ORNAMENTAL PLANTS

Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as houseplants for cut flowers and specimen display. The cultivation of these, called floriculture, forms a major branch of horticulture.

Ornamental petunia plant

Garden plants

Most commonly ornamental garden plants are grown for the display of aesthetic features including: flowers, leaves, scent, overall foliage texture, fruit, stem and bark, and aesthetic form. In some cases, unusual features may be considered to be of interest, such as the prominent and rather vicious thorns of Rosa sericea and cacti. In all cases, their purpose is for the enjoyment of gardeners, visitors, and/or the public institutions.

Trees

Similarly certain trees may be called ornamental trees. This term is used when they are used as part of a garden, park, or landscape setting, for instance for their flowers, their texture, form and shape, and other aesthetic characteristics. In some countries trees in 'utilitarian' landscape use such as screening, and roadside plantings are called amenity trees.

Cultivation

For plants to be considered to be ornamental, they may require specific work and activity by a gardener. For instance, many plants cultivated for topiary and bonsai would only be considered to be ornamental by virtue of the regular pruning carried out on them by the gardener, and they may rapidly cease to be ornamental if the work was abandoned.

Meillandine Rose in clay pot

Ornamental plants and trees are distinguished from utilitarian and crop plants, such as those used for agriculture and vegetable crops, and for forestry or as fruit trees. This does not preclude any particular type of plant being grown both for ornamental qualities in the garden, and for utilitarian purposes in other settings. Thus lavender is typically grown as an ornamental plant in gardens, but may also be grown as a crop plant for the production of lavender oil.

The term

The term ornamental plant is used here in the same sense that it is generally used in the horticultural trades. The term largely corresponds to 'garden plant', though the latter is much less precise, as any plant may be grown in a garden. Ornamental plants are plants which are grown for display purposes, rather than functional ones. While some plants are both ornamental and functional, people usually use the term “ornamental plants” to refer to plants which have no value beyond being attractive, although many people feel that this is value enough. Ornamental plants are the keystone of ornamental gardening, and they come in a range of shapes, sizes and colors suitable to a broad array of climates, landscapes, and gardening needs.

Some ornamental plants are grown for showy foliage. Their foliage may be deciduous, turning bright orange, red, and yellow before dropping off in the fall, or evergreen, in which case it stays green year round. Some ornamental foliage has a striking appearance created by lacy leaves or long needles, while other ornamentals are grown for distinctively colored leaves, such as silvery-gray groundcovers and bright red grasses, among many others.

Other ornamental plants are cultivated for their blooms. Flowering ornamentals are a key aspect of many gardens, with many flower gardeners preferring to plant a variety of flowers so that the garden is continuously in flower through the spring and summer. Depending on the types of plants being grown, the flowers may be subtle and delicate, or large and showy, with some ornamental plants producing distinctive aromas which paint a palette of scents in addition to colors.

Wikipedia 

KOKYŪ

The kokyū (胡弓) { 胡弓 } is a traditional Japanese string instrument, the only one played with a bow. Although it was introduced to Japan from China along with the shamisen, its material, shape, and sound are unique to Japan. The instrument also exists in an Okinawan version, called kūch (胡弓 くーちょー^?) in the Okinawan language.

Sankyoku musicians, c. 1900 (kokyu at right)
Classification	Bowed string instrument
Related instruments

The instrument is similar in construction to the shamisen, appearing like a smaller version of that instrument. It is 70 cm (28 inches) tall, with a neck made of ebony and a hollow body made of coconut or Styrax japonica wood, covered on both ends with cat skin (or snakeskin in Okinawa). It has three (or, more rarely, four) strings and is played upright, with the horsetail-strung bow rubbing against the strings. In central Japan, the kokyū was formerly used as an integral part of the sankyoku, ensemble, along with the koto and shamisen, but beginning in the 20th century the shakuhachi most often plays the role previously filled by the kokyū.

Since Shinei Matayoshi, a kokyū and sanshin musician and sanshin maker, invented and popularized a four-stringed version of the kokyū in order to expand the instrument's range, the kokyū has become much more popular. A kokyū society, dedicated to promoting the instrument, exists in Japan.

The kokyū has also been used in jazz and blues, with the American multi-instrumentalist Eric Golub pioneering the instrument's use in these non-traditional contexts. One of the few non-Japanese performers of the instrument, he has recorded as a soloist as well as with the cross-cultural jazz band of John Kaizan Neptune.

The kokyū is similar to two Chinese bowed lutes with fingerboards: the leiqin and the zhuihu. In Japanese, the term kokyū may refer broadly to any bowed string instrument of Asian origin, as does the Chinese term huqin. Thus, the Chinese erhu, which is also used by some performers in Japan, is sometimes described as a kokyū, along with the kūchō, leiqin, and zhuihu. The specific Japanese name for erhu is niko.

Listening

• Kokyu audio (click small white stars to listen to individual tracks)

GENUS-DIFFERENTIA DEFINITION

A genus–differentia definition is a type of intensional definition, and it is composed of two parts:

The hierarchy of biological classification's eight major taxonomic ranks. Intermediate minor rankings are not shown.

1. a genus (or family): An existing definition that serves as a portion of the new definition; all definitions with the same genus are considered members of that genus.
2. the differentia: The portion of the definition that is not provided by the genus.

For example, consider these two definitions:

• a triangle: A plane figure that has 3 straight bounding sides.
• a quadrilateral: A plane figure that has 4 straight bounding sides.

Those definitions can be expressed as one genus and two differentiae:

1. one genus:
   • the genus for both a triangle and a quadrilateral: "A plane figure"
2. two differentiae:
   • the differentia for a triangle: "that has 3 straight bounding sides."
   • the differentia for a quadrilateral: "that has 4 straight bounding sides."

Differentiation and Abstraction

The process of producing new definitions by extending existing definitions is commonly known as differentiation (and also as derivation). The reverse process, by which just part of an existing definition is used itself as a new definition, is called abstraction; the new definition is called an abstraction and it is said to have been abstracted away from the existing definition.

For instance, consider the following:

• a square: a quadrilateral that has interior angles which are all right angles, and that has bounding sides which all have the same length.

A part of that definition may be singled out (using parentheses here):

• a square: (a quadrilateral that has interior angles which are all right angles), and that has bounding sides which all have the same length.

and with that part, an abstraction may be formed:

• a rectangle: a quadrilateral that has interior angles which are all right angles.

Then, the definition of a square may be recast with that abstraction as its genus:

• a square: a rectangle that has bounding sides which all have the same length.

Similarly, the definition of a square may be rearranged and another portion singled out:

• a square: (a quadrilateral that has bounding sides which all have the same length), and that has interior angles which are all right angles.

leading to the following abstraction:

• a rhombus: a quadrilateral that has bounding sides which all have the same length.

Then, the definition of a square may be recast with that abstraction as its genus:

• a square: a rhombus that has interior angles which are all right angles.

In fact, the definition of a square may be recast in terms of both of the abstractions, where one acts as the genus and the other acts as the differentia:

• a square: a rectangle that is a rhombus.
• a square: a rhombus that is a rectangle.

Hence, abstraction is crucial in simplifying definitions.

Multiplicity

When multiple definitions could serve equally well, then all such definitions apply simultaneously. Thus, a square is a member of both the genus [a] rectangle and the genus [a] rhombus. In such a case, it is notationally convenient to consolidate the definitions into one definition that is expressed with multiple genera (and possibly no differentia, as in the following):

• a square: a rectangle and a rhombus.

or completely equivalently:

• a square: a rhombus and a rectangle.

More generally, a collection of  equivalent definitions (each of which is expressed with one unique genus) can be recast as one definition that is expressed with  genera. Thus, the following:

• a Definition: a Genus₁ that is a Genus₂ and that is a Genus₃ and that is a… and that is a Genus_n-1 and that is a Genus_n, which has some non-genus Differentia.
• a Definition: a Genus₂ that is a Genus₁ and that is a Genus₃ and that is a… and that is a Genus_n-1 and that is a Genus_n, which has some non-genus Differentia.
• a Definition: a Genus₃ that is a Genus₁ and that is a Genus₂ and that is a… and that is a Genus_n-1 and that is a Genus_n, which has some non-genus Differentia.
• …
• a Definition: a Genus_n-1 that is a Genus₁ and that is a Genus₂ and that is a Genus₃ and that is a… and that is a Genus_n, which has some non-genus Differentia.
• a Definition: a Genus_n that is a Genus₁ and that is a Genus₂ and that is a Genus₃ and that is a… and that is a Genus_n-1, which has some non-genus Differentia.

could be recast as:

• a Definition: a Genus₁ and a Genus₂ and a Genus₃ and a… and a Genus_n-1 and a Genus_n, which has some non-genus Differentia.

Structure

A genus of a definition provides a means by which to specify an is-a relationship:

• A square is a rectangle, which is a quadrilateral, which is a plane figure, which is a…
• A square is a rhombus, which is a quadrilateral, which is a plane figure, which is a…
• A square is a quadrilateral, which is a plane figure, which is a…
• A square is a plane figure, which is a…
• A square is a…

The non-genus portion of the differentia of a definition provides a means by which to specify a has-a relationship:

• A square has an interior angle that is a right angle.
• A square has a straight bounding side.
• A square has a…

When a system of definitions is constructed with genera and differentiae, the definitions can be thought of as nodes forming a hierarchy or—more generally—a directed acyclic graph; a node that has no predecessor is a most general definition; each node along a directed path is more differentiated (or more derived) than any one of its predecessors, and a node with no successor is a most differentiated (or a most derived) definition.

When a definition, S, is the tail of each of its successors (that is, S has at least one successor and each direct successor of S is a most differentiated definition), then S is often called the species of each of its successors, and each direct successor of S is often called an individual (or an entity) of the species S; that is, the genus of an individual is synonymously called the species of that individual. Furthermore, the differentia of an individual is synonymously called the identity of that individual. For instance, consider the following definition:

• [the] John Smith: a human that has the name 'John Smith'.

In this case:

• The whole definition is an individual; that is, [the] John Smith is an individual.
• The genus of [the] John Smith (which is "a human") may be called synonymously the species of [the] John Smith; that is, [the] John Smith is an individual of the species [a] human.
• The differentia of [the] John Smith (which is "that has the name 'John Smith'") may be called synonymously the identity of [the] John Smith; that is, [the] John Smith is identified among other individuals of the same species by the fact that [the] John Smith is the one "that has the name 'John Smith'".

As in that example, the identity itself (or some part of it) is often used to refer to the entire individual, a phenomenon that is known in linguistics as a pars pro toto synecdoche.

Wikipedia 

The Weekend Woodworker's Project Collection

THE JEFF MILLER WOODWORKING COLLECTION - ORDER NOW!

By Popular Woodworking Editors

Format: Paperback 

Pick a project, finish it in a weekend 

Do you have time only during weekends to immerse yourself in your woodworking? If so, then The Weekend Woodworker's Project Collection is for you. This book has 40 projects from which to choose and, depending on the level of your woodworking skills, any of them can be completed in one or two weekends. Projects include: a game box, a jewelry box, several styles of bookcases and shelves, 5 mirror/picture frames and more. And, you can choose from Arts & Crafts, Chippendale, Shaker, Federal, Contemporary, Greene & Greene or American Country furniture styles. So, pick a project and get started — time's a wastin'!

For further information log on website:

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What At-Home Exercises Can I Do to Lose Weight Around My Waist?

Losing weight and inches around your waist can only be done by eating a healthy diet and doing fat-burning exercises that will target your entire body. There is no proven way to spot reduce certain parts of the body, such as the waist or hips. But for many people, the waist is the first place where weight starts to disappear when dieting and exercising. So if you commit to a lifestyle where you burn more calories than you consume -- the only way to lose weight -- you'll start to see inches coming off your waist.

A woman is jumping rope outside. Photo Credit KatarzynaBialasiewicz/iStock/Getty Images

Jumping Rope

Jumping rope is one of the easiest and most-effective ways to burn fat and lose weight around your waist and all over, as it can burn as many as 750 calories per hour. Be sure to get a rope that is long enough. Stand with your feet on the middle part of the rope and pull up both ends evenly. They should reach the middle of your chest. Then be sure to have a pair of cross-training or aerobics sneakers that has a lot of cushion and support to handle the jumping and landing. Set a timer and jump for five minutes at a time throughout the day to burn those calories. And remember that the faster you jump, the more calories you'll burn.

Dancing

You don’t need to be a great dancer to lose weight dancing. Just put on some music that gets your feet moving and dance while you’re doing housework or simply take time out throughout your day to get your groove on. Ballroom dancing, such as waltz or a foxtrot, burns about 320 calories per hour, while more up-tempo dancing, such as salsa or hip-hop, burns more than 500 calories per hour.

Pushups and Situps

Contrary to what many people may think, situps won't help you lose weight around your waist specifically. But like any calorie-burning exercise, situps can help you lose weight overall and they can help you tone your abdominal muscles so when you do lose more weight around the middle you'll look that much fitter. Pushups also work those core abdominal muscles, but like situps, they can tone muscles and burn calories for all-over weight loss, including around the waist. If you're able to do an hour's worth of pushups, you could burn anywhere from 480 to 690 calories per hour, but those would be the rapid-fire, military-style pushups.

Brisk Walking

Whether you walk around your house or around your neighborhood, the important thing for weight loss is that you walk quickly and consistently. Walking 4 mph can burn between 250 and 350 calories per hour, depending on your weight, and if you can boost that up to a jog, you can almost double your calorie-burning efforts.

Various Exercises

When you're at home, look for ways to boost your calorie burning and muscle-toning in everyday activities. When carrying clothes to the laundry room, do lunges instead of traditional walking. Stop and do 10 jumping jacks before starting on the dishes. The more you can replace fat with lean muscle, the more effectively you'll burn calories, regardless of the activity.

www.livestrong.com

Best Foods to Eat for Breakfast

Balanced, nutritious breakfasts can enhance your energy, wellness and brain function. Photo Credit ariwasabi/iStock/Getty Images

Overview

Starting each day with a healthy breakfast can enhance your energy, ability to concentrate and help prevent food cravings and overeating later in the day. An ideal breakfast contains healthy foods from numerous food groups, including fruits and vegetables, complex carbohydrates, such as whole grain cereals, and lean protein sources, such as low-fat milk. To determine what foods and portion sizes best suit you, discuss your diet with a qualified professional.

Fruits and Vegetables

Incorporate fruits into your breakfast. Photo Credit adinaelena/iStock/Getty Images

Fresh and vegetables contribute significant amounts of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which enhance your immune system; water, which supports your hydration needs; and fiber, which is vital for digestive wellness. Incorporating fruit or vegetables into your breakfast can give you a jump start toward meeting the Dietary Guidelines for Americans' recommendation of at least 2 cups of fruit and 2 1/2 cups of vegetables per day. Berries and sliced bananas provide nutritious topping for cold cereals. Adding dried fruit, such as raisins, apricots or cranberries, to your oatmeal adds flavor and substantial amounts of fiber. Frozen fruit provides a nutrient-rich alternative to ice in fruit smoothies. To increase your vegetable intake, incorporate vegetables into breakfast burritos, omelets or scrambled eggs. Leftovers, such as leftover vegetable pizza or soup, provide valuable options when you are crunched for time.

Whole Grain Breads and Cereal

Shredded wheat is a nutritious whole grain breakfast food. Photo Credit Rohit Seth/iStock/Getty Images

Whole grains are rich in fiber and nutrients, such as B-vitamins, selenium, magnesium and iron. Vitamin-fortified whole grain cereals, such as Total and Raisin Bran, supply your daily recommended allowance of most of your essential vitamins and minerals as well. Since whole grains are more satiating than refined grains, opting for whole grain breads and cereals at breakfast can help prevent excessive hunger and snacking between meals and keep your blood sugar and energy levels balanced. For best results, choose whole grain cereals that provide at least 3 grams of fiber and less than 13 grams of added sugar per serving. Examples of nutritious whole grain breakfast foods include 100 percent whole toast, bagels and English muffins, old fashioned and steel-cut oatmeal, whole grain cold cereals, such as Shredded Wheat and Bran Flakes and scrambled eggs or tofu with quinoa.

Low-Fat Dairy Products

Low fat milk provides many nutrients. Photo Credit Wavebreakmedia Ltd/Wavebreak Media/Getty Images

Incorporating protein-rich foods into your breakfast can enhance your ability to concentrate and learn, and ensure that your energy levels remains stable. In addition to providing protein, low-fat dairy products provide significant amounts of nutrients, such as calcium, vitamin D, potassium and zinc. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends at least three servings of low-fat dairy products daily as part of a 2,000 calorie diet. To incorporate dairy products into your breakfast meals, enjoy skim or low-fat milk with whole grain cereal or prepare a fruit smoothing using yogurt or low-fat milk. Low-fat cheese can enhance flavor and nutrient content of egg dishes and breakfast wraps. Kefir and yogurt provide probiotics—healthy bacteria that enhance digestion and help prevent infections. If you do not consume or tolerate dairy products, non-dairy equivalents, such as soy and lactose-free milk, provide similar benefits.

www.livestrong.com

Making Wooden Instruments

THE JEFF MILLER WOODWORKING COLLECTION - ORDER NOW!

Format: DVD 

For many of us, woodworking equates to furnituremaking, but there's another area of the craft where gifted woodworkers make art for the eyes and ears. Musical instruments are not only some of the most beautiful examples of woodworking but some of the most intricate. Visit the shops of four maestros, Stuart Spector, Warren May, David Wiebe, and Sue Lipkins and hear their stories and see the specialized tools they use in their superb craft.

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Free Furniture Making Tips

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Format: Project Download 

Learn how to design a Trestle Table! Choose your won styles and techniques: simple, advanced or somewhere in-between. This free PDF includes instructions for a basic and advanced trestle table, and a rocking chair.

For further information log on website;

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TYPE GENUS

In biological classification, especially zoology, the type genus is the genus which defines a biological family and the root of the family name.

Zoological nomenclature

According to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, "The name-bearing type of a nominal family-group taxon is a nominal genus called the 'type genus'; the family-group name is based upon that of the type genus."

Any family-group name must have a type genus (and any genus-group name must have a type species,  but any species-group name may, but need not, have one or more type specimens). The type genus for a family-group name is also the genus that provided the stem to which was added the ending -idae (for families).

Example: The family name Spheniscidae has as its type genus the genus Spheniscus Brisson, 1760.

Botanical nomenclature

In botanical nomenclature, the phrase "type genus" is used, unofficially, as a term of convenience. In the ICN this phrase has no status. The code uses type specimens for ranks up to family, and types are optional for higher ranks. The Code does not refer to the genus containing that type as a "type genus".

Example: "Poa is the type genus of the family Poaceae and of the order Poales" is another way of saying that the names Poaceae and Poales are based on the generic name Poa.

References

1. ^ ICZN Code Art. 63. "Name-bearing types."
2. ^ McNeill, J.; Barrie, F.R.; Buck, W.R.; Demoulin, V.; Greuter, W.; Hawksworth, D.L.; Herendeen, P.S.; Knapp, S.; Marhold, K.; Prado, J.; Prud'homme Van Reine, W.F.; Smith, G.F.; Wiersema, J.H.; Turland, N.J. (2012). International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Melbourne Code) adopted by the Eighteenth International Botanical Congress Melbourne, Australia, July 2011.  Regnum Vegetabile 154. A.R.G. Gantner Verlag KG. ISBN 978-3-87429-425-6.

Wikipedia