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Buying Calls

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 04:02:00 +0000

Example

ZYX is trading at $44.25, so 100 shares of stock would cost a total of $4,425. However, an investor could instead purchase one six-month ZYX 45 call, which represents the right to purchase 100 underlying ZYX shares at $45 per share, for a quoted price of $3.25. The total cost for the call would be: $3.25 x 100 contract multiplier = $325, a fraction of the total stock purchase price. Instead of committing $4,425 on the purchase of 100 ZYX shares, spending only $325 for the purchase of one call would leave a balance of $4,100 that could then be invested in short-term, interest-bearing instruments. By purchasing the call the investor is saying that by expiration he anticipates ZYX to have risen above the break-even point: $45 strike price (at which price ZYX can be purchased no matter how high it has risen) + $3.25 (the option premium paid), or a ZYX share price of $48.25. The investor's profit potential is unlimited as ZYX stock price continues to rise above $48.25. The risk for the call purchase is limited entirely to the total premium paid for the contract, or $325, no matter how low ZYX stock price declines. Before expiration, if the call purchase becomes profitable the investor is free to sell the option in the marketplace to realize this gain. On the other hand, if the investor's bullish outlook proves incorrect and ZYX declines in price, the call might be sold to realize a loss less than the maximum.

Buying Calls

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 03:58:00 +0000

Who Should Consider Buying Equity Calls?
An investor who is very bullish on a particular stock and wants to profit from a rise in its price.
An investor who would like to take advantage of the leverage that options can provide, and with a limited dollar risk.
An investor who anticipates a rise in value of a particular stock but does not want to commit all of the capital needed to purchase shares.

Buying an equity call is one of the simplest and most popular strategies used by option investors. It allows an investor the opportunity to profit from an upward move in the price of the underlying stock, while having less capital at risk than with the outright purchase of an equivalent number of underlying shares, usually 100 shares per call contract.
Definition
Buying an equity call gives the owner the right, but not the obligation, to buy 100 shares of underlying stock at a specified price (the strike price) at any time before a specific time (the expiration date). This is a bullish strategy because the value of the call tends to increase as the price of the underlying stock rises, and this gain will increasingly reflect a rise in the value of the underlying stock when the market price moves above the option's strike price.The profit potential for the long call is unlimited as the underlying stock continues to rise. The financial risk is limited to the total premium paid for the option, no matter how low the underlying stock declines in price. The break-even point is an underlying stock price equal to the call's strike price plus the premium paid for the contract. As with any long option, an increase in volatility has a positive financial effect on the long call strategy while decreasing volatility has a negative effect. Time decay has a negative effect.

Call Options and Put Options

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 00:45:00 +0000

Some people remain puzzled by options. The truth is that most people have been using options for some time, because option-ality is built into everything from mortgages to auto insurance. In the listed options world, however, their existence is much more clear.
To begin, there are only two kinds of options:

Call Options and Put Options.

A Call Option is an option to buy a stock at a specific price on or before a certain date. In this way, Call options are like security deposits.
If, for example, you wanted to rent a certain property, and left a security deposit for it, the money would be used to insure that you could, in fact, rent that property at the price agreed upon when you returned.
If you never returned, you would give up your security deposit, but you would have no other liability. Call options usually increase in value as the value of the underlying instrument increases
When you buy a Call option, the price you pay for it, called the option premium, secures your right to buy that certain stock at a specified price, called the strike price.
If you decide not to use the option to buy the stock, and you are not obligated to, your only cost is the option premium.
Put Options are options to sell a stock at a specific price on or before a certain date. In this way, Put options are like insurance policies
If you buy a new car, and then buy auto insurance on the car, you pay a premium and are, hence, protected if the asset is damaged in an accident. If this happens, you can use your policy to regain the insured value of the car. In this way, the put option gains in value as the value of the underlying instrument decreases.
If all goes well and the insurance is not needed, the insurance company keeps your premium in return for taking on the risk.
With a Put Option, you can "insure" a stock by fixing a selling price.
If something happens which causes the stock price to fall, and thus, "damages" your asset, you can exercise your option and sell it at its "insured" price level.
If the price of your stock goes up, and there is no "damage," then you do not need to use the insurance, and, once again, your only cost is the premium.
This is the primary function of listed options, to allow investors ways to manage risk.

Options vs. Stocks

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 05:37:00 +0000

In order for you to better understand the benefits of trading options, you must first understand some of the similarities and differences between options and stocks.

Similarities:
Listed Options are securities, just likestocks.
Options trade like stocks, with buyersmaking bids and sellers making offers.
Options are actively traded in a listedmarket, just like stocks. They can be bought and sold just like any other security

Differences :
Options are derivatives, unlike stocks(i.e, options derive their value from something else, the underlying security).
Options have expiration dates, while stocks do not.
There is not a fixed number of options, as there are with stock shares available.
Stockowners have a share of the company,with voting and dividend rights. Optionsconvey no such rights.

What is an Option?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 01:06:00 +0000

An option is a contract giving the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset (a stock or index) at a specific price on or before a certain date (listed options are all for 100 shares of the particular underlying asset).
An option is a security, just like a stock or bond, and constitutes a binding contract with strictly defined terms and properties.
Options are the most versatile trading instrument ever invented. Since options cost less than stock, they provide a high leverage approach to trading that can significantly limit the overall risk of a trade or provide additional income. Simply put, op tion buyers have rights and option sellers have obligations. Option buyers have the right, but not the obligation, to buy (call) or sell (put) the underlying stock (or futures contract) at a specified price until the 3rd Friday of their expiration month. There are two kinds of options: calls and puts. Call options give you the right to buy the underlying asset. Put options give you the right to sell the underlying asset. It is essential to become familiar with the inner workings of both. Every strategy you learn from this point on depends on your thorough understanding of these two kinds of options.
There are no margin requirements if you want to purchase an option because your risk is limited to the price of the option. In contrast, option sellers receive a credit in their account for selling an option and get to keep this amount if the option expires worthless. However, option sellers also have an obligation to buy (put) or sell (call) the underlying instrument if their option is exercised by an assigned option holder. Therefore, selling an option requires a healthy margin.
To trade options, you must be acquainted with the select terminology of the option market. The price at which an underlying stock can be purchased or sold if the option is exercised is called the strike price. Options are available in several strike prices above and below the current price of the underlying asset. Stocks priced below $25 per share usually have strike prices at 2 ½ dollar intervals. Stocks priced over $25 usually have strike prices at $5 dollar intervals.
The date the option expires is referred to as the expiration date. A stock option expires by close of business on the 3rd Friday of the expiration month. All listed options have options available for the current month and the next month as well as specific future months. Each stock has a corresponding cycle of months that they offer options in. There are three fixed expiration cycles available. Each cycle has a four-month interval:

A. January, April, July and October
B. February, May, August and November
C. March, June, September and December

The price of an option is called the premium. An option's premium is determined by a number of factors including the current price of the underlying asset, the strike price of the option, the time remaining until expiration, and volatility. An option premium is priced on a per share basis. Each option on a stock corresponds to 100 shares. Therefore, if the premium of an option is priced at 2, the total premium for that option would be $200 (2 x 100 = $200). Buying an option creates a debit in the amount of the premium to the buyer's trading account. Selling an option creates a credit in the amount of the premium to the seller's trading account.

Example: Jane wants to buy a house. After a few weeks of searching, she discovers one she really likes. Unfortunately, she won't have enough money for a substantial down payment for another six months. So, she approaches the owner of the house and negotiates an option to buy the house within 6 months for $100,000. The owner agrees to sell her the option for $2,000.

Scenario 1: During this 6-month period, Jane discovers an oil field underneath the property. The value of the house shoots up to $1,000,000. However, the writer of the option (the owner) is obligated to sell the house to Jane for $100,000. Jan e buys the house for a total cost of $102,000-$100,000 for the house plus the $2,000 premium paid for the option. She promptly turns around and sells it for a million dollars for huge profit of $898,000 and lives happily ever after.

Scenario 2: Jane discovers a toxic waste dump on the property. Now the value of the house drops to zero and she obviously decides not to exercise the option to buy the house. In this case, Jane loses the $2,000 premium paid for the option to the owner of the property.

Idea : Sofa Bed for Small Room

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 05:32:00 +0000

To choose the right sofabed, start by considering where you’re going to put it.
Is it for a child’s room? As children grow up, they like to personalise their own space. For teenagers, a small sofa or chair bed for their bedroom can make it more of a living space. And inviting a friend for a sleepover is hassle free.
A full sized sofabed with arms won’t fit through every bedroom or stairway. So you can consider to buy a sofa with removable arms - much easier to manoeuvre in tight spaces. Some models have no arms at all. The largest of these opens out to nearly the same width as a standard double bed, comfortably sleeping two.
If the space you have is only big enough for a chair, chair beds open into a single bed. At the other extreme, you might consider a sofa bed equivalent to a king size bed. Make sure you have up to 230cm (7’) from the back of the sofa to open the bed out fully, although some models may be shorter.

Natural Stone : Rough Andesite

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 07:51:00 +0000

Andesite is an igneous, volcanic rock, of intermediate composition, with aphanitic to porphyritic texture. Because of the structure, andesite is the strongest natural stone, as strong as granite. Mostly the colour of andesite are grey, so it looks natural. Most of people like andesite because of the colour.

Textured Glass Room Partitions

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 01:46:00 +0000

The open floor plan is quite popular right now, where the kitchen, dining room, and living area all flow together without any walls separating them. Depending on your tastes, this may be a little too open. You don't necessarily want to wall up the rooms, but maybe a little partition or divider would be nice, so there's a degree of separation at least. If that sounds like you, then check out these textured glass partitions.
The texture of the glass makes it less translucent than regular glass (thus providing some privacy), but the divider still allows light to get through and sound to travel around. It's a bit of a compromise between the open floor plan and the traditional walled-off rooms.

Bamboo Flooring - Decorating Ideas

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 07:59:00 +0000

By Corie Harkness

The current trend in flooring right now is the use of bamboo. Why? Because bamboo flooring is an environmentally safe resource that gives off the sleek, sophisticated look of classic hardwood floors. As with regular wood floors, bamboo is versatile and can achieve that finished look in any living space.
If elegance is what you want your room to convey, then vertical, carbonized bamboo in a walnut, espresso or even a cherry hue is what you need. Bamboo flooring is cut either vertical or horizontally. Vertical lines are finer and cleaner, and grains are less noticeable. Use horizontal cuts for a more rugged appearance.
For a more natural look, use unfinished bamboo. It is blonde in color and would look fantastic in a smaller or dimly lit room, making the space appear bigger and more airy. If cut horizontally, the unique grains will stand out. Of course, you can buy bamboo flooring in any natural shade. You can even have a parquet design with bamboo flooring. In its natural or carbonized shade, which is a rich, honey brown, bamboo floors will give a polished look to your living space.
Durability with this type of flooring is a big plus. Bamboo is highly dent-resistant and, with general care and maintenance, it will last a long time. Also, don't forget that bamboo flooring can be used anywhere in the home, even on stairways.
Remember, the direction in which you lay the floor is also important. Make sure you have all planks and slats facing in one general direction and don't falter from the plans. If you are laying the floor vertically, then stick with that. Have a visual picture in your mind of what you want the floor to look like when it's done. This way, you can't go wrong and you'll soon be standing on the beautiful floor you have always wanted!

How to Create a Wind Chime

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 06:35:00 +0000

By Susan M. Keenan

Wind chimes, available in sizes ranging from tiny to gargantuan, are lovely additions to any garden, patio, or porch. From custom made to mass produced, expensive to inexpensive, small to large, wind chimes offer a delightful way to add to the theme of existing decorations and plants. Homemade wind chimes can be especially clever and can make use of sentimental items, as well as items that would normally get tossed in the trash.Even more enjoyable are homemade wind chimes that offer the added feature of personalization and sentimentality. Wind chimes are simple and fun to make. All it takes is a little bit of carefully thought out planning and initiative. First, make a decision as to the theme of your wind chime. Then, you can go about the business of collecting up your materials. Similar to manufactured wind chimes, homemade wind chimes can be made from a variety of materials. Once you have mastered the art for yourself, you can use a little creativity and ingenuity to create your own.Checklist of Items to AssembleDepending on the style of wind chime that you will be making, you may or may not need all of the listed items.

The project is more easily completed if the necessary tools and materials are collected prior to actually beginning your project.
Small drill
Cord or fishing line
Glue
Paint
Glitter, sequins, small decals
Small rubber mallet
Scissors

Themed items
Item for the hanging center Suggestions for items to create a unique wind chime:
Sterling silver baby’s set including spoon, knife, fork, and small cup
Collector spoons from various states that you have visited
Antique silverware in attractive patters
Interestingly shaped sea shells in differing sizes
Hollow bamboo pieces
Key rings crafted in metal
Medallions
Bottle caps - these will require some decorating. In fact, filling the cap in with a colorful mix presents a colorful wind chime. Steps to create a wonderful wind chime set:
Begin with any decorating, painting, cleaning, or polishing that needs to be done to the themed items.
Use the drill if needed to create holes in each piece so that you will be able to string it.
String each piece with different lengths of cord or fishing line. Be sure to tie a tight knot to secure it.
Determine the length of your cords to ensure some interaction.
Attach the free end of each length of cord or line to the hanging attachment, be it a metal ring, wooden rod, hanger, or other firm item.

Freezer Repair

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 03:30:00 +0000

If you know in advance that your power will be cut off, set your freezer for -10 to -20 degrees F, so it can get as cold as possible before the power is turned off.
Keep the freezer closed. Opening the door will hasten the thawing of foods inside.
Cover the freezer with blankets or quilts for insulation to help hold the cold inside. For more insulation, put crumpled newspaper between the freezer cabinet and blankets. Pin the blankets away from the air vent. The air vent must be kept open since air is needed when the freezer comes back on.
If the power does not resume within one to two days, or if a mechanical problem hasn't been found, use dry ice to keep the freezer temperatures below freezing and to prevent deterioration or spoilage of frozen foods. Dry ice may be hard to locate on short notice. Locating where dry ice can be purchased and how much may save time and aggravation.
Use 25 pounds of dry ice in a 10 cubic foot freezer.
Use 50 pounds of dry ice in a 20 cubic foot freezer.
Make sure dry ice is used in a well ventilated room. Dry ice is solid Carbon Dioxide. It melts to become Carbon Dioxide Gas. If Carbon Dioxide gas replaces too much of the oxygen in the air it can cause suffocation. Signs or symptoms of excessive Carbon Dioxide levels include rapid, shallow breathing, headache, disorientation and eventual unconsciousness.
Always wear gloves when handling dry ice to prevent burns. Wrap the dry ice in newspaper and place it on boards or heavy cardboard on top of the packages. Do not open the freezer again unless necessary. Dry ice should hold the freezer temperature below freezing for two to three days in a half-full freezer and three to four days in a loaded freezer.
How long food will stay frozen depends on four factors:
The amount of food in the freezer. A fully loaded freezer will stay cold longer than one that is partially full.
The type of frozen food. A freezer full of meats will stay frozen longer than one packed with fruits, vegetables or baked goods.
The temperature of the food. The colder you run your freezer, the colder the food; the colder the food, the longer it will stay frozen.
The insulating ability of the freezer. A well- insulated freezer will keep food frozen longer than one with little insulation.
Use your senses to determine whether a food can safely be refrozen. Examine the food closely. Are the contents:
thawed and at room temperature? Throw them out!
thawed but at refrigerator temperature?
partially frozen?
frozen solid?
Does the food have:
an off odor?
a color change?
apparent mold or bacteria growing on the surface?
The general rule of thumb is if a food is safe to eat, it is safe to refreeze. Foods which are still partially frozen or have thawed but are still cold to the touch (40 degrees or lower) can safely be refrozen.
Eating quality may be slightly affected. Mark those packages which have thawed and been refrozen, and use them as soon as possible.
If you have a great deal of food to refreeze, have a commercial food locker plant freeze it. This method will ensure that foods are refrozen quickly and solidly for minimal loss of quality.
To refreeze small amounts of food at home, set the freezer temperature control to its coldest setting. This temperature will refreeze thawed foods quickly and prevent quality loss. Arrange foods so that cold air can circulate freely around them. When all foods are solidly frozen, return the temperature setting to normal. Use refrozen foods as soon as possible.
Examine the meat carefully. Color changes or off- odors may mean spoilage. Refreeze only packages that still contain ice crystals or are cold to the touch. Repackage meats in moisture-vapor proof wrap before re-freezing. Discard any meat that is at room temperature. Ground meats are particularly susceptible to spoilage due to the large amount of surface area. Immediately refreeze only those packages that are still solidly frozen. If packages are thawed but still cold to the touch, immediately cook the meat or cook and refreeze. Discard ground meat that is thawed to room temperature. Discard ground meat (frozen or thawed) that shows signs of spoilage (such as off colors or bad odors).
Safely refreeze cured meats that are still cold to the touch (40 degrees or less). Discard any packages that shows spoilage. To be safely refrozen, poultry must be partially frozen and still contain ice crystals. If poultry is thawed but still cold to the touch, cook and consume immediately, or cook and refreeze.
Repackage poultry in moisture-vapor proof wrap before re-freezing. Do not remove original wrapping first. This will prevent contaminating other foods with poultry juices. Discard poultry that is thawed to room temperature. If thawed poultry drippings have contaminated other foods, handle these foods as you would thawed poultry.
Do not refreeze fish unless it is still solidly frozen. If thawed fish is still cold to the touch (40 degrees or less) cook and consume immediately. Discard fish that has thawed to room temperature.
Refreeze thawed fruits that smell and taste good. Thawed fruits may be used in cooking or making jams, jellies, and preserves.
Refreeze vegetables that contain ice crystals. If completely thawed but in good condition, cook vegetables and consume or cook and refreeze.
Do not refreeze thawed baked goods, since the quality of the product will be poor. If the product is only partially thawed and still contains ice crystals, it may safely be refrozen even though the quality may suffer.
Store thawed baked goods in the refrigerator to keep them fresh until they are consumed. Use within a few days.
Refreeze frozen prepared food only if ice crystals are still present. If foods are completely thawed but 40 degrees or less, cook and consume immediately. Discard prepared foods that are in poor condition.
Juices, shake the can, if the contents are totally thawed, reconstitute the juice and use. If the juice pulp is still frozen, refreeze.
Do not refreeze thawed ice cream.
Do not refreeze thawed cheese since the eating quality will be poor. Refrigerate the cheese and use as soon as possible.

Choosing Ceramic Floor Tile

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 02:52:00 +0000

When selecting a specific tile for your application, there are several factors that must be taken into consideration. Where is the space you plan on tiling? Is it a bathroom or kitchen, where water is likely to be introduced? Does the space incur a high level of traffic or excessive wear from family or pets? Is this an area where furniture will be slid or moved on a regular basis? All these factors are key when selecting the finish or type of tile you can appropriately install for your application. A well laid tile floor can last for centuries, so your selection should be made carefully, as this investment in your home can last as long lasting as the home itself.
A trip to your local tile house or home improvement center can answer most of your questions, and offer ideas for colors, textures, materials and patterns for your specific application. Cost is a consideration for almost any project, and tile can run the gamut from affordability to outlandish expense, but the more common tiles we will speak about here typically lean more towards the affordable. It’s important to shop around and call various suppliers, as cost can vary from store to store, and brand to brand.
Another consideration when sourcing materials is delivery. The logistics in moving and delivering tile is something to take into effect, should your personal vehicle not be able to handle the tremendous weight associated with ceramic floor tiles. Most home improvement suppliers offer truck rentals on an hourly basis, which is an affordable way to get your floor home if delivery is not an option.
Some options for ceramic tile:

Natural Tile.

Ancient Romans realized the artistic and stylistic benefits of a durable, adaptable tile floor. Many of the styles originated by the ancients can still be found today across the spectrum of tile options. Typically, the tiles were bisque or natural in tone, made of earthenware clay, fired and glazed to the desired colors.
If you are looking for a natural aged look - perhaps in a southwestern or Tuscan style kitchen - then a tile style of this nature might be exactly what you are looking for. The finish on these types of tiles may not be totally uniform, which adds to its beauty and variety. Additionally, this style typically does not support a totally glass-smooth surface area; slight undulations and waves in the finish also add to the aged look. The glaze used in some of the natural tile options also provide for a certain amount of wear that when viewed over time, give the tile a fine aged patina, and truly adds to that natural element many are seeking.

Patterned Tile.

For a more modern look, or a mix of old and new, an imprinted or patterned tile may be what you are looking for. Combining elements of both the natural texture of ceramic tile and the technology available today, manufactures have begun stamping and glazing tile in such a way that a uniform size, shape and finish are created in a controlled environment. When installed, the overall effect is a clean, sharp style with the stylistic impact of a stone or natural tile. These tiles are widely available and offered in a range of tones, textures and hues.
The ease of installation as well as consistency in the tile patterning afford you the ability to seamlessly repair any damaged or cracked tile without the need to adapt, as is the case with earthenware or natural tile option. The application of these types of tiles is wide open, perfect for a kitchen, bath, foyer, living or dining room. One difficulty some have found is matching a bull nose – the rounded corner piece used on stairs – so be sure to verify that a bull nose is available for your selected style.
Glazed Tile. A departure from the stone textures is the heavy glazed ceramic style tile, most typically associated with bathroom floors. These floors are easy to install, highly adaptable, and offered in a wide array of colors and patterns. Depending on your personal styles, you can tailor your floor to almost any pattern and design that you can imagine.
One amazing feature of ceramic glazed tiles is the growing trend of painted, patterned tiles, offered in a wide variety of styles, from Italian frescos to mosaic patterns. Another aspect many like is the availability of smaller joints than other tile floors. Typically on the larger tiles, joint spacing might be 3/8” heavy sanded grout. With these smaller ceramic tiles, you can get away with unsanded, light smooth grout. Most manufacturers of the smaller ceramic floor tiles incorporate spacers molded into the sides of the tiles, making them perfect for first time installers.
Mosaic Tile. Another option for flooring tiles is the mosaic, or scaled tile, offered in a sheet section, typically 2’ x 4’. These large sheets can be installed easily, and offer the amateur an easy installation as compared to smaller unconnected sections. These mosaic tiles are offered in a wide variety of materials and finishes, from glass to ceramic. One nice feature is the range of options offered by scattered or mixed batch tiles, which have a multi-color pattern and bright, vibrant colors, all while remaining relatively affordable. These tiles are highly adaptable in their colors and textures, and scaled in such a size – 2”x 2” tiles - that you can install them in virtually any space. The combination of colorful grouts and mosaic tiles can truly add sparkle and diversity to the most mundane of spaces.

Color for Minimalist Design :Mint Green

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 08:06:00 +0000

It's cool. It's fresh. It's light-as-a-feather. It's mint green, the color chosen for minimalist design.
Mint green is a bright, light green. What we call mint green is not the actual color of the plant itself. As any gardener knows, the color of fresh peppermint is a dark green, in the shade appearing almost black.
But in the world of decorating, we think of mint green as something far lighter, more along the lines of the mint produced for candies. It's the fresh, cool color that brings to mind childhood visits to a grandmother's sedate living room, where she'd always have a bowl of chocolate-covered mints waiting. Bite in, and there, hidden between the layers of dark chocolate, is the flash of bright mint green.
Here, we see mint green used to one of its more dramatic effects, paired with black. As you can see in this photograph, the combination is serene and elegant without being stuffy. The mint green walls give the room a bright note, bringing in a feeling of the outdoors without making the room feel rustic.
Because the black chair and accent pieces on the shelves contrast so sharply with the mint green walls, they really stand out. You have to be careful with an arrangement like this to display only those items to which you really want attention drawn, because the eye will go there unerringly, especially if you keep the objects at a minimum, as this designer has done.
Note here too the use of the orchid spray you can see coming into the upper right hand corner of the photo. Mint green invariably does well when combined with fresh flowers, whether they're potted plants or fresh cut flowers.
And as you can see, mint green is light enough to be able to be used on a whole wall, without making the room feel oppressive or dark. Also, it's a bright enough color to inspire mental activity, so it works well for this area, which is a combination study/dining area.

Idea : Choosing Plants for Minimalist Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 01:41:00 +0000

Typha

Typha is a genus of about eleven species of monocotyledonous flowering plants in the monogeneric family, Typhaceae. The genus has a largely Northern Hemisphere distribution, but is essentially cosmopolitan. These plants are known as bulrush or bullrush (mainly in British English), cattail or punks (mainly in American English), or in some older British texts or the current guide book Collins Complete British Wildlife as Great Reedmace.

Cattails or bulrushes are wetland plants, typically 1 to 7 m tall (T. minima is smaller: 0.5-1 m), with spongy, strap-like leaves and starchy, creeping stems (rhizomes). The leaves are alternate and mostly basal to a simple, jointless stem that eventually bears the flowers. The rhizomes spread horizontally beneath the surface of muddy ground to start new upright growth, and the spread of cattails is an important part of the process of open water bodies being converted to vegetated marshland and eventually dry land.
Typha plants are monoecious, wind-pollinated, and bear unisexual flowers developing in dense, complex spikes. The male flower spike develops at the top of the vertical stem, above the female flower spike. The male (staminate) flowers are reduced to a pair of stamens and hairs and wither once the pollen is shed, leaving a short, bare stem portion above the female inflorescence. The dense cluster of female flowers forms a cylindrical spike some 10 to as much as 40 cm long and 1 to 4 cm broad. Seeds are minute (about 0.2 mm long), and attached to a thin hair or stalk, which effects wind dispersal. Typha are often among the first wetland plants to colonize areas of newly exposed wet mud.
Some classifications include the genus Sparganium (Sparganiaceae) in Typhaceae.

Species
Typha angustifolia - Lesser Bulrush or Narrow Leaf Cattail
Typha angustifolia x T. latifolia - Hybrid or White Cattail
Typha domingensis - Southern Cattail
Typha latifolia - Common Cattail
Typha laxmannii - Laxman's Bulrush
Typha minima - Dwarf Bulrush
Typha orientalis - Raupo
Typha shuttleworthii - Shuttleworth's Bulrush

The most widespread species is Typha latifolia, extending across the entire temperate Northern Hemisphere. T. angustifolia is nearly as widespread, but does not extend so far north. T. domingensis is a more southerly American species, extending from the U.S. to South America, while T. laxmannii, T. minima and T. shuttleworthii are largely restricted to Asia and parts of southern Europe.

Typha latifolia
Typha plants grow along lake margins and in marshes, often in dense colonies, and are sometimes considered a weed in managed wetlands. The plant's root systems help prevent erosion, and the plants themselves are often home to many insects, birds and amphibians.
In North America, the native cattails are increasingly being supplanted by the invasive purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria.

Edible uses

Cattail has a wide variety of parts that are edible to humans. The rhizomes are a pleasant, nutritious and energy-rich food source, generally harvested from late Fall to early Spring. These are starchy, but also fibrous, so the starch must be scraped or sucked from the tough fibers. In addition to the rhizomes, cattails have little-known, underground, lateral stems that are quite tasty. In late Spring, the bases of the leaves, while they are young and tender, can be eaten raw or cooked. As the flower spike is developing in early Summer, it can be broken off and eaten, and in mid-Summer, once the flowers are mature, the pollen can be collected and used as a flour supplement or thickener.

History of the Japanese Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 07:14:00 +0000

The first style of Japanese garden was the paradise garden, which appeared primarily during the Heian period (785-1184). Pure Land Buddhism was the strongest influence on this type of garden, and the purpose of the garden was to try to recreate the Pure Land, or Western Paradise, on earth. The Pure Land was supposed to be a magnificent courtyard of sensual pleasures, with a pond of the purest water, the most fragrant and beautiful plants, and the rarest and most wonderful birds performing celestial concerts. In Japan, these gardens were part of shinden, compounds that served both as temples and mansions of the aristocracy. The shinden combined a number of corridor-linked buildings that bordered on a southern pond. Also present were water side pavilions that were connected to the main compound by covered bridges. The design of the shinden was strongly influenced by Chinese ideals, but, as with so many other things during the Heian period, the shinden developed into a distinctly Japanese style.

Though the shinden style mansion did not survive past the Heian period, many of its principles of garden design endured. Specifically, there is a work entitled the Sakuteiki which codified the rules for making shinden gardens. Perhaps the world’s oldest gardening manual, the principles in the Sakuteiki can be found in many famous Japanese gardens. Much of the Sakuteiki dealt with geomantic rules and taboos. These are concerned with such things as where and how to place stones, what course a stream should follow, or how to align certain elements of the garden. The rules are designed to ensure a proper balance of yin and yang, to harmonize the garden with the forces of the earth, and also to avoid arousing the wrath of the shinto spirits in the stones and other elements of the garden.

After the Heian period, Zen had a strong influence on Japanese gardens, as it did on virtually all of Japanese art. Not only did Zen Buddhism become popular among the ruling military class, but during periods of conflict the Buddhist monasteries remained repositories of culture. The less radical aspect of this can be found in a shift of intent in the paradise gardens. Zen art turned away from the supernatural, emphasizing the beauty of this world. Correspondingly, many gardens no longer sought to recreate a Buddhist paradise, but instead to reflect the beauty of nature. Natural, asymmetric arrangements were favored instead of symmetric ones. Plain, common plants were used instead of the impressive flowering trees popular in the Pure Land gardens. The ideal that the garden sought to embody was no longer the Western Paradise, but the beauty we find in nature all around us.
Another type of garden is perhaps more strongly associated with Zen. This is the dry garden, where sand and miniature elements represent water. Zen gardens try to capture the spirit or essence of nature, rather than to imitate it. As such, they can be very abstract, with perhaps only a few stones representing a vast mountain. The most famous example of this style is Ryoanji (shown at right), which consists only of fifteen stones, sand, and moss. These gardens served as places of meditation, or to illustrate a Zen concept.

Another major type of garden was introduced with Chado, the way of tea. Tea had been known in Japan since the Heian period, but it was not until the time of the great tea master Sen Rikkyu (1552-1591) that a distinct tea garden form was developed. Part of the tea ceremony involves walking along a garden path (roji), and this is the heart of the tea garden. Stepping stones are usually used to make a path through the garden to the tea hut. Traveling along this path, the guest is intended to undergo a psychological transition to the state of mind appropriate for the tea ceremony. The primary mood desired for the tea ceremony is wabi, which can be loosely translated as rusticity, or quiet solitude. Also, the elements of the garden are chosen for sabi qualities, which means that they are simple and understated, often with a naturally aged and weathered look.

New Japanese gardens were made through the Edo period (1615-1867) and continuing into modern Japan, but for the most part no fundamental changes were introduced. The gardens tended to be refinements of earlier styles or attempts to recreate the beauty of earlier famous gardens. One significant change, though, is that gardens ceased to be the sole province of aristocrats and monks. Garden-making now was largely done by professional craftsmen who catered to the increasing prosperity of the middle class.
In modern times, the most famous gardens are generally still those created in Buddhist temples during the Kamakura or Muromachi periods (1185-1568). Gardens can be found everywhere, though. From rooftop gardens providing a place of quiet retreat from city life to a beautiful garden scene in a restaurant, traditional gardens can be found throughout Japan. In addition, new gardens have been made that differ radically from traditional styles.