Copyright (c) 2013 Tradical 360
Water is one of the four elements according to classical thought. By extension it is associated with any liquid; Plato classified water as being primarily cold, and secondarily wet. In the Ancient World, water represented travel into the unknown, food and fertility, and the natural vicissitudes of life. As such, it played a central role in the evolution of religion in many different cultures.
In most religions, water is considered a purifier. Ablutions are performed in the major religions of the world, from Christianity, Islam and Buddhism to Judaism and Hinduism. Baptism is a sacrament in Catholicism, and Muslims cannot pray unless they wash their hands and feet, that is, unless water is unavailable. In Taoism, water is considered the ideal element, for both its weakness and its ability to overwhelm things stronger than itself. Most Hindu temples are built on rivers to allow pilgrims to bathe before entering.
In Ancient Egypt, Sobek was the god of the Nile. Sobek was an aggressive character with the head of a crocodile. Ancient Greece had over thirty different aquatic deities besides Poseidon, ranging from Proteus, the shape-shifting sea god to Thetis, mother of Achilles and goddess of water. In Norse Mythology, Njord is the god of the sea, seafaring, wealth, fishing, and crop fertility.
Water is the original state of the world in many creation myths. Many primeval abysses are oceans, from which a god decides to bring man into existence. It is common in these stories for a bird or other messenger from the skies to dive into a primordial ocean for sand to create earth. Similarly, the Deluge Myth is based on the need for renewal within a culture and usually features a hero who survives the regenerating flood.
Historical evidence exists for numerous large-scale floods, which correlate to the myths that exist in Assyrian and Judeo-Christian religious texts. Reasons for these floods are unknown, however, the most likely circumstance was a rise in sea levels after the end of the last ice age. Comets, the breaching of a silt dam in the Hormuz Strait, a tsunami from the explosion of Thera, as well as the filling of the Black Sea by the Mediterranean due to rising sea levels sometime during the sixth millennium BC are also theories as to the value of the deluge myth in ancient societies. Even Plato drew on these histories in creating the Atlantis myth.
By Roman times, water represented luxury, and the lavish baths the Romans built they supplied with water from aqueducts. These aqueducts, along with drainage systems and paved roads are what led to the dominance of their Empire, according to the ancient scholar Dionysius of Halicarnassus. The Romans were able to guide sustainably produced water along a slight downward grade, so that only gravity carried it to the city to quench the thirst of its citizens.
The Tiber had notoriously filthy water due to pollution, and the groundwater around Rome was unpleasant too. The Romans' first aqueduct was built in 312 B.C. and was fed by an artesian aquifer some ten miles from Rome. It descended about ten meters to a fountain in the city's lowest public space, the Forum Boarium, a cattle-market.
By Augustus' reign, huge amounts of water drained into theaters to provide entertainment for the people in the form of staged sea-battles. Two hundred years later, the city had a total of eleven aqueducts. After the invasion of Rome by barbarian tribes, the aqueducts fell into disuse through a lack of maintenance. And by the medieval era, Rome's population had fallen to 30,000 from over one million during the Imperial era.
Today we continue to value water and our ability to control it. Irrigation, potability and rising sea levels are evidence that although we have thousands of years of aquatic management technology, we still have a lot to learn.
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Acquacai is an artesian water that comes from the rainforests of Panama. Try a bottle today to get a sense of what mineral rich water can do for you. Start shopping at http://aquacai.com/
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Tuesday, October 8, 2013
A Colorful Fall Dream Garden
The temperature is dropping and leaves are scattered all over the garden beds. Yes, fall is here, and it's the best time of year for all kinds of garden activities. Many say that fall is the best time to plant vegetables and herbs, but what if you want your garden to look great with colorful flowers instead of veggies and other edibles? Don't worry, here are some of the best perennial flowers that you can plant in your garden to fill it with jewel-tone shades at the end of the season.
Unlike spring and summer, when seeds thrive, fall gardens work best when they start with young plants rather than seeds, which may not be able to germinate before the first frost. Each season has its stars and fall flowering perennials have some of the best. Fall flowers are just as beautiful as spring and summer flowers and there are plenty of beautiful fall flowers to brag about.
Many autumn flowers such as Chrysanthemums and Goldenrods live best in the cooler weather as do Asters, Japanese Anemones, Petunias, Michaelmas Daisies, Autumn Crocuses and many other beautiful flowers. With so many colors to choose from, be sure to pick a good combination for a spectacular fall garden display.
One of the popular flowers for your fall garden is Aster. The Aster flower resembles the daisy. They look like little starbursts, opening up into a beautiful bloom. Asters are the September birth month flower. They begin to grow at the end of summer, and continue to grow into fall. They are very easy to take care of, and they make for a gorgeous fall flowerbed.
Another is the Autumn Crocus. They are a low growing flower that looks best when used as a border for other autumn flowers. They are also ideal for the rock garden where their fall flowers are easily seen among the other low-growing plants. The really great thing about this flower is the colors they grow in. While many people think of beiges, browns, and earth tones as fall colors, this flower grows in wonderful purple and lilac colors. As a border for plants of neutral colors, the bright purples really make a fall garden pop.
Similar to Autumn Crocus is Colchicum. Colchicum is one of falls brighter flowers. Also known as naked ladies, the Colchicum is a member of the Lily family. Colchicums are a small fall flower growing only about 6 inches tall. They bloom in colors like pink, purple, lilac and of course white, around the time when the Autumn Crocuses are blooming. It is fitting since they resemble each other and make a perfect pair for your fall garden!
Chrysanthemums, also known as mums are the typical fall staple flower. The Chrysanthemum is the November birth month flower. Some of the great colors mums come in include red, burgundy, rust, orange, yellow, purple, white and pink. Chrysanthemum blossoms comes in 12 different styles. Pick your favorite styles, along with your favorite colors to grow a great looking bed for the fall season.
Geranium flowers, also known as Cranesbill is also a very popular flower for fall gardening. Geraniums are perennials and generally winter-hardy plants, grown for their attractive flowers and foliage. They come in a variety of colors and are very easy to grow. Geraniums can be obtained in flower in late spring and will add color to the garden until frost which makes it a perfect flower for your fall garden.
Salvia is the largest genus of plants in the mint family. Salvia derives from the Latin salvere meaning to feel well and healthy. Salvias are considered herbs, but they have beautiful flowers and produce a showy display with colors ranging from blue to red, with white and yellow.
Marigold grows throughout the fall. They bloom in wonderfully rich colors of yellow, orange, and deep red. Some even bloom in two colors. One of the most beautiful two-toned color combinations seen in Marigolds is a deep burgundy on the outer petals, with a dark orange color in the center petals. Marigolds are sturdy flowers with beautiful blooms that look great in mass plantings or in combinations with other fall-bloomers.
Sternbergias are winter growing species and dormant in the summer. The flowers are a nice gold/yellow fall color. Besides being pretty to look at, it is a very tough flower. Where most flowers will wilt and die in certain temperatures, the plant is tough enough to continue growing in most temperature ranges. Sternbergia's ornamental evergreen foliage has a deep green, strap-like leaves which hold their color right through the winter adding a startling element of green to a fall garden.
Sedum Spectabile bears pink flowers in through late fall. It has thick erect stems bearing shallowly scalloped, broadly elliptic, grey-green or bluish green leaves and beautiful star-shaped pink flowers. This award-winning plant looks great planted in bold drifts towards the front of a well-drained border and is a scene stealer in rock gardens.
Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) is a perennial that blooms every fall in colors such as pink, red, or white. The flowers only last for a short time, but the plant itself sets so many buds that it can continue to bloom again and again.
The Tuberose is a perennial night-blooming plant related to the agaves. It grows in elongated spikes up to 18 in long that produce clusters of fragrant waxy white flowers that bloom from the bottom towards the top of the spike. It has long, bright green leaves clustered at the base of the plant and smaller, clasping leaves along the stem. While they are not the most beautiful of the fall flowers, they have a most wonderful fragrance. In fact, their scent is used in many different perfumes.
There are many more beautiful flowers that you can plant for your fall garden. Fall is actually a better time of year than even spring to plant or transplant perennial plants. The soil tends to be warmer which promotes root growth. With the cooler weather, you can spend more time in your garden. Plus fall gardening takes advantage of cooler temperatures and fewer pesky bugs. So give it a little effort and you can plant a beautiful garden that you can be proud of in fall. Keep in mind that a properly planted and tended fall garden can last long into even the coldest months.
----------------------------------------------------
Hoffman Design Group, Inc, is located in Folcroft, PA, and specializes in creating beautiful interiorscapes, corporate floral arrangements and living wall designs in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs. Its designs have won many awards and they take pride in their elegant, environmentally friendly seasonal and holiday decorating, corporate indoor plantscapes and urban exterior landscaping. Visit: http://www.hoffmandesigngroup.com
EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=344013
Unlike spring and summer, when seeds thrive, fall gardens work best when they start with young plants rather than seeds, which may not be able to germinate before the first frost. Each season has its stars and fall flowering perennials have some of the best. Fall flowers are just as beautiful as spring and summer flowers and there are plenty of beautiful fall flowers to brag about.
Many autumn flowers such as Chrysanthemums and Goldenrods live best in the cooler weather as do Asters, Japanese Anemones, Petunias, Michaelmas Daisies, Autumn Crocuses and many other beautiful flowers. With so many colors to choose from, be sure to pick a good combination for a spectacular fall garden display.
One of the popular flowers for your fall garden is Aster. The Aster flower resembles the daisy. They look like little starbursts, opening up into a beautiful bloom. Asters are the September birth month flower. They begin to grow at the end of summer, and continue to grow into fall. They are very easy to take care of, and they make for a gorgeous fall flowerbed.
Another is the Autumn Crocus. They are a low growing flower that looks best when used as a border for other autumn flowers. They are also ideal for the rock garden where their fall flowers are easily seen among the other low-growing plants. The really great thing about this flower is the colors they grow in. While many people think of beiges, browns, and earth tones as fall colors, this flower grows in wonderful purple and lilac colors. As a border for plants of neutral colors, the bright purples really make a fall garden pop.
Similar to Autumn Crocus is Colchicum. Colchicum is one of falls brighter flowers. Also known as naked ladies, the Colchicum is a member of the Lily family. Colchicums are a small fall flower growing only about 6 inches tall. They bloom in colors like pink, purple, lilac and of course white, around the time when the Autumn Crocuses are blooming. It is fitting since they resemble each other and make a perfect pair for your fall garden!
Chrysanthemums, also known as mums are the typical fall staple flower. The Chrysanthemum is the November birth month flower. Some of the great colors mums come in include red, burgundy, rust, orange, yellow, purple, white and pink. Chrysanthemum blossoms comes in 12 different styles. Pick your favorite styles, along with your favorite colors to grow a great looking bed for the fall season.
Geranium flowers, also known as Cranesbill is also a very popular flower for fall gardening. Geraniums are perennials and generally winter-hardy plants, grown for their attractive flowers and foliage. They come in a variety of colors and are very easy to grow. Geraniums can be obtained in flower in late spring and will add color to the garden until frost which makes it a perfect flower for your fall garden.
Salvia is the largest genus of plants in the mint family. Salvia derives from the Latin salvere meaning to feel well and healthy. Salvias are considered herbs, but they have beautiful flowers and produce a showy display with colors ranging from blue to red, with white and yellow.
Marigold grows throughout the fall. They bloom in wonderfully rich colors of yellow, orange, and deep red. Some even bloom in two colors. One of the most beautiful two-toned color combinations seen in Marigolds is a deep burgundy on the outer petals, with a dark orange color in the center petals. Marigolds are sturdy flowers with beautiful blooms that look great in mass plantings or in combinations with other fall-bloomers.
Sternbergias are winter growing species and dormant in the summer. The flowers are a nice gold/yellow fall color. Besides being pretty to look at, it is a very tough flower. Where most flowers will wilt and die in certain temperatures, the plant is tough enough to continue growing in most temperature ranges. Sternbergia's ornamental evergreen foliage has a deep green, strap-like leaves which hold their color right through the winter adding a startling element of green to a fall garden.
Sedum Spectabile bears pink flowers in through late fall. It has thick erect stems bearing shallowly scalloped, broadly elliptic, grey-green or bluish green leaves and beautiful star-shaped pink flowers. This award-winning plant looks great planted in bold drifts towards the front of a well-drained border and is a scene stealer in rock gardens.
Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) is a perennial that blooms every fall in colors such as pink, red, or white. The flowers only last for a short time, but the plant itself sets so many buds that it can continue to bloom again and again.
The Tuberose is a perennial night-blooming plant related to the agaves. It grows in elongated spikes up to 18 in long that produce clusters of fragrant waxy white flowers that bloom from the bottom towards the top of the spike. It has long, bright green leaves clustered at the base of the plant and smaller, clasping leaves along the stem. While they are not the most beautiful of the fall flowers, they have a most wonderful fragrance. In fact, their scent is used in many different perfumes.
There are many more beautiful flowers that you can plant for your fall garden. Fall is actually a better time of year than even spring to plant or transplant perennial plants. The soil tends to be warmer which promotes root growth. With the cooler weather, you can spend more time in your garden. Plus fall gardening takes advantage of cooler temperatures and fewer pesky bugs. So give it a little effort and you can plant a beautiful garden that you can be proud of in fall. Keep in mind that a properly planted and tended fall garden can last long into even the coldest months.
----------------------------------------------------
Hoffman Design Group, Inc, is located in Folcroft, PA, and specializes in creating beautiful interiorscapes, corporate floral arrangements and living wall designs in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs. Its designs have won many awards and they take pride in their elegant, environmentally friendly seasonal and holiday decorating, corporate indoor plantscapes and urban exterior landscaping. Visit: http://www.hoffmandesigngroup.com
EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=344013
Private Education And Public Education
For the average student, school is a basic sequence through the public system, progressing through standardized curricula until being released into the world after graduation. The end goal of public schools is a high-school diploma and, with any luck, productive employment for their students. They often struggle with limited funding, delinquency and lacklustre faculty. Facilitating entry to a top college and pushing talented young minds is not a high priority.
Recognizing this, parents from all economic backgrounds are now choosing to send their children to private preparatory, or "prep schools instead. Ranging from tiny religious educators to some of the most elite institutions in the world, both athletes and scholars alike can benefit from admission to one of these exclusive schools.
A prep school is a form of private education, usually covering the high-school years but sometimes beginning as early as kindergarten. These schools are funded by tuition costs and donations and, because of their independence from the government, offer a wide variety of cultures and teaching methods. Most are co-ed and hold classes during the day, but Canada is also home to numerous boarding schools.
Unlike public schools, preparatory schools expect the vast majority of their students to go on to a university after graduation. As their name suggests, they prepare children for academic success and the rigours of the admission process. They also tend to emphasize social and athletic skills, demanding more extra-curricular activities from each student.
What do Preparatory Schools Offer?
Prep schools justify charging tuition by offering a superior academic experience, improving college prospects and challenging students who might otherwise become bored and fall into bad habits. As much as people like to say that anyone can achieve anything, a young adult with a private education has an immediate advantage over his or her peers.
Classes are smaller, allowing coursework to be targeted toward individual students' needs rather than mandated lesson plans. Private-school teachers also have higher credentials, as a whole, and are more experienced.
Besides these advantages, private schools are also better funded and have access to more advanced technologies. Students can learn skills on the latest computer programs, allowing them to explore their interests through realistic assignments they might see in business or academia. In an increasingly digital world, access to these resources is critical for later careers.
Finally, there is the importance of reputation. Where public schools must accept any level of performance, private schools can be more selective. This leads to an environment where excellence is celebrated, not mocked on the playground. An applicant from a regular high school is an unknown quantity; colleges know that they can hold prep students to a higher standard.
Preparatory schools are not for everyone. If any child could enter the most elite schools, they would not be elite, and the public system manages almost 95 percent of all Canadian students. The truly exceptional, however, will gain enough from the atmosphere and networking opportunities of a prep school to make it a worthwhile investment.
----------------------------------------------------
For more information on premiere prep visit http://premiereprep.net/
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Recognizing this, parents from all economic backgrounds are now choosing to send their children to private preparatory, or "prep schools instead. Ranging from tiny religious educators to some of the most elite institutions in the world, both athletes and scholars alike can benefit from admission to one of these exclusive schools.
A prep school is a form of private education, usually covering the high-school years but sometimes beginning as early as kindergarten. These schools are funded by tuition costs and donations and, because of their independence from the government, offer a wide variety of cultures and teaching methods. Most are co-ed and hold classes during the day, but Canada is also home to numerous boarding schools.
Unlike public schools, preparatory schools expect the vast majority of their students to go on to a university after graduation. As their name suggests, they prepare children for academic success and the rigours of the admission process. They also tend to emphasize social and athletic skills, demanding more extra-curricular activities from each student.
What do Preparatory Schools Offer?
Prep schools justify charging tuition by offering a superior academic experience, improving college prospects and challenging students who might otherwise become bored and fall into bad habits. As much as people like to say that anyone can achieve anything, a young adult with a private education has an immediate advantage over his or her peers.
Classes are smaller, allowing coursework to be targeted toward individual students' needs rather than mandated lesson plans. Private-school teachers also have higher credentials, as a whole, and are more experienced.
Besides these advantages, private schools are also better funded and have access to more advanced technologies. Students can learn skills on the latest computer programs, allowing them to explore their interests through realistic assignments they might see in business or academia. In an increasingly digital world, access to these resources is critical for later careers.
Finally, there is the importance of reputation. Where public schools must accept any level of performance, private schools can be more selective. This leads to an environment where excellence is celebrated, not mocked on the playground. An applicant from a regular high school is an unknown quantity; colleges know that they can hold prep students to a higher standard.
Preparatory schools are not for everyone. If any child could enter the most elite schools, they would not be elite, and the public system manages almost 95 percent of all Canadian students. The truly exceptional, however, will gain enough from the atmosphere and networking opportunities of a prep school to make it a worthwhile investment.
----------------------------------------------------
For more information on premiere prep visit http://premiereprep.net/
EasyPublish this article: http://submityourarticle.com/articles/easypublish.php?art_id=345153
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