Teaching Your Children About Environmental Consciousness By Victoria Cochrane

With the increasing urgency of environmental issues - from climate change and energy shortages to waste disposal and water conservation - the more you can educate today's younger generations, the better. After all, as today's youngsters mature into adulthood, they will continue to face many of the environmental problems being dealt with today. What's more, the rate at which the world is developing means the young people of today might have to deal with such issues on a more serious level in future years.

But raising consciousness about environmental issues isn't just about a lesson plan or two. Instead, it's about implementing a way of thinking in a youngster's life. So how can you go about teaching your children to live each day of their lives with a consciousness about the environment? There are countless ways - and many resources to help you do it.

To begin, there are a number of ways to implement environmental consciousness in the home - from energy and water conservation to recycling. Urge your child to turn off the television or the lights when they leave a room, and to be water-conscious during showers and while brushing their teeth. It's also important to teach them how to separate recyclables - a lesson that can be particularly fun if you explain what happens to all those bottles and cans once they arrive at a recycling plant.

Another great way to instill environmental consciousness in your kids is to start a compost pile in your backyard. Once again, you'll have to teach them what they can and cannot place into a compost pile and why - which can be incredibly interesting and thought-provoking for children.

However, environmental consciousness in the home is only part of it. After all, kids spend much of their time in school, where they're exposed to many opportunities to practice eco-friendly habits. Aside from some of the same environmental practices in the home - such as recycling, energy conservation and a compost pile - an interesting lesson plan could be introduced by teachers in their classrooms. From computer programmes and websites dedicated to environmental consciousness to games and lessons held outdoors, the opportunities are endless when it comes to teaching kids about being environmentally responsible in school.

Many schools also take the initiative to invite representatives from recycling plants to talk to school children; helping students further understand the recycling processes and their effects on other environmental issues - like climate change. So, if you're teacher or a parent with a child in school, it may be an idea to start teaching them about the environmental issues faced with today, and about their role regarding the environment; now and in the future.

Victoria Cochrane writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Facts Concerning Poison Ivy By Naomi West

Poison ivy - also known as toxicodendron radicans - is a kind of plant that is considered to be apart of the Anacardiaceae family. Many of us learned about this plant while we were kids and were ordered to stay as far away from it as we possibly can. Those of us who did not listen to the rul soon discovered about the rash that it would stimulate and which would leave us in pain for a week.

This plant is not truly an ivy - but is a kind of a wooden vine that can to produce the liquid urushiol. This is a kind of skin irritant that causes the rash to come out on anybody who attempts to touch any part of it it. This rash can make the individual really itchy. It has to be dealt with particular ointments.

You can easily recognise the poison ivy plant by its well-known 'leaves of three'. Each of the blades are almond shaped and is the one characteristic that genuinely separates it from other plants. The plant will also have berries that are a gray-white color and which are consumed by birds during the winter months.

The younger plants will have light green leaves and as they mature they will turn into a dark green. The blades are between 3 to 12 centimeters long and will have a few teeth on the borders of it. Along the vine you will observe that the leaves are grown bundled together.

These plants will not be spotted developing in desert or arid regions. Rather they are ofttimes growing in the wooded regions. This is why they are oftentimes tough to spot because they have the ability to meld in well with the plants that fence them.

People find it very challenging to remove the poison ivy plant because it has the power to produce both sexually and vegetatively. The vines will thrust out adventitious roots or the plant will simply spread from the root crowns. The seeds has the ability to be distributed by the animals in the area after they have consumed sections of it and then had it come out of their system.

Knowing everything you can about Poison Ivy will help you to Treat it properly.

10 Things You May Not Know About the Northern Territory Saltwater Crocodile By Patricia Lilly

When you holiday in the Northern Territory, it is wise to check with Parks and Wildlife centres to find out where it is safe to get into the water. There are water leisure centres and tours to keep you safe from the saltwater croc. Visit a crocodile park or farm; they allow you to hold a baby croc. They are very soft and cold to the touch. Help feed the small and large crocodiles. Get some great photos. Read the following to find out what you may not know about the 'salty'.

1. A saltwater crocodile has 65 teeth.

Their teeth are sharp-pointed, inter-locking and are perpetually replaced. A single croc might grow up to 3,000 teeth in its lifetime. How amazing is that? A small bird hops right into the prehistoric estuarine Crocodile's mouth and cleans its teeth.

2. A saltwater crocodile swallows stones and pebbles

It is believed the purpose of this is to give them ballast when diving, and are often ingested to aid digestion - crushing food by a grinding action within the gizzard of the stomach. 'Kill two birds with one stone!'

3. A saltwater crocodile can and will walk hundreds of kilometers overland.

Because Northern Australia has some small, inoffensive crocodiles restricted to brackish or fresh water, most people think all inland crocodiles are freshwater crocodiles. That is very misleading. It can and has lulled people taking great risks in what are now unsafe places as they know the freshwater crocodile to be usually harmless,unless provoked. The saltwater crocodile starts its life in brackish or fresh water, and only travels out to the ocean when it is almost fully grown to search for new territory.

4. A saltwater crocodile can and will swim in from ocean estuaries hundreds of kilometers

They swim into freshwater tributaries, lagoons, swamps and rivers. Saltwater crocodiles have been known to live there for the rest of their lives. So, do not think that they are only in the ocean.

5. A saltwater crocodile has heavily ossified scales along its back referred to as the armor.

Their scales are the same substance that hooves and nails are made from; keratin. One of the main functions of crocodile scales is for their protection.

6. The saltwater breeding female crocodile will cool her eggs with water carried by her mouth to the nest or spray urine on them.

In the breeding season between September to May, the female builds a nest of a scratched up pile of rotting plant matter and mud or sand. She lays about 30 to 90 eggs and covers them with more of the same material. They are incubated for 3 months. The saltwater crocodile lays in the wet season and many nests are destroyed by floodwaters.

7. The saltwater breeding female crocodile will gather the hatchlings in her mouth.

When she hears the babies chirping, she digs them out of the nest and carefully carries them to the water's edge in her mouth. She will watch over them until they can look after themselves.

8. A saltwater male crocodile is cannibalistic.

Juvenile crocodiles are eaten by the territorial mature males. Even with the mother's care, only about 20% survive to maturity, as goannas, snakes, sharks, birds and turtles will eat them, also.

9. The saltwater crocodile has a strong muscular tail that it uses to propel itself forward

All the propulsion and steering comes from the paddling of the flattened tail.

10. Crocodile culling was last done in 1971 in the Northern Territory.

Saltwater crocodiles are now, unfortunately, becoming a public menace as their numbers increase. They have increased in the Northern Territory from about 5,000 to 80,000 in 38 years, and they are moving closer to residential areas.

Is it up to us to stay out of their way? After all, these animals held unchallenged dominion over equatorial wetlands and waterways for 65 million years after dinosaurs had gone.

It is the larger crocodile that breeds and it would be these big ones that the crocodile hunter would target. The Parks and Wildlife have taken many large dangerous saltwater crocodiles away from areas that humans also frequent. They have been known to return within a few weeks, unless they are taken to a crocodile farm. It has been said, by interested parties, that even if dozens of crocodiles were culled, how can it be guaranteed that just one crocodile will not come into a proclaimed safe area. It only takes one reptile to kill one person.

To cull or not to cull? This is the question.

Patricia Lilly holds a Diploma of Hospitality and has worked in the tourism industry for many years. Patricia is traveling around Australia, and as she is now in the Northern Territory, can pass her knowledge of this area on to you. Find out where you can visit a crocodile farm in Darwin. Hold a baby crocodile and help feed the big ones. Find Darwin holiday accommodation to suit your budget.

The Territory, Wild Animals and Plants of Nicaragua By Gustavo Zorrilla

Located in center of the American continent, Nicaragua is the largest Central American country. Nicaragua is home to very rich biodiversity, a truly stunning array of flora and fauna. There are forests of different types, subtropical dry forest, tropical rain forest, mangrove forest, wetlands, grass savanna and tree savanna. On the Pacific side there is mostly tropical dry forest and savanna. In the north, in the mountainous regions, there are cloud forests and pine forests. The two longest rivers in Central America run along the borders of Nicaragua. The Rio Coco (the longest at 680 km or 423 miles) runs along the northern border with Honduras and the Rio San Juan runs along the border with Costa Rica in the south. The Rio San Juan area has both tropical wet forests and rain forests. There are many miles of coastline and beaches as well.

The Pacific Basin is dotted with innumerable volcanoes, lagoons and lakes. The two great lakes are Lake Nicaragua and Lake Managua and there are also 15 crater lakes. In the middle of Lake Nicaragua, the largest lake in Central America and 21st largest by area in the world, is Ometepe Island formed by two volcanoes.

The climate (always hot) and the minimal altitudinal variation have created an environment where diversity has bloomed. There are about 250 species of amphibians and reptiles, about 250 species of mammals, 700+ species of birds, 640+ species of fish, 350+ species of trees, 12,000+ of species of plants (as many as 600 orchids alone) and perhaps more than 250,000 types of insects. There are many creatures as yet undiscovered in the wilds of Nicaragua.

Some standout species are the jaguar, puma, ocelot, tapir, deer, anteater, macaw, quetzal, harpy eagle, and toucan. There are diverse types of monkeys including spider, howler and capuchin monkeys. There are also many types of lizards and snakes, including boas. Plus birds, bats, frogs, crabs, spiders and crocodiles. There are sea turtles on both coasts and a species of shark, the bull shark, which can tolerate the fresh water of Lake Nicaragua.

All these species are distributed in the different biomes from the country. There are a number of protected areas with nearly 20 percent of the territory listed as protected. The Reserve of Bosawás is the third largest reserve in the world and has the second largest rain forest in the Americas after the Amazon. There are other vast reserves such as the Guatuzos and Indio-Maize Reserves and the central part of the country is sparsely populated. This has helped preserve the biodiversity but logging and deforestation are still a problem. Agriculture abounds in more populated regions. Agricultural products include coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame, soy and beans. Animal products include beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products, seafood, shrimp and lobster.

In Nicaragua, locals and tourists enjoy volcano hiking, surfing in the pacific, diving in the Caribbean on Corn Island and wildlife viewing along the Rio San Juan and in many other parts of the country.

Ready for a visit to Nicaragua? Check hotels at Hotels Nicaragua or in the capital Hotels Managua Nicaragua

Soil - An Essential Natural Resource By Shirley McNeal

Soil is one of the most important and essential natural resources. Farmers and gardeners know this fact and go to great efforts to conserve it. They understand that when the soil is destroyed, then gardens will not be successful and good crops cannot grow. They also know that it takes a considerable amount of time for soil to form. Here we will look at elements that must come together in order to form soil.

Soil is defined as a covering over most of the earth's land surface. It is made of particles of rock and minerals, living things and the remains of living things. It takes thousands of years for soil to form just a few inches and for some parts of the country it has been less than that.

Soil is formed in two general ways:

· When weather conditions cause rock to break down.
· When soil is carried from one place to another.

How is soil made?

Air
Moving air, such as the wind blows sand against rock to wear it down.

Water
The force of running water can wear away rock. Rain and snow also help to break down rock into smaller particles.

Plants
Plants help the soil as they grow and when they die. As dead plants decay, it adds an organic material to the soil, which makes it more fertile.

Animals
The body waste of many animals helps to keep the soil fertile, as well as the remains of dead animals as they decay.

Now that you've had a lesson on the importance of soil as a natural resource and how it forms, you are now a more knowledgeable gardener. Use your knowledge to continually improve your gardening skills the next time you dig in the dirt to plant your flower or vegetable garden. Use your knowledge to develop an even greater appreciation for a natural resource that man cannot make, but has a responsibility to conserve and preserve for generations to come.

Article brought to you by Shirley McNeal, retired social services administrator and owner of My Southern Home Place...The Bargain Store for Wholesale Gifts, Collectibles & Décor located at: http://www.mysouthernhomeplace.com We celebrate families, children, health and home and our business reflects these core values. We have a passion for bringing you and your family products you will enjoy using and sharing with your friends. We invite you to visit our bargain store anytime.

Teaching Your Children About Environmental Consciousness By Victoria Cochrane

With the increasing urgency of environmental issues - from climate change and energy shortages to waste disposal and water conservation - the more you can educate today's younger generations, the better. After all, as today's youngsters mature into adulthood, they will continue to face many of the environmental problems being dealt with today. What's more, the rate at which the world is developing means the young people of today might have to deal with such issues on a more serious level in future years.

But raising consciousness about environmental issues isn't just about a lesson plan or two. Instead, it's about implementing a way of thinking in a youngster's life. So how can you go about teaching your children to live each day of their lives with a consciousness about the environment? There are countless ways - and many resources to help you do it.

To begin, there are a number of ways to implement environmental consciousness in the home - from energy and water conservation to recycling. Urge your child to turn off the television or the lights when they leave a room, and to be water-conscious during showers and while brushing their teeth. It's also important to teach them how to separate recyclables - a lesson that can be particularly fun if you explain what happens to all those bottles and cans once they arrive at a recycling plant.

Another great way to instill environmental consciousness in your kids is to start a compost pile in your backyard. Once again, you'll have to teach them what they can and cannot place into a compost pile and why - which can be incredibly interesting and thought-provoking for children.

However, environmental consciousness in the home is only part of it. After all, kids spend much of their time in school, where they're exposed to many opportunities to practice eco-friendly habits. Aside from some of the same environmental practices in the home - such as recycling, energy conservation and a compost pile - an interesting lesson plan could be introduced by teachers in their classrooms. From computer programmes and websites dedicated to environmental consciousness to games and lessons held outdoors, the opportunities are endless when it comes to teaching kids about being environmentally responsible in school.

Many schools also take the initiative to invite representatives from recycling plants to talk to school children; helping students further understand the recycling processes and their effects on other environmental issues - like climate change. So, if you're teacher or a parent with a child in school, it may be an idea to start teaching them about the environmental issues faced with today, and about their role regarding the environment; now and in the future.

Victoria Cochrane writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Facts Concerning Poison Ivy By Naomi West

Poison ivy - also known as toxicodendron radicans - is a kind of plant that is considered to be apart of the Anacardiaceae family. Many of us learned about this plant while we were kids and were ordered to stay as far away from it as we possibly can. Those of us who did not listen to the rul soon discovered about the rash that it would stimulate and which would leave us in pain for a week.

This plant is not truly an ivy - but is a kind of a wooden vine that can to produce the liquid urushiol. This is a kind of skin irritant that causes the rash to come out on anybody who attempts to touch any part of it it. This rash can make the individual really itchy. It has to be dealt with particular ointments.

You can easily recognise the poison ivy plant by its well-known 'leaves of three'. Each of the blades are almond shaped and is the one characteristic that genuinely separates it from other plants. The plant will also have berries that are a gray-white color and which are consumed by birds during the winter months.

The younger plants will have light green leaves and as they mature they will turn into a dark green. The blades are between 3 to 12 centimeters long and will have a few teeth on the borders of it. Along the vine you will observe that the leaves are grown bundled together.

These plants will not be spotted developing in desert or arid regions. Rather they are ofttimes growing in the wooded regions. This is why they are oftentimes tough to spot because they have the ability to meld in well with the plants that fence them.

People find it very challenging to remove the poison ivy plant because it has the power to produce both sexually and vegetatively. The vines will thrust out adventitious roots or the plant will simply spread from the root crowns. The seeds has the ability to be distributed by the animals in the area after they have consumed sections of it and then had it come out of their system.

Knowing everything you can about Poison Ivy will help you to Treat it properly.

Facts Concerning Poison Ivy By Naomi West

Poison ivy - also known as toxicodendron radicans - is a kind of plant that is considered to be apart of the Anacardiaceae family. Many of us learned about this plant while we were kids and were ordered to stay as far away from it as we possibly can. Those of us who did not listen to the rul soon discovered about the rash that it would stimulate and which would leave us in pain for a week.

This plant is not truly an ivy - but is a kind of a wooden vine that can to produce the liquid urushiol. This is a kind of skin irritant that causes the rash to come out on anybody who attempts to touch any part of it it. This rash can make the individual really itchy. It has to be dealt with particular ointments.

You can easily recognise the poison ivy plant by its well-known 'leaves of three'. Each of the blades are almond shaped and is the one characteristic that genuinely separates it from other plants. The plant will also have berries that are a gray-white color and which are consumed by birds during the winter months.

The younger plants will have light green leaves and as they mature they will turn into a dark green. The blades are between 3 to 12 centimeters long and will have a few teeth on the borders of it. Along the vine you will observe that the leaves are grown bundled together.

These plants will not be spotted developing in desert or arid regions. Rather they are ofttimes growing in the wooded regions. This is why they are oftentimes tough to spot because they have the ability to meld in well with the plants that fence them.

People find it very challenging to remove the poison ivy plant because it has the power to produce both sexually and vegetatively. The vines will thrust out adventitious roots or the plant will simply spread from the root crowns. The seeds has the ability to be distributed by the animals in the area after they have consumed sections of it and then had it come out of their system.

Knowing everything you can about Poison Ivy will help you to Treat it properly.

The Territory, Wild Animals and Plants of Nicaragua By Gustavo Zorrilla

Located in center of the American continent, Nicaragua is the largest Central American country. Nicaragua is home to very rich biodiversity, a truly stunning array of flora and fauna. There are forests of different types, subtropical dry forest, tropical rain forest, mangrove forest, wetlands, grass savanna and tree savanna. On the Pacific side there is mostly tropical dry forest and savanna. In the north, in the mountainous regions, there are cloud forests and pine forests. The two longest rivers in Central America run along the borders of Nicaragua. The Rio Coco (the longest at 680 km or 423 miles) runs along the northern border with Honduras and the Rio San Juan runs along the border with Costa Rica in the south. The Rio San Juan area has both tropical wet forests and rain forests. There are many miles of coastline and beaches as well.

The Pacific Basin is dotted with innumerable volcanoes, lagoons and lakes. The two great lakes are Lake Nicaragua and Lake Managua and there are also 15 crater lakes. In the middle of Lake Nicaragua, the largest lake in Central America and 21st largest by area in the world, is Ometepe Island formed by two volcanoes.

The climate (always hot) and the minimal altitudinal variation have created an environment where diversity has bloomed. There are about 250 species of amphibians and reptiles, about 250 species of mammals, 700+ species of birds, 640+ species of fish, 350+ species of trees, 12,000+ of species of plants (as many as 600 orchids alone) and perhaps more than 250,000 types of insects. There are many creatures as yet undiscovered in the wilds of Nicaragua.

Some standout species are the jaguar, puma, ocelot, tapir, deer, anteater, macaw, quetzal, harpy eagle, and toucan. There are diverse types of monkeys including spider, howler and capuchin monkeys. There are also many types of lizards and snakes, including boas. Plus birds, bats, frogs, crabs, spiders and crocodiles. There are sea turtles on both coasts and a species of shark, the bull shark, which can tolerate the fresh water of Lake Nicaragua.

All these species are distributed in the different biomes from the country. There are a number of protected areas with nearly 20 percent of the territory listed as protected. The Reserve of Bosawás is the third largest reserve in the world and has the second largest rain forest in the Americas after the Amazon. There are other vast reserves such as the Guatuzos and Indio-Maize Reserves and the central part of the country is sparsely populated. This has helped preserve the biodiversity but logging and deforestation are still a problem. Agriculture abounds in more populated regions. Agricultural products include coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame, soy and beans. Animal products include beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products, seafood, shrimp and lobster.

In Nicaragua, locals and tourists enjoy volcano hiking, surfing in the pacific, diving in the Caribbean on Corn Island and wildlife viewing along the Rio San Juan and in many other parts of the country.

Soil - An Essential Natural Resource By Shirley McNeal

Soil is one of the most important and essential natural resources. Farmers and gardeners know this fact and go to great efforts to conserve it. They understand that when the soil is destroyed, then gardens will not be successful and good crops cannot grow. They also know that it takes a considerable amount of time for soil to form. Here we will look at elements that must come together in order to form soil.

Soil is defined as a covering over most of the earth's land surface. It is made of particles of rock and minerals, living things and the remains of living things. It takes thousands of years for soil to form just a few inches and for some parts of the country it has been less than that.

Soil is formed in two general ways:

· When weather conditions cause rock to break down.
· When soil is carried from one place to another.

How is soil made?

Air
Moving air, such as the wind blows sand against rock to wear it down.

Water
The force of running water can wear away rock. Rain and snow also help to break down rock into smaller particles.

Plants
Plants help the soil as they grow and when they die. As dead plants decay, it adds an organic material to the soil, which makes it more fertile.

Animals
The body waste of many animals helps to keep the soil fertile, as well as the remains of dead animals as they decay.

Now that you've had a lesson on the importance of soil as a natural resource and how it forms, you are now a more knowledgeable gardener. Use your knowledge to continually improve your gardening skills the next time you dig in the dirt to plant your flower or vegetable garden. Use your knowledge to develop an even greater appreciation for a natural resource that man cannot make, but has a responsibility to conserve and preserve for generations to come.

Article brought to you by Shirley McNeal, retired social services administrator and owner of My Southern Home Place...The Bargain Store for Wholesale Gifts, Collectibles & Décor located at: http://www.mysouthernhomeplace.com We celebrate families, children, health and home and our business reflects these core values. We have a passion for bringing you and your family products you will enjoy using and sharing with your friends. We invite you to visit our bargain store anytime.

Binoculars For the Fledgling Birder By Roy Smallwood

When you become interested in the birds and wish to join with others who have made birding the number one and fastest growing activity in North American today you are confronted with many choices in binoculars. In fact, there are so many choices of binoculars today that it is almost frustrating. Yet, it doesn't have to be.

There are a few basics that one must know. First, the advances in the technology of optics have proved remarkable. Today's binoculars are much more lightweight, gather so much more light, and provide for more clear, precise images than ever before. One advance is the type of prism used: the roof prism. The main job of the prism is to right the image for the viewer. Yet, the use of the roof prism has allowed for internal focusing and the ability to water and fog proof the binocular. Secondly, the use of nitrogen and, most recently, argon gases to purge the internal system of moisture allows the use of binoculars under challenging conditions of humidity, fog, and even rain. Third, thin layer coatings have provided increased light transmission and corrections for aberrations in lenses that do not add significantly to weight.

When we begin to look at various models of binoculars we find a set of numbers on them, such as 8x42. The first number has to do with magnification and the second with the size of the objective lens. For most of us, whether a novice or a veteran, the magnification that works best is 8x. Really what this means is, when viewing the bird through your binoculars, the image created is as if you are only one eighth of the distance to the bird. So, if you were looking at a bird 100 feet away, it appears as if you are only about 12 feet away. The size of the objective lens, the lens closest to the object viewed, is of great importance because it is one factor in the amount of light gathering power of the binocular, but also influences the field of view. The larger the objective lens the more light gathering capability. However, the larger size contributes to increased weight. A 50 mm objective gathers more light than a 35 mm lens but is significantly heavier. Most people find the 42 mm lens to be a great compromise, gathering quite a bit of light while allowing for a weight that allows the binocular to be held for a long and satisfying look at the bird in question.

Beginning birders often have a period of time when they are learning to find the bird in their binoculars. One should consider finding a binocular with a large field of view in this case. Field of view is stated in feet at 1000 yards and also in degree measure. More easily understood is the former. If the specifications state 336 ft/1000 yards, this means 336 feet across the viewing area is visible in the lens 1000 yards from where one stands.

Having said all that, one of the best choices for the beginning birder would be the Stokes 8x42 Talon or the Vortex 8x42 Diamondback. These two have very similar specifications. Both have an amazing field of view, 420 feet. Both are offered at a very reasonable price.

Now, go get a binocular you will enjoy for a long time and go birding!

Roy Smallwood is the owner of Kingbirdfeeders.com. Roy began this enterprise after a 26 year career as a teacher of science. His love and enjoyment of the outdoors and birding in particular is the impetus for the company. He is an active member of the Central Texas Audubon Society. He encourages everyone to participate and enjoy birding whether in the backyard or in the field. Visit http://www.kingbirdfeeders.com for, binoculars and happy birding!

Types of Cypress Trees By Patricia Wainwright

The cypress tree family is widespread, containing over 130 species. Through DNA analysis, it has recently been determined that both the juniper and giant sequoia trees are related to the cypress family. However, when someone mentions the cypress tree, they are generally speaking of one of three main species - the Bald Cypress, the Leyland Cypress, or the Arizona Cypress. These are the most popular and widely used cypress trees in America, and each has unique characteristics. You can be sure one of these species will fit your landscaping needs.

The Bald Cypress is the symbolic tree of the southern swamp; however, it is quite adaptable and has been grown successfully much further north. It is a large tree, can grow as tall as 70' and spread as wide as 25' at the bottom. It tolerates all soil types, is adaptable to wet or dry conditions and can withstand flooding. The Bald Cypress is a deciduous conifer so it will not only produce cones, but will shed its needle shaped leaves in the winter. It has a uniform conical shape.

The Leyland Cypress is a fast growing evergreen and is very popular in landscaping. It is a large tree, can grow as tall as 60-70', with a smaller spread of about 15-20' at the base. It also grows in all soils, prefers full sun, and requires an average amount of rainfall. Unlike the Bald Cypress, this tree retains its blue-green needles throughout the winter. In maturity, the Leyland forms a columnar or slightly pyramidal shape and its dense branches make it a prime choice for forming windbreaks or privacy hedges. Although the Leyland Cypress prefers full sun, it does not adapt well to hot climates and becomes susceptible to a fungus known as Cypress Canker. Both the Bald Cypress and the Arizona Cypress perform better in the extreme southern states.

The Arizona Cypress is the southern belle of the cypress species and does not grow well in the middle or northern states. It is smaller and wider than the other species, growing to about 45' with a spread of 25-30'. The Arizona prefers full sun, grows in all soil types, and has normal moisture requirements, but has good drought tolerance. Due to its dense branches, gray-green needles, and uniform shape, it is widely grown for Christmas trees. It is also widely used in landscaping as a focal point or anchor.

These three varieties of cypress trees cover all the bases. Wet or dry soil, hot or temperate conditions - there is a cypress tree to meet your needs. Choose the melancholy Bald Cypress, the slender Leyland Cypress, or the elegant Arizona Cypress. Each and any one will add impact to your landscape.

Before you go running out to buy a Leyland Cypress Tree, find out if it is a risk to use Leyland Cypress Trees for hedging, and get more facts about organic gardening at GreenThumbArticles.com!

The Volcanoes of the Hawaiian Islands By Allison Ryan

The Hawaiian Islands rose from the sea due to a series of volcanic eruptions. The upsurges that brought them into being must have been violent, for these islands stand in water more than three miles deep. Conical mountains on some of the bodies of land thrust up two and a half miles above sea level. All of the islands vary considerably in size. The larger pieces of land were not only formed by lava and ash, but also enlarged by coral growths.

Hawaii, the island that is furthest east, is also the largest. There are several volcanoes scattered over its surface of four thousand square miles, the greatest of which is Mauna Loa, or "Long Mountain." Mauna Loa is 13,680 feet tall. The crater at its summit is affectionately nicknamed Mokuaweoweo.

Much like a dedicated citizens petition that has been a citizen petition in the citizen petition process for only a short amount of time, Mauna Loa is still active. The rest periods between its eruptions are inconsistent, lasting from anywhere between several months or ten years. Its flows occupy more than two thousand square miles, over half of the area of the island.

Mauna Loa's flows extend from its snow-encrusted summit to the ocean bottom, over thirty one thousand feet below its craggy flasks. Many of Mauna Loa's eruptions do not go beyond its crater, but others manage to cause huge splits and cracks in the mountainside and spew forth fiery, molten rock.

Such a breach occurred well up on the northeast ridge back in 1881, and the lava that gushed forth flowed down to the edge of the city of Hilo, more than 30 miles distant. Again in 1942, following a series of heavy earthquakes, burning, flaming lava squirted from a great crack in the mountain's shoulder in a series of fountains.

The lava ran to within 12 miles of Hilo. It is unknown if the Hilo civilians chose to start a petition using their knowledge on how to make a petition in order to obtain a petition that asked for more protection against the giant volcano.

In 1950 a mighty fissure 13 miles long opened up, and during 23 days more than a billion tons of lava issued from it. In some places it sped toward the sea in scorching rivers flowing six miles an hour, while one rivulet, years ago, is said to have traveled at a rate of 40 miles an hour.

Twenty three miles to the east of Mauna Loa is the volcano Kilauea. Its summit collapsed inwards, forming a shallow trough at the top. This trough is called the Halemaumau, "The House of Everlasting Fire." Within it is one of the most fearful wonders in all of our national parks.

This is a fearsome lake of gurgling, blistering lava, 1750 degrees hot on its surface, which occasionally wells up and overflows onto the crater floor. At other times it is sucked back within the earth and sinks almost out of sight, like a slug of snot in a child's nose. Then the walls crumble into an avalanche down the walls of the yawning cavern, sometimes letting great quantities of water cascade into the depths.

When this happens, the volcano undergoes violent steam explosions, hurling forth tons of rock and dust. Such a blast heaped death and destruction upon a native army in 1790. Bare footprints in volcanic ash give testimony to this tragedy long ago. Modern social things, like petition letter examples, some petition examples, or example petitions cannot save anyone from such devastation.

There are other things to see and enjoy within the two sections of the park besides volcanoes and the results of volcanic action. Plants native to each of these islands are not found anywhere else in the world. In the Haleakala Crater grows the strange, rare silversword. It throws up a "pincushion" of long, daggerlike leaves that look as though they were formed of silver. From its center a flower stalk thrusts up 6 or more feet, and on it opens up a vast bloom made up of countless purple flowers.

Allison Ryan is a freelance marketing writer from San Diego, CA. She specializes in the citizen petition process, how to make a petition, and petition examples to help individuals start their own. To browse free petitions, stop by http://www.thepetitionsite.com/.

Lassen Peak National Park By Allison Ryan

The volcanic national parks in the Untied States include Lassen, Crater Lake, Mount Rainier, Yellowstone, and Hawaii. Lassen, Crater Lake, and Mount Rainier are distributed along the Cascade Mountains running from northeastern California through Oregon and then on to the northern edge of Washington.

This whole range was volcanic. It resulted from a great outpouring of lava, forming a plateau about eight thousand feet high. Peaks were formed upon it due to further eruptions which heaped up cones of lava and ash forced through vent holes. Some of these volcanoes were big, others were little.

Many of the smaller volcanoes disappeared under the growing bulk of their mightier neighbors. They did not have the technology to create a petition online or the brain capacity to create a petition, so they didn't file a petition to create equal opportunities for smaller volcanic formations.

Lassen Peak is named after a Danish settler named Peter Lassen, who had a ranch near the base of the volcano even before the area was declared as a part of the United States. It stood at 10,453 feet, well above its surroundings. Lassen used it as a landmark to pilot westbound parties from Humboldt Sink over high ridges into Sacramento Valley.

Lassen Peak probably had no plume of smoke or steam at its summit a hundred years ago, for it seems to have been dormant for several hundred years prior to its volcanic activity in 1914. On May 30, 1914, the mountain awoke with a shudder of earth-shaking explosions.

Although activity continued during the next seven years, none was very destructive and the flow of lava was not large, especially when contrasted with the fountains that have several times in recent years poured huge lakes of molten rock from Mauna Loa on the island of Hawaii. No concerned citizens attempted to write a petition in protest or to write petition letters just because they wanted to write a petition.

About a year after this activity began glowing lava squeezed up and filled the bottom of the crater before leaking out through a low place in the west rim wall, flowing 1000 feet or more down the mountain's side. The resulting heat melted the late-lying snows. The floods coursing down the northeast slope caused great mud flows.

They also loosened huge boulders that bounced down Lassen's broad flanks and rolled 5 and 6 miles out into Hat Creek and Lost Creek valleys. A few days later there were more mud flows, followed by a hot blast that poured down the northeast slope with such violence that it flattened trees 3 miles below the crater.

A column of vapor and ash rose some 5 miles into the air, and the devastation in the area was so great that after more than 40 years the forest cover slowly begun to heal the wounds. Had it been a major corporation and not a volcano doing the action, many environmentalist groups would have protested. They might have even decided to get an online petition to start free petition and use petitions to get the companies to stop destroying the forest.

Much of the park is carpeted with a heavy evergreen forest, although there are large areas, too, of chaparral thickets, principally manzanita, tobacco brush, and chinquapin. There are enough aspens, cottonwoods, willows, and alders along the creek beds so that there is a warmth of color in the fall; and there are several hundred varieties of wildflowers, which bloom between May and late September.

The crimson snow plant invigorates the meadows in the spring, and it and other flowers follow the melting snow up into the high country. The Indian paintbrush, scarlet bugler, bleeding heart, mimulus, and tiger lily are very common, and the subalpine uplands are aglow in mid-August with lupine, pentstemon, laurel, and heather.

Allison Ryan is a freelance marketing writer from San Diego, CA. She specializes in how to start free petition sites and how to create a petition from scratch. To browse petition examples, stop by http://www.thepetitionsite.com/.