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Sunday, June 3, 2018

Wet Monsoon - Magnolia Namnetensis Flore Pleno and BATS

So longing for sunshine and a dry surrounding instead of the soggy lawn that cannot even be mowed! The forecast however does not show such a sunny day in sight... 
Husband Pieter just managed to take this photo with raindrops from our Magnolia Magnolia Grandiflora 'Namnetensis Flore Pleno'.
 They have been blooming but no chance to take a good photo from the balcony.
Rain does make them look wilted sooner...
We did notice this on the driveway... just in front of the cat door?
What IS it.
Pointing to the Attic Gable Vent...
Our Kia Soul with Bike Rack is visible here as well.
Husband Pieter did go up in the attic to inspect...
There is the attic fan, in front of the attic gable vent. Installed in 2011 for Going Green... and for Saving Energy by removing the heat from the attic.
Holding the camera up high and yes, there are bats visible behind the screen!
There they are; little brown bats hanging onto the screen, behind the louvres of the attic gable vent.
Smart mammals for finding such a sheltered spot!
Probably those are juveniles...
But we welcome these Garden Critters to our property.
We have had bat houses for decades but hanging up high on a tree, how does one check on them?
Here it is visible that they are present.

4 Facts About Georgia's Batty Creatures of the Night: Did you know? A single bat may consume 3,000 insects in one night. (click on hyperlink)
Bats! | Georgia Outdoors a beautiful video (click hyperlink) Bats are one of the most important animals on earth...

No, I did not dare to get onto the attic.
Still healing my double (closed) pelvic bone fracture.
June 12 is the date the orthopedic surgeon gave me for having to be without pain; an indication of healing.
So I'm anxious for getting outdoors again, walking and biking!
Did not get to sing and dance at the annual Revue on May 19, at the theatre with my choir... A big disappointment but I understood that the risk of falling could have been disastrous.
So for the time being I've been a Georgia Rebel on Crutch!

Hope you enjoyed reading and thanks for your visit and comment!

Update: Sad that upon our returning home from the mountains at the end of July, 2019 we noticed that the driveway didn't need any sweeping up of the dry droppings.
Pieter did check on the attic and they were ALL GONE! 
Now I got mosquito bites and so did Pieter and before there were none in the driveway or near the home... WE MISS THEM! 
But the next year they were back and we're quite happy!

Related link:
{Going GREEN with Attic Fan} | post from 2011 when Pieter placed the Attic Fan
{Saving Energy and Our Attic} | post from 2013 where Pieter managed to save us more energy with mega project

38 comments:

  1. Imagine all of those little bats making their home in your Attic Gable Vent! - bats here are protected, and I suspect that yours must be too.
    I bet you can't wait to get off your crutches and on to your own two feet again - good luck on the 12 June.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Rosemary,
      Yes, also under the Georgia law, bats are protected and they seem to be an endangered species as well.
      My end date is nearing and I hope to get cleared when I have my OrthoGeorgia checkup on the 13th.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  2. Now that is weird, I have never seen a bat in person

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Jo-Anne,
      Nothing weird about those cute little bats and I've seen them in my youth and even held one in my hand...
      Hugs,
      Mariette

      Delete
  3. Wow! so many bats.. and that I didn't know. That is amazing. We need bats..
    And hope you'll feel good very soon, and the doctor's visit will be absolutely fine. I'm keeping my finger crass.. hugs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Krishna,
      Yes, we all need the bat species, they belong in nature and are very helpful.
      Thank you for keeping your fingers crossed for my nearing doctor's visit; can't wait to hear the final say!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  4. Liebe Mariette,

    von meinem Besuch bei dir,
    bleiben liebe Grüße hier.

    Elisabeth

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    Replies
    1. Liebe Elisabeth,
      Danke und auch wieder zurück und sogar mit Sonne!
      Mariette

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  5. Sooo many bats! They are such smart animal to find that comfortable place for them. I have not seen a bat in person.
    I hope you are feeling good, and please be careful not to fall down again!

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Tomoko,
      Thank you for your visit and too bad that you've never encountered a bat in person. There are so many.
      So far I'm feeling great and yes, I will be extra careful.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  6. mi spiace molto per la tua frattura,ma dalla foto vedo che stai molto meglio!!!!!! se io avessi visto tutti quei pipistrelli sarei svenuta!!!!! un abbraccio grande Lory

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    Replies
    1. Cara Lory,
      Si sto molto meglio e sono felice! Non c'è bisogno di svenire per vedere tali creature minuscole e innocenti!
      Un abbraccio grande,
      Mariette

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  7. Oh my, that looks like a lot of bats! I didn't know they eat so many insects. I would welcome them to our property, too :-)
    I hope you will make full recovery soon, and be able to enjoy outdoor activities! Have a lovely day, Mariette!

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Tamago,
      Oh yes, they have to eat about five times their body weight I guess... they have to stay active throughout the night for reaching their goal. And they are so tiny!
      Yes, I'm so much looking forward to being set free again.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  8. Oh, deaerst MAriette, BATS in the house! I never have seen this before!
    I am looking forward for more news about this BAt-Family ;O)
    Wishing you all the best for your Recovery and that ou can do all your so loved things again!
    Sending much Love and hugs,
    Claudia xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Claudia,
      No, they are NOT in the house! You probably missed my text where I explain that they are just behind the louvres of the attic gable vent and clinging onto the screen that keeps them from entering into our attic.
      Oh, how I am looking forward to getting outdoors again and bike together with my Pieter!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  9. Hello Mariette, I am just catching up after the long trip to the U.S. If those rains keep up, there will be lots of mosquitoes for your bats to eat! Too bad yo had to cancel the choir event, which I know you were looking forward to, but we can see that the crutch isn't going to slow you down for very long!
    --Jim

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Jim,
      Welcome home from your long trip and I hope by now you've fully recovered from the time difference, the stress that travel brings with it and also the emotions for leaving loved ones behind. We both know about that feeling too well.
      We have had a few days with sunshine; believe it or not and I hope it will start to dry up. Judging from the guano those bats produce every night, they seem to find enough insects to feast on!
      Oh, that choir event was hard on me... but I sure can see the danger of falling off those risers as I was on the top level too.
      Looking forward to better times soon!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  10. Dearest Mariette; OMG!!! So sorry to hear about your injury; although you're smiling in the picture, I'm crossing my fingers for swift recovery, Dear friend.
    What a surprise it (finding so many bats) must have been for you two . I thought they normally live in the cave :-)
    Take Care of yourself and wishing you get better soon.
    Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend, xoxo Miyako*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Miyako san,
      You are right they usually live in caves, if there are some around that is.
      We never would have thought they would look for such a narrow space to cling on to. Smart however as they are sheltered from the elements behind those louvres.
      Whatever happens; keep smiling it is the best medicine in the world!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  11. Well crutch of no crutch, you look amazing! Someone is a good detective to have figured to go into the attic. I too know how beneficial bats are. Although one dive bombed me one morning in our log home when I was sitting by the fireplace! Long story. We have arrived here in Colorado...but this moving twice a year is getting more and more difficult.Oh that header looks delicious!

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Janey,
      Thanks for your kind words and I feel great, that is important.
      Those bats are not in our attic, just behind the louvre and clinging onto the screen that is there separating the attic from the outside. No, so far I'ven never had one flying into me, we have seen many here on our property all the time.
      Oh tell me, the age factor is slowly setting in... But so far we do it and let's try to keep it that way and for you the same.
      That breakfast tray is yummy indeed!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  12. Hallo,
    Wat moet je een pijn gehad hebben.
    Maar wat ontzettend leuk om die vleermuizen zo dicht bij te hebben
    Ik hoop voor je dat het herstel voorspoedig verloopt
    Groeten voor je man en compliment voor zijn foto

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Beste Ingrid,
      Gelukkig is die pijn verleden tijd nu. Het valt niet mee om door zo'n periode heen to komen zonder iets te kunnen nemen. Dit vanwege mijn stadium 3 nierziekte. Dus je moet wel even flink zijn en je focus op láter zetten.
      Heb nogal veel kunnen doen waar ik anders nooit aan toe zou zijn gekomen dus dat is ook weer prachtig.
      Over ruim een week weten we meer en Pieter leest straks deze commentaren ook. Hij zal er blij mee zijn omdat hij inderdaad degene was die er met de camera op uit moest.
      Liefs,
      Mariette

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  13. Glad to hear you are healing on schedule, Mariette. Perhaps you'll be completely mended by the time summer arrives.

    When growing up, we had a magnolia tree in our backyard, which keep my father busy cleaning up after it all year around. As lovely as it is, it requires heavy duty maintence as it drops leaves, flowers, cones and seeds without fail. But of course, we enjoyed the shade it provided in our backyard. Sadly, after several (unknown) decades (when we moved in, it was already there), it died and had to be removed. We also lost the oak tree that was in front of our house. It had been there for 50 - 60 years. Although one hates to loose a tree, that oak tree let birds desposite their waste all over cars parked in front of the car, which also kept us busy removing it.

    It seems you can't have the shade without some upkeep, which primarily fell on my dear father.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dearest Debra,
      Indeed that is what I hope to hear on the 13th that I can go ahead and bike and walk and do normal things again.
      Oh, every tree has its pros and cons. They all shed, even the tropical ones with evergreen leaves. Yes, these huge magnolia leaves renew too. This is not the usual Magnolia Grandiflora, we have that too, also in the front of the house, on the other side. It is a French variety that is highly fragrant and in beautiful conical shape. It no doubt gives lots of shelter to birds, for sleeping warm.
      On the balcony we find lots of leaves from our life oak tree. They all shed and they always clog up the drain on the tile floor of the balcony when it rains.
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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    2. Oh your trees sound lovely! I can imagine setting under them.

      Hugs to you, Mariette!

      Delete
  14. hi dear Mariettas !!! no me gustan los murcielagos .. me dan miedo pero encuentro muy interesante su articulo de lo importante que son para el ecosistema de nuestro planeta

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Quearida Angélica,
      No son nada que temer, ya que no te hacen daño! Pero de hecho, son oh tan importante para el sistema Eco de nuestro planeta.
      Cariñosamente,
      Mariette

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    2. Impressionante a quantidade de morcegos no ventilador.
      Gosto muito das flores de magnólia.
      Um abraço e continuação de boa semana.

      Andarilhar
      Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
      O prazer dos livros

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    3. Francisco Manuel,
      Desculpe, mas não há morcego no ventilador. O ventilador está no sótão e os morcegos estão atrás da tela, apenas fora da casa atrás do LOUVRES...
      Mariette

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  15. Magnolias are so beautiful and fragrant.
    Lucky the bats are on the outside and haven't got inside the house. I know they are important to the ecosystem but I'm a bit scared of them.
    Even in crutches you look elegant Mariette, hopefully everything will go well and you'll be on your bike soon.
    Those plants we were given at our Citizenship ceremony were - "Swan river pea" (gastrolabium celsianum) and "Westringia grey box".

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Sami,
      Well, indeed it is far better for not having them in your attic as they would drop their guano there as well. There is absolutely no need for being scared of a bat. They rarely would touch a human being as they can maneuver so well to avoid anything. They just catch insects!
      Thank you for your compliment and I try my best to get my approval for coming Wednesday to get back on the bike!
      Those plants are very special and what a wonderful gift all together with the coin and certificate.
      Congrats again to both of you!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  16. Oh dear MAriette,
    I am sorry to read about your broken hip.
    It must take ages to heal and be quite painful.
    you must eat a lot of calcium, sesame seeds are the best.
    I am so happy that you welcome the bats in your attic, if everyone could welcome wildlife like this and do their bit to protect nature, maybe we would avoid the catastrophic 6th extinction we are facing now...
    My best wishes and get back soon on both feet :)

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Noushka,
      No, thank goodness my hip was not broken, only badly bruised and still have a bruise mark... My pelvic bone got cracked in two places. In the beginning it was excruciating painful and I've lived through all of it without any pain killer due to my CKD. Sesame seeds is a good tip too and I already take my calcium supplement.
      The bats are not actually in our attic but only in that slot right behind the louvre of the attic gable vent. They cling onto the screen that divides the attic from the outside and for us that is perfect. We never knew if they did occupy our bat house in the garden but maybe it got overpopulated and they took up residence in here...?
      Only WISH people would become more considerate and understanding of nature in may ways!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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  17. Mariette,
    I have been thinking of you. You have not posted for a while.
    I hope both of you are having a time.
    Raining season is coming here soon.

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    Replies
    1. Dearest Tomoko,
      Thank you and yes, as it is raining right now at 1:00 PM, I feel so grateful for having cycled my VERY first round this morning with husband Pieter. My orthopedic surgeon gave the green light for that yesterday!
      Hugs,
      Mariette

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Thanks for your visit and comment.

Mariette...