MAI MISSES YOU GUYS! 

I'm serious. Okay, I'll post an emo post lah now. Since I am the KD, let's see what was my experience with ya'll.

When i first found out that I was in 2 Damai, I was like "OH NO!" since not many of gang were in the same class as me. How sad.. I wasn't really happy with it. On the first day of school 09, when i reached class I was even more upset since there were people who I don't really like in the class. I was elected as Ketua Kelas and.. I don't know. At first you guys weren't THAT loud you know. If I remember correctly la, you guys were still shy shy one. You guys haven't showed your true self. As days past by, I started to hate the class MORE because I am annoyed how most of the teachers always call us the 'noisy class'. I was pretty much embarrassed because whenever our class is noisy do you know what will teacher say? "WHERES THE KD?! " thats when i get scared. But as days go by, i got use to it so like I don't care if teachers call me.

You guys weren't bad at all in the end. Eventho, we rarely win things, well that's because we rarely make our practises for anything to be so serious. If you know what I mean. We always laugh around and sometimes, do nothing but oh well! The drama was really satisfying cause' eventhough we didn't practise a lot properly but still, we got 3rd! Got top 3! OH YEAH!

After a year controlling you guys, well it was hard but you guys were cool yo. Realized how by end of the year, people who used to be enemies are currently bestfriends? Of course, bestfriends turned out to be enemies too. But let's put that aside! I really felt like we were a family and we can do whatever task that teachers gave us. HEHE 

Sorry but this post was saved as a draft for days so I lost my idea of what to say :P

Had fun working with you guys tho,

GONNA MISS YOU PEOPLE LOADS! <3

lots and lots and lotsa love,

MAI NAJIHAH :) 

Labels: history drama

Labels: Your Secret Young Ninja has be reveled muahahaha

Labels: history drama

The taller American varieties of marigolds can be grown outdoors and the dwarf French varieties in pots and containers. The Marigold seeds can be sown in April. Marigolds begin flowering in June and continue flowering until frost.

Broadly, there are two genuses which are referred to by the common name, Marigolds viz, Tagetes and Celandula. Tagetes includes African Marigolds and French Marigolds. Celandula includes Pot Marigolds.

Marigolds come in different colors, yellow and orange being the most common. Most of the marigolds have strong, pungent odor and have has great value in cosmetic treatment. There are many varieties of Marigolds available today. Some of the major Marigold varieties are listed below:

• African or American Marigolds (Tagetes erecta): These marigolds are tall, erect-growing plants up to three feet in height. The flowers are globe-shaped and large. Flowers may measure up to 5 inches across. African Marigolds are very good bedding plants. These flowers are yellow to orange and do not include red colored Marigolds. The Africans take longer to reach flowering stage than the French type.
• French Marigolds (Tagetes patula): Marigold cultivars in this group grow 5 inches to 18 inches high. Flower colors are red, orange and yellow. Red and orange bicolor patterns are also found. Flowers are smaller, (2 inches across). French Marigolds are ideal for edging flowerbeds and in mass plantings. They also do well in containers and window boxes.
• Signet Marigolds (T. signata 'pumila'): The signet Marigolds produce compact plants with finely divided, lacy foliage and clusters of small, single flowers. They have yellow to orange colored, edible flowers. The flowers of signet marigolds have a spicy tarragon flavor. The foliage has a pleasant lemon fragrance. Signet Marigolds are excellent plants for edging beds and in window boxes.
• Mule Marigolds: These marigolds are the sterile hybrids of tall African and dwarf French marigolds, hence known as mule Marigolds. Most triploid cultivars grow from 12 to 18 inches high. Though they have the combined qualities of their parents, their rate of germination is low.

• Marigold (Calendula) is an extremely effective herb for the treatment of skin problems and can be used wherever there is inflammation of the skin, whether due to infection or physical damage; for example, crural ulceration, varicose veins, haemorrhoids, anal fissures, mastitis, sebaceous cysts, impetigo or other inflamed cutaneous lesions.
• As an ointment, Marigold (Calendula) is an excellent cosmetic remedy for repairing minor damage to the skin such as subdermal broken capillaries or sunburn. The sap from the stem is reputed to remove warts, corns and calluses.
• In the 12th century Macer wrote that merely looking at the Marigold plant would improve the eyesight and lighten the mood.
• In South Asia bright yellow and orange Marigold flowers are used in their thousands in garlands and to decorate religious statues and buildings. They are also used as offerings and decoration at funerals, weddings and other ceremonies.
• Pigments in Marigolds are sometimes extracted and used as a food colouring for humans and livestock.

Propagating and Growing Marigolds

Marigolds can be propagated by seeds. The plants need about 45 days to flower after seeding. Marigold seeds should be sown 2cm apart. Cover seeds with 1/4 inch of potting soil. Water sufficiently. Plants will appear within a few days. When true leaves have formed, transplant into individual containers or outdoors.

Marigolds are robust, non-fussy plants that bring a lot of sunshine in your garden. Marigolds can be grown easily.

• Plant your seeds in half-sunny or sunny locations.
• The soil must be well-drained, moist and fertile.
• Add potash fertilizers to prolong the flowering period.
• Pinch off the first flowers before they open. This will lead to a larger number of flowers.

Care for Marigolds

Marigolds have a pungent odor which keeps insects at bay, but they can be bothered by slugs. Also, tall American and Triploid Marigold varieties need staking to protect them from strong winds and heavy rainfall.

Factors involved in growing Marigolds

Though Marigolds are easy to grow, some factors are to be considered when growing them:

• Sunlight: Marigolds can grow in full sun to partial-shade, but it is preferable to plant them in sunny locations as shading may have an adverse effect on flowering.
• Soil: Marigolds grow best in moist, well-drained and fertile soil.
• Spacing: Grow your tall Marigold varieties 40cm apart and the dwarf varieties 20cm apart to give room to the growing branches. This will result in a uniform display.
• Temperature: Minimum temperature for growing marigolds is 10°C. Optimum temperature for the germination of seeds is 19°C.
• Watering: Marigolds do not need regular watering but require so during the dry spells. Be careful not to sprinkle water on the flowers of tall varieties, otherwise they become water-logged and soft. It is better to water Marigolds during the early morning hours so that there is sufficient time for the water on the foliage to dry up.
• Fertilizers: Marigolds do not require fertilizers if the soil is rich in organic material. For poor soils, you can add a slow-acting, granular fertilizer(about 1 teaspoon per plant), but be careful not to add an excess of fertilizers which may result in an increased growth of foliage instead of flowers.
• Mulching: When the marigold seedlings are tall enough, spread a 2 or 3 inch layer of some organic material such as dried grass, wood chips or chopped leaves on the soil around them. This mulch reduces weeds, retains moisture in the soil, cools the soil, and fertilizes the soil as it decomposes.

Taking Care of Marigolds

Marigolds are self-reliant plants, but a little care can ensure that they are perpetually blooming in your garden.

• Pruning: Marigolds do not require much pruning, but deadheading is good for marigolds as it suppresses seeding and encourages blooming.
• Staking: Provide staking for tall varieties of Marigolds to protect them from strong winds and heavy rainfall. Insert a sturdy stick or some green stalk behind the plant and tie it with some soft material like plastic. The stick may be small so that it does not show.
• Insects and Pests: Marigolds have a pungent odor, so they are not troubled by insects, but during the wet season, they can be visited by slugs. Slug pellets would solve the problem.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagetes_patula

http://www.flowers.vg/flowers/marigold01.htm

http://www.best-home-remedies.com/herbal_medicine/herbs/marigold.htm

http://www.plantcultures.org/plants/marigold_landing.html

http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/marigo16.html

http://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/growingflowers/flowersandseasons/marigolds

Labels: flowers

Labels: homework

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a woody,perennial herb with fragrant evergreen needle-like leaves. It is native to the Mediterranean region. It is a member of the mint familyLamiacaea, which also includes many other herbs.

The name rosemary has nothing to do with the rose or the name Mary, but derives from the Latin name rosmarinus, which is from "dew" (ros) and "sea" (marinus), or "dew of the sea" — apparently because it is frequently found growing near the sea.

Description

Forms range from upright to trailing; the upright forms can reach 1.5 m (5 ft) tall, rarely 2 m (6 ft 7 in).

The leaves are evegreen, 2–4 cm (0.8–1.6 in) long and 2–5 mm broad, green above, and white below with dense short woolly hair.

Flowering, very common in a mature and healthy specimen, usually appears in winter or spring and is variable in color, being white, pink, purple, or blue.

Cultivation

Since it is attractive and tolerates some degree of drought, it is also used in landscaping, especially in areas having a Mediterranean culture. It is considered easy to grow for beginner gardeners, and is pest-resistant.

Rosemary grows on friable loam soil with good drainage in an open sunny position, it will not withstand water logging and some varieties may be susceptible to frost. It grows best in neutral - alkaline conditions pH (pH 7-7.8) with average fertility.

Rosemary is easily pruned into shapes and has been used for topiary. When grown in pots, it is best kept trimmed to stop it getting straggly and unsightly, though when grown in a garden, rosemary can grow quite large and still be attractive. It can be propagated from an existing plant by clipping a shoot 10–15 cm (4–6 in) long, stripping a few leaves from the bottom, and planting it directly into soil.

Numerous cultivars have been selected for garden use. The following are frequently sold:

• Albus — white flowers
• Arp — leaves light green, lemon-scented
• Aureus — leaves speckled yellow
• Benenden Blue — leaves narrow, dark green
• Blue Boy — dwarf, small leaves
• Golden Rain — leaves green, with yellow streaks
• Gold Dust -dark green leaves, with golden streaks but stronger than Golden Rain
• Irene — lax, trailing
• Lockwood de Forest — procumbent selection from Tuscan Blue
• Ken Taylor — shrubby
• Majorica Pink — pink flowers
• Miss Jessop's Upright — tall, erect
• Pinkie — pink flowers
• Prostratus
• Pyramidalis (a.k.a. Erectus) — pale blue flowers
• Roseus — pink flowers
• Salem — pale blue flowers, cold hardy similar to Arp
• Severn Sea — spreading, low-growing, with arching branches; flowers deep violet
• Tuscan Blue — upright

Usage

Culinary use

The fresh and dried leaves are used frequently in traditional Mediterranean cuisine; they have a bitter, astringent taste, which complements a wide variety of foods. A tisane can also be made from them. When burned they give off a distinct mustard smell, as well as a smell similar to that of burning which can be used to flavor foods while barbecuing.

Rosemary is extremely high in iron, calcium, and Vitamin B6.

Hungry water was first prepared for the Queen of Hungary to "renovate vitality of paralyzed limbs" and to treat gout. It was used externally and prepared by mixing fresh rosemary tops into spirits of wine.

Don Quixote (Chapter XVII, 1st volume) mixes it in his recipe of the miraculous balm of Fierabras with revolting results.

Rosemary has a very old reputation for improving memory, and has been used as a symbol for remembrance (during weddings, war commemorations and funerals) in Europe and Australia. Mourners would throw it into graves as a symbol of remembrance for the dead. In Shakespear's Hamlet, Ophelia says, "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance." (Hamlet, iv. 5.) One modern study lends some credence to this reputation. When the smell of rosemary was pumped into cubicles where people were working, those people showed improved memory, though with slower recall.

In the Middle Ages, rosemary was associated with wedding ceremonies - the bride would wear a rosemary headpiece and the groom and wedding guests would all wear a sprig of rosemary, and from this association with weddings rosemary evolved into a love charm. Newly wed couples would plant a branch of rosemary on their wedding day. If the branch grew it was a good omen for the union and family. In ‘A Modern Herbal’, Mrs Grieves says “A rosemary branch, richly gilded and tied with silken ribands of all colours, was also presented to wedding guests, as a symbol of love and loyalty.” Another example of rosemary’s use as a love charm was that a young person would tap another with a rosemary sprig and if the sprig contained an open flower, it was said that the couple would fall in love. Rosemary was used as a divinatory herb-several types of herbs were grown in pots and assigned the name of a potential lover. Then they were left to grow and the plant that grew the strongest and fastest gave the answer. Rosemary was also stuffed into poppets (cloth dolls) in order to attract a lover or attract curative vibrations for illness. It was believed that placing a sprig of rosemary under a pillow before sleep would repel nightmares, and if placed outside the home it would repel witches. Somehow, the use of rosemary in the garden to repel witches turned into signification that the woman ruled the household in homes and gardens where rosemary grew abundantly. By the 16th century, this practise became a bone of contention; and men were known to rip up rosemary bushes to show that they, not their wives, ruled the roost.

Potential medicinal use

The results of a study suggest that carnisic acid, found in rosemary, may shield the brain from free radicals, lowering the risk of strokes and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Lou Gehrigs.

Rosemary contains a number of potentially biologically active compounds, including antioxidants such as carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid. Other bioactive compounds include camphor (up to 20% in dry rosemary leaves),caffeic acid, ursolic acid, betulinic acid,rosemaridiphenol, and rosmanol.

Health precautions and toxicology

Rosemary in culinary or therapeutic doses is generally safe. A toxicity studies of the plant on rats has shown hepatoprotective and antimutagenic activities,however, precaution is necessary for those displaying allergic reaction or prone to epileptic acids. Rosemary essential oil may have epileptogenic properties, as a handful of case reports over the past century have linked its use with seizures in otherwise healthy adults or children. Rosemary essential oil is potentially toxic if ingested. Large quantities of rosemary leaves can cause adverse reactions, such as coma, spasm, vomiting, and pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) that can be fatal. Avoid consuming large quantities of rosemary if pregnant or breastfeeding.

Group Members :

• Nurain Nazuraa bt. Ghazali (:
  
• Nurizazi bt. Zanuri (:
  
• Nurul Adlina Syazwani bt. Mohamad Arif (:
  
• Neesha bt. Hazis (:
  

Pn. ChristinaMsAudrey

Do you know anything about Dandelion?
Hundreds of species of Dandelion grow in the temperate regions of Europe, Asia and North America. Dandelion is a hardy, variable perennial that can grow to a height of nearly 12 inches. Dandelions have deeply notched, toothy, spatula-like leaves that are shiny and hairless. Dandelion stems are capped by bright yellow flowers. The grooved leaves funnel the flow of rainfall into the root. Dandelion flowers are sensitive to light, so they open with the sun in the morning or close in the evening or during gloomy weather. The dark brown roots are fleshy and brittle and are filled with a white milky substance that is bitter and slightly odorous.
I don't know how to grow them.
It's a very easily grown plant, succeeds in most soils. It becomes quite large when cultivation, the leaves reaching a foot or more in length. Dandelion is often cultivated as an edible salad crop and as a medicinal herb plant.
Do you know any other names for it?
Oh yes, Common Dandelion, Lion's Tooth, Priest's Crown, Pu Gong Ying, Swine's snout, Dent de Lion.
They do have medicinal uses and indications, correct?
Correct.

Dandelion is a natural diuretic that increases urine production by promoting the excretion of salts and water from the kidney. Dandelion may be used for a wide range of conditions requiring mild diuretic treatment, such as poor digestion, liver disorders, and high blood pressure. Dandelion is a source of potassium, a nutrient often lost through the use of other natural and synthetic diuretics.

Fresh or dried dandelion herb is also used as a mild appetite stimulant and to improve upset stomach (such as feelings of fullness, flatulence, and constipation). The root of the dandelion plant is believed to have mild laxative effects and is often used to improve digestion. Research suggests that dandelion root may improve the health and function of natural bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. Studies have also reported that dandelion root may help improve liver and gallbladder function.

Some preliminary animal studies also suggest that dandelion may help normalize blood sugar levels and improve lipid profiles (lowering total cholesterol and triglycerides while increasing HDL, "good," cholesterol) in diabetic mice. However, not all animal studies have shown the same positive effect on blood sugar. In addition, research needs to be done on people to determine if this traditional use for diabetes (see Overview) has modern-day merit.

P.S. THIS IS HOW WE ARE POSTING ABOUT OUR FLOWER. THE MEDICINAL USES JUST SPOILS IT ALL, HUH? OH WELL. ENJOY.

Naveena shot Naveenya. Therefore Nicole took her to the hospital to get Nor Aliah's profesional 'healing' magic.

Santa stole my girlfriend, like nohhhwayhhhh.
TEEHEE

Labels: flowers

Curry Leaves

The Curry Leaves or Karivepallai also known as Kadipatta is a tropical to sub-tropical tree in the family Rutaceae, which is native to India. It produces the leaves known as Curry leaves or Sweet Neem leaves.

Description

It is a small tree, growing 4-6 m tall, with a trunk up to 40 cm diameter. The leaves are pinnate, with 11-21 leaflets, each leaflet 2-4 cm long and 1-2 cm broad. They are highly aromatic. The flowers are small white, and fragrant. The small black, shiny berries are edible, but their seeds are poisonous.

The Uses Of Curry Leaves

The leaves are highly valued as seasoning in South Indian and Sri Lankan cooking, much like bay leaves and especially in curries with fish or coconut milk. In their fresh form, they have a short shelf life though they may be stored in a freezer for quite some time; however, this can result in a loss of their flavour. They are also available dried, though the aroma is much inferior.

The Medicinal Value Of Curry Leaves

The leaves of Murraya koenigii are also used as a herb in Ayurvedic medicine. Their properties include much value as an antidiabetic, antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory.

· The plant is grown by seeds.

SOURCE : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curry_leaf

http://images.google.com

Group Members : Gan Phui Yee

Hari Priya

Iqffa Nadia

Izah Athira

ps: I don't know why there are word links on random words in this post. =|

Rainwater harvesting is the gathering, or accumulating and storing, of rainwater.^[1] Rainwater harvesting has been used to provide drinking water, water for livestock, water for irrigation or to refill aquifers in a process called groundwater recharge. Rainwater collected from the roofs of houses, tents and local institutions, or from specially prepared areas of ground, can make an important contribution to drinking water. In some cases, rainwater may be the only available, or economical, water source. Rainwater systems are simple to construct from inexpensive local materials, and are potentially successful in most habitable locations. Roof rainwater is usually of good quality and does not require treatment before consumption. Household rainfall catchment systems are appropriate in areas with an average rainfall greater than 200mm per year, and no other accessible water sources (Skinner and Cotton, 1992).

There are a number of types of systems to harvest rainwater ranging from very simple to the complex industrial systems. Generally, rainwater is either harvested from the ground or from a roof. The rate at which water can be collected from either system is dependent on the plan area of the system, its efficiency, and the intensity of rainfall.

SMK (P) Sri Aman's Rainwater Harvesting

The students of Sri Aman has joined this rainwater harvesting system in the year 2009 . This system is organised by the school rainwater harvesting club which is under Pn. Nur Hafizah . The members is Nur Syazwana Izzati , Nur Shahirah , Iqffa Nadia , Izah Atira , Rohatira , Nur Syafeeqah and Nur Fatini .

The Sri Aman's students who involved in this project has joined "Anugerah Hijau" competiton but the results is not available yet . This project is to save some amounts of water in our school . This water is clean but its only can use for watering plants and other ways except drinking .