Multi Purpose Tree ? Sugar Palm
February 4, 2008
Palm family is unique in the aspect that most of its members have muli purpose benefits to the mankind, unrivalled by few other trees. There are several palm species such as Borassus, Areca, Sago, Fish Tail etc. Because of their beautiful structure, many of the palms adorn gardens.Though pal trees grow very tall, they can also be raised in home gardens or as dwarfs in pots.One of the most important palm trees is the Sugar palm.Botanically known as Borassus Flabellifer; it is widely distributed in the tropics such as India, Srilanka, South East Asia, New Guinea etc.
People from temperate regions are not much aware of this palm and hence are not privileged as people of tropics in appreciating the multi fold benefits of this palm. The tree grows upto 30 meters in height, with separate sexes. The female trees bear edible fruits of about 20 cm diameter.
Over a lifecycle starting from fruit to tree, the sugar palm or toddy palm provides six types of edible portions at different stages. The immature or unripe fruits contain 2-3 locules, and the locules contain a hydrolyzed carbohydrate which is very tasty. (Called ‘munji’ in Telugu language). On maturity the carbohydrates convert to hard starch and this starch is not edible. The locules are in hard shells, which are covered by fibrous material, and this fibrous material which was earlier greenish-whitish in color and tasteless, accumulates sugar and turns orange-red juicy fibres.
Light Up Your Kitchen with the Right Lighting!
February 4, 2008
The proper lighting in a room can make or break it. With lighting, you can create a soft, cozy room for reading and relaxing. With bright, brilliant light you create a sense of excitement and energy. When looking for the right lighting for a room consider what you will do in that space and what you want the lighting to do. If you plan to install lighting fixtures in your kitchen, you will want to use kitchen lighting that is bright and clean. You need to see what you are doing without shadows and haziness.
A popular choice of lighting is track lighting. With a long strip of lights that point in whatever direction you decide, it is a great option for areas with a lot of lighting needs. You can direct the light at pictures, doorways, over a table or near a chair. Track lighting is also used for hallways where long spaces need constant light. The designs and colors of the track lighting fixtures are really anything. You will find many options in any store.
Beautiful, Sparkling Chandeliers!
February 3, 2008
If you want to add extra spark to rooms, consider adding chandeliers to the rooms. Chandeliers offer added elegance and charm as well as light. There are many to choose from and these can be custom made as well. A popular choice is the crystal chandelier. This beautiful piece of art is a great piece to add to a home.
If you are in the market for a chandelier, you will want to shop around to find the right one to fit your home, not only in size and shape, but in style and charm as well. There are so many choices, choices like the crystal chandeliers that sparkle and even the candle chandeliers that glow. Finding the right fit for a chandelier in your home is important depending on the function of the room, the size and color of the room, and the style of the home. Finding the right one, therefore, will take some work, but it can be done.
Have You Considered Fluorescent Lighting for Your Home?
February 2, 2008
Many of us know that fluorescent lighting is common in work areas and schools. It is the long tubes that run in ceilings, right? Fluorescent lighting is more then just that. In fact it is one of the most energy efficient types of lighting on the market today.
In the world we live in, fluorescent lights come in many different shapes and sizes. Fluorescent bulbs can be compact fluorescent as well as the larger, more common ones. Fluorescent light bulbs can be found in fluorescent light fixtures and even in fluorescent lamps. These types of light, fluorescent that is, are becoming more popular do to the cost effectiveness they offer. These lights are 4 to 6 times more efficient than incandescent light. Many people use incandescent lights because the light they produce is warmer then fluorescent and this can be a benefit in a home. But, so can saving some money on fluorescent lighting.
Preliminary Considerations Before Building Your Own Backyard Garden Pond
February 1, 2008
This article is geared towards the beginner water gardener, who is comtemplating the installation of his/her first garden pond. The key to a successful do-it-yourself project is to gather as much relevant information that you can. To follow are some preliminary considerations and design tips that must be taken into account, before embarking on a water gardening project.
PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATIONS
1. Location
Install it as close as the house as possible to maximize enjoyment. For safety reasons, make sure that there are no underground utilities where you will be excavating. Check with your local utility company before you begin digging.
Be sure to consider the slope of the land and the location of the pond in order to avoid rainwater runoff. If the pond is located in a low-lying area, lawn fertilizers and other chemicals can wash into the pond and harm the fish and plants.
To grow healthy aquatic plants, you will require adequate sun exposure. Most aquatic plants require four to six hours of sunlight per day to ensure healthy growth.
2. Size
Make your pond as large as possible, to give you flexibility when you later fill up the pond with fish and plants.
