings its blessings to humans!

We receive and grow!

We are therefore reminded to pass on the blessings to others!

A family takes two children from the neighbourhood in their car, to drop them at school. Another neighbour collects them in the evening. 

What an example of self giving!

We give what we receive ! Some give more than they receive. 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Another morning!

The Lilies , the bell fruits, the early stages of Rambutan and Cashew nuts make the front yard of our cottage look special this morning. 

To bring nature and its gifts close to us is a necessary way to grow in gratefulness! We are surrounded by gifts of sights and scenes all around us. Each gift is a story of many strands. Someone planted it, watered it, manured it, pruned it, and we get the benefit. 

Our life is an expression of the confluence of many strands of experiences from parents, members of family, neighbours, friends, communions,  mentors...! The books we read and the talks that we listen to, make another broad strand of influence.  The peek and valley  experiences we have been through constitute another strand that stand out in the tapestry of our life!

We are perpetual receivers and occasional givers!

To be regular givers is a calling in life!

  M C Mathew (text and photo)

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

The four stages of pine apple fruit!

The first is the pre-flower stage, the second is the flowering stage, the third is the maturing stage and the fourth is a fully formed pineapple, which would grow larger and ripen in a few weeks time!

I discovered this for the first time during my walk in the morning when all the four stages were next to each other in our garden!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

The twilight visitors!

After a gap of several weeks, I find our garden getting restored for the flight path of birds. As the day temperature shoots up, birds seek out for cooler place for their times of rest and respite. 

What is striking is the fixed stations and times they they use for their flight path. 

The British Post about seventy five years ago had used pigeons to carry letters to remote areas in the mountains and valleys, which were not connected by roads at that time. 

 

The intelligent birds surprise us by their behaviour. Even parrots can greet and reciprocate when trained. 

A parent told me her experience with her daughter who was struggling with language skills. Being a Zoologist who knew about bird behaviour, had a parrot trained to call her daughter's name and ask questions like 'How are you'. The parrot had about twelve questions which the parrot would ask her daughter which became fascinating to her. He mother was able to make her daughter respond to the parrot when those questions were asked. That was the beginning of helping this girl to overcome her social inhibition to express her language skills. Although, this girl still has some social inhibitions, her mother felt that the breakthrough from being stagnant to being expressive by using words and phrases is emerging. 

I still would not be able to be assertive of its universal application for other children who have language blocks. But in language development, the relational dimension with people around is critical for a pre-school child to feel comfortable to communicate. Those children who had stormy periods following premature birth would have been in special care, moved away from human contact for several weeks. The Kangaroo care that is practiced is to create intimate body contact with both parents  for the infant to have a social environment rather than only the machine environment during the special care. I do come across children who rather watch a video in the TV or mobile phone than be playing with other children. Some of them are those predisposed to language inhibitions and social interactions. 

Anna and I feel delighted that we have the feathered friends who visit us, sing for us, share the fruits in the garden, find their pair and some even becoming residents in our garden. 

We have a pair of Bulbuls who would come to the dining room for fruits if we had forgotten to leave banana in the verandah!

Welcome Avian friends. The garden is yours as much as it is ours!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Bird Behaviour

A pair of barbet birds were in our Bell apple tree for a while a few weeks ago. 

One of them had a piece of the fruit in its beak and was offering it to the other bird. The other bird did take a bite, but did not stay. It received the fruit and flew away thereafter. The bird who brought the fruit to entice the other bird for courtship was left alone. 

It is common for birds to attempt different theatrics to impress another bird during courtship. This was the first time I had watched the barbets relating to one another in this way. 

As I pondered over this encounter of the barbets, it occurred to me that traditions and practices for building relationships differ from couple to couple. 

In most parts of the world, marriage relationships are no longer life-long relationships. The permanency of marriage is no longer a value that people commit themselves to. I agonise over this. 

Yesterday, when a single mother came to talk about her travails in taking care of her developmentally challenged children, it occurred to me that conveniences take precedence over convictions. Her broken marriage is irreversible due to multiple factors. 

I wonder if young couples receive ongoing marriage upbuilding support. Most couples do join for pre-marital counselling courses which are a requisite in some church traditions before a couple can be married. However there seems to be very little that is available for continued support. As  the couples face new experiences, such as pregnancy, child birth, upbringing children, schooling of children, change of jobs, transfers to another work spot, etc. which strain the marital relationships, the ambience in the home can become turbulent and stormy. 

Marriage enrichment programs that exist do offer a platform for couples to come together and learn from each other's experiences under supervision. In my enquiry, during the last three years, with many families showing signs of strained relationships, I have not come across an awareness about the possibility of marriage enrichment, that they can be part of. When relationships get threatened and they cannot find solutions, it is not even common for the couple to seek for marriage counselling. 

As I watched the barbets, I realised that one of the birds suffered the trauma of rejection by the other. This made the bird stay frozen in its perched position on the tree for a while. 

There are several times when married couples experience trauma and strain in their relationship. Many couples are able to diffuse the strain with forgiveness, patience and resolve. But there are times when they need support from someone who can walk with them during the stressful times till they can return to mutuality in their relationship. 

The marriage relationship is sacred and the sanctity is preserved by making time and space to deepen the relationship. It is in that ambience of love and tenderness that children can feel nurtured during their growing-up years.    

I wish every couple would choose to nourish and build their marriage through the support they can receive through marriage enrichment! Marriage can be sterile or a celebration depending on how much a couple will treasure the marriage relationship to make it mutually upbuilding!

M C Mathew (text and photo)

A mid day meal on January 1, 2023

A Tree Pie found our Bell fruit tree and relished its fruit yesterday! It was its bird call during the mid day hour that alerted me to its quiet presence for its meal in the tree. By that time, it seems it had been there for a while. Having had its portion of the meal, the bird call was an  invitation for other birds. 

As I watched the bird eats its meal, its chanting did not stop announcing its desire to share the meal with other avians. The Bell Fruit tree which would have more fruits than leaves during this season, has only few fruits this year. Something to do with the disarray in the climate transition. Through December of 2022, we needed the fan at night and not a blanket. 

By nature a Tree pie is a well groomed bird. I would rate it above the Barbet in this behaviour and not as high as a sunbird, whose groomed groomed body is like an art work. 

As I kept watching the Tree bite takes small bites form the bell fruit, hidden under the foliage, I  thought that it followed all the table manners the British would desire at the dining table. It bit small pieces of the fruit and swallowed it with least facial gestures. Its look of pleasure and satiety drew my attention.

What intrigued me was its in between bird calls, inviting  other avians to come for a new year meal. An avian way of generosity and hospitality! While we were getting ready for our mid day meal on the new year day, hearing the bird call of a Tree Pie made me aware of the reality of those who live deprived of a meal! 

The burden of that thought lasted only for a while till I was drawn by the refrain of a hymn of Miriam Therese Winter:

'It's a long road to freedom,

A winding steep and high,

But when you walk in love,

With the wind on your wing,

And cover the earth with the songs you sing,

The miles fly by'.

To live this way bringing cheer to others through the little things we can do is possible rather live burdened by the challenge!

Live content with what is given and in increasing consciousness of why we are given, what we have- it is for opening the doors of opportunity and provision for others!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

 

From the twilight to sunshine !

At the break of the day, in the twilight some sights are worth watching because the hue of colours would soon change when the sunlight becomes brighter! 

It is evident from the second photo of the Bulbul after ten minutes, since the first phot was taken!

The Bird did not change its complexion, but the light falling on it gave it a different look!

Our optic or views on different issues have a similar pattern. Being open to be well informed, objective and discerning would refine our thinking and opinions. 

The twilight view on issues would get revised as we allow our mind to be more factual and authentic as much as possible. 

Anna and I were hesitant to visit a home to greet them for Christmas because of a strained relationship over a matter that remained unresolved. But when Anna took the initiative to visit, she was more than surprised by the welcome and greetings she received from the family. 

We can begin with the twilight view on matters that concerns us and others, but staying open to know and sense more than what is apparent would often lead us to greater openness, which eases the stress to be relational. 

The sunshine which follows twilight is a reminder of the better perspectives that we can have towards ourselves and others, when we are open to receive the truth in greater clarity!

The discovery of truth about ourselves, our thoughts, attitudes, values, behaviour and conduct is the step which leads us to be generous and hospitable towards others. 

Let me suggest that the twilight and sunshine views have many differences!

M.C.Mathew (text and photo)

A Purple Heron on Christmas Day!

I do not remember spotting a Purple Heron in our garden in the recent years. I spotted one  on the coconut palm in our garden in the morning today, which was more than a delight! They are found in south India during the winter months when they are on the migratory journey. During the few minutes it was perched on the tall palm tree, I watched its body behaviour simulating some gymnastic movements. 

I feel good because this was an addition to the different sights and experiences of this Christmas season. 

A bird consumes our attention for various reasons. One reason for me, is to feel the diversity of bird behaviours. We have Bulbuls come into the dining area and collect the banana we put out for them in a bowl. The Sunbirds come to the Bell fruit tree and break the morning silence with their bird calls. The Barbets go to the fruit bearing trees in the morning one after the other in search of their feed. The Parrots come to the Mulberry bush for the fruits. The Minas search on the lawn for what ever they can pick up to feed on. The crows come to drink from the water bowl. 

For the visiting birds our courtyard and garden have become a regular stations in their flight journey. 

Some  birds do make nests in our garden! It is when this can happen the birds become resident  in the garden. The Bulbuls who make the nest can abandon it sometimes when they suspect that predators are around. This happened twice in our courtyard during this season.  They he nest below is that of a large bird like a crow.

The Bulbuls who visit almost daily for a look at the car mirror continued its frolic even when I arrived on the spot to get into the car yesterday. That is the level of comfort some birds can feel with humans. Obviously they want to be near  the human habitations for various reasons. 

It is now twenty five years since I started using a SLR camera which opened up for me an opportunity to be near the birds. 

The resident and visiting birds make our garden a theatre of activities out of which the bird calls and their feeding times are occasions to spot them to make them feel welcome!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)