October 31 - Pumpkin Gourd

Pumpkin - a squash fruit that grows as a gourd from a trailing vine of certain species in the genus Cucurbita. Although native to the Western hemisphere, pumpkins are cultivated in North America, continental Europe, Australia, New Zealand, India and some other countries.

Pumpkins have historically been pollinated by the native squash bee, but this bee has declined, probably due to pesticide sensitivity, and today most commercial plantings are pollinated by honeybees.

Although the pumpkin is botanically classified as a fruit (the ripened ovary of a flowering plant), it is widely regarded as a vegetable. The pumpkin's insides are commonly eaten, cooked and served in dishes such as pumpkin pie, pumpkin bread, and pumpkin soup; the seeds can be roasted for consumption as well.

Have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

October 30 - Snowy Egret

Snowy Egret - (Egretta thula) is a small white heron. Their breeding habitat is large inland and coastal wetlands from the lower Great Lakes and southwestern United States to South America. Their flat, shallow nests are made of sticks and lined with fine twigs and rushes. Three to four greenish-blue, oval eggs are incubated by both adults. The young leave the nest in 20 to 25 days and hop about on branches near the nest before finally departing.

Mars Moon - These two celestial bodies will appear together on the morning of October 30th.

October 23 - Compact Fluorescent Lamp

Environmentally Friendly Light Bulbs

Compact Fluorescent Lamp - (CFL), also known as a compact fluorescent light bulb is a type of fluorescent lamp designed to replace an incandescent lamp. Many CFLs can fit in the existing incandescent light fixtures.

Compared to incandescent lamps of the same luminous flux, CFLs use less energy and have a longer rated life. In the United States, a CFL can save over $30 in electricity costs over the lamp’s lifetime compared to an incandescent lamp and save 2000 times their own weight in greenhouse gases. The purchase price of a CFL is higher than that of an incandescent lamp of the same luminous output, but this cost is recovered in energy savings.

In addition, be sure to check stores in your local area as they may offer an instant rebate through the power company, and you may end up paying the same or less than the energy guzzling incandescent light bulbs.

Check out the following Engergy Star website for more information:

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=cfls.pr_cfls

An easy way for you to contribute to the environment and help save our planet!

October 19 - Tiger

Tiger - (Panthera tigris) a mammal of the Felidae family, the largest of four " big cats" in the Panthera genus. Native to the mainland of Asia, the tiger is an apex predator and the largest feline species in the world. The tiger is an endangered species, with the majority of the world's tigers now living in captivity. Several subspecies are extinct and others are critically endangered. It is the national animal of India, and many other countries as well.

White Tigers - There is a well-known mutation that produces the white tiger, an animal which is rare in the wild, but widely bred in zoos due to its popularity, and because white tigers have proved helpful in solving the continual problem of inbreeding; many initiatives have taken place in white and orange tiger mating in attempt to remedy the issue. Recordings of white tigers were first made in the early 19th century. They can only occur when both parents carry the rare gene found in White tigers; this gene has been calculated to occur in only one in every 10,000 births. The white tiger is not a separate sub-species, but only a colour variation, and this is a common misconception. Another misconception is that White tigers are albinos, despite the fact that pigment is evident in the White tiger's stripes.

October 17 - Fallen Leaves

Fallen Leaves - Decomposing leaves that fall to the ground in Autumn add nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to the soil. Spring vegetation will make good use of these nutrients for new growth.

October 16 - Arctic Darkness

Arctic Darkness - Darkness dominates the fall and winter months at the North Pole, where the Sun does not rise between late September and mid-March.

October 11 - Coyote Howl

Coyote Howl - Hearing a coyote is much more common than seeing one. Especially during the fall when the pups leave their families to establish new territories. The calls a coyote make are high-pitched and variously described as howls, yips, yelps and barks. These calls may be a long rising and falling note (a howl) or a series of short notes (yips). These calls are most often heard at dusk or night, less often during the day.

October 10 - Red Leaves

Red Leaves - Anthocyanins give leaves their red color and also act as a form of protection, allowing the tree to recover nutrients in the leaves before they fall off.

October 9 - Peafowl

Peafowl - (Phasianidae Pavo) native to India, Burma, Java, Ceylon, Malaya, and Congo. Peafowl are relatives of pheasants. Peafowl are very hardy birds and with proper care, can live forty to fifty years. The term 'peafowl" refers to the species name. The male is called the peacock and the female is called the peahen. Offspring under the age of one year are called peachicks.

Peafowl come in a wide variety of colors including blue, green, white, light brown, and purple. These colors and many other colors which were not mentioned have come from selective breeding done by people all over the world. The India blue and the green peafowl are the two most common colors of peafowl found in the wild. The peacock is designated as the national bird of India.

October 4 - St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi - He is known as the patron saint of ecology and animals, and it is customary for Catholic churches to hold ceremonies honoring animals around his feast day of October 4th. Many of the stories that surround the life of St. Francis deal with his love for animals.

Franciscan Pet Blessing

Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures.

You inspired St. Francis to call all animals his brothers and sisters.

We ask you to bless this animal.

By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan.

Amen.

October 1 - Pegasus Square

Pegasus Square - The fall sky is anchored by the large square of Pegasus. Four bright stars make up the corners. On one side there are two sets of diagonal stars; one set points from Algenib up to Markab, the other from Alpheratz up toward Scheat.