Crystal balls banned

If you have these crystal balls also known as Jelly Ball, Crystal Jelly, Baby Jelly, Baby Crystal and Crystal Soil at home and within reach of small children, you may want to get rid of them or move them away out of reach. These jelly balls are used to facilitate the growth of a plant or as a decoration in a pot.

The government has decided to ban their sale after receiving reports from the Kuala Lumpur Hospital and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital of several cases of major surgery involving children aged one to five who were believed to have swallowed the "crystal balls." The ban takes effect from Friday, which is tomorrow.

Symptoms experienced from swallowing these jelly-like balls include vomiting, constipation, bloating of the stomach, abdominal pains, bowel obstructions and intestinal leakage.

Poland and Italy have banned the crystal balls last year.


Source: 'Crystal ball' seed-growing kits banned, The Star

Get a Greenhouse for planting all-year-round

Extremes of temperatures make planting all-year-round impossible but not if you have a Greenhouse. According to Wikipedia, growing of vegetables in an environment similar to that of a greenhouse's existed as far back as the Roman times. However, the first modern greenhouses were built in Italy in the 13th century to house the exotic plants that explorers brought back from the tropics.

Basically, what greenhouses do is that they protect crops from too much heat or cold, shield plants from dust storms and blizzards, and help keep out pests. Light and temperature control allows greenhouses to turn inarable land into arable land, thereby improving food production in marginal environments. Many vegetables and flowers are grown in greenhouses in late winter and early spring, and then transplanted outside when weather conditions are more conducive for the plants.

If you are planning to set up a greenhouse, here is a site that can help you. Not only does Gothic Arch Greenhouses supply greenhouses and they do have many different types, Gothic Arch Greenhouses has a wide selection of Greenhouse Supplies to ensure your greenhouse operates at its optimal level for whatever crops and plants you are planting whether you are a backyard hobbyist or a commercial planter.

Gothic Arch Greenhouse is a family business and has been in the business for more than 65 years. With their exemplary customer service and their expertise, whether it's a greenhouse, greenhouse supplies or even Greenhouse Kits you need, I'm sure you will find it here at Gothic Arch Greenhouses. Happy planting!

Peas & Bees, Iris flowers and a traditional wedding in Japan

Isn't it nice to be remembered on your 189th birthday? Today is the 189th birthday of Gregor Mendel and Google is celebrating it with a logo honoring the scientist and his work.

A little information about Gregor Mendel from Wikipedia:

Gregor Johann Mendel (July 20, 1822[1] – January 6, 1884) was a Czech-German Augustinian friar and scientist, who gained posthumous fame as the figurehead of the new science of genetics for his study of the inheritance of certain traits in pea plants. Mendel showed that the inheritance of these traits follows particular laws, which were later named after him. The significance of Mendel's work was not recognized until the turn of the 20th century. The independent rediscovery of these laws formed the foundation of the modern science of genetics.

While we are on peas and bees, let me tip you off on a million beautiful iris plants of 500 varieties and a lovely wedding tradition in Japan on Pandabonium's site. PandaB shoots very nice pictures. Enjoy the site!

Grow Sunflowers

Probably next year, the northeasterm region of Japan will appear attractively yellow seen from space. This is because, folks in that region have been asked to grow sunflowers. The call to plant this radiant yellow flower is related to the Fukushima nuclear disaster that followed March's earthquake and tsunami. Sunflowers can help decontaminate radioactive soil.

Volunteers are being asked to grow the flowers then send the seeds to the stricken area, where they will be planted next year to help get rid of radioactive contaminants in the plant's fallout zone.

Thousands of sunflower seeds have been sold including to the city of Yokohama, which is growing sunflowers in 200 parks.

On the home-front, yellow is no longer a tricky color to wear as yellow attire but without the Bersih logo is now allowed according to Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Khalid Abu Bakar.

For foreign readers, Bersih means Clean in the local language. The rally recently held on July 9 is a call by Bersih, an NGO, for Clean and Fair elections advocating electoral reforms.


Image source: Wikipedia

Of Flower Festivals, Earphones and a Lightning disaster

The Met department a few days ago forecasted thunderstorms this week and that hopefully they would clear the haze in the country. Yesterday evening, we experienced strong winds and a thunderstorm in the Klang Valley. The atmosphere is clearer today as a result and if you are in the vicinity and are a flowers and garden enthusiast, probably a great day to spend at the Flowers and Parks Festival at Putrajaya which ends tomorrow. Stay a little later after sundown, you'll get to enjoy the river floats all beautifully-lit and decorated with flowers, of course.

On the subject of weather and thunderstorms, here is an interesting article spotted in The Star about the danger of using the earphone when there is lightning. Good to take note and spread the word.

KUCHING: If you are in the habit of moving around with the earphone of your handset stuck in your ears, an incident here yesterday will have you thinking twice about doing that.

It was about 5pm and a mosque cleaner at a teachers' training school at Jalan Batu Lintang was happily working away with the earphone of his handset plugged in his ears when lightning struck.

A source said in the split-second incident, the youth, 18, was flung to the floor, and friends who came to his rescue were shocked to see what used to be his handphone looking like a mere lump of metal. Apparently, it had instantly melted and then hardened.

A lecturer rushed the unconscious youth to the Sarawak General Hospital.

The source said there were clear burn marks on the youth's ears.

At press time, he was still in critical condition.

Grow apple trees in your yard

Almost all houses here that have land around their property have at least a fruit tree or two on their land or compound. Ever noticed that? In our climate, mangoes, rambutans, guavas, even durians are the common fruit trees grown. Grapes have also been added of late when people discovered that grapes can also be grown in our tropical climate. There is no denying how amazing a fruit can taste when it’s picked straight from the fruit trees or fruit plants.

If you are looking out for a fruit tree or two to plant or have an orchard and are planning to increase your crop and variety, Willis Orchards may be just the site for you. They have a wide selection of fruit trees for sale - from apple trees to apricot trees, kiwi to pears, bananas to passion fruit, and more.

Besides fruit trees, you can also find berry plants - strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, elderberries, and more. Berries are delicious and so very healthy for your body. Berries are high in vitamins and antioxidants which in recent years have driven the high demand for the products and the subsequent high prices at grocery stores.

Grape vines are also available at Willis Orchards. Check out the different varieties of grapes that they have. If nuts are your interest, you can find almond trees, pecan trees, chestnut trees and more. Need some flowering trees, shade trees or palm trees to spruce up your garden landscaping? They do have them too, lots of varieties to choose from. Bamboo plants are also available and you would be surprised at the many species of bamboo plants they carry - from Golden Goddess Bamboo plant to Black Bamboo plant, American Native Bamboo plant, Japanese Timber Bamboo plant, just to name a few. Willis Orchards, definitely a site to check out. Bookmark it!