Thursday, June 26, 2014
Monday, June 2, 2014
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Bonsai Styles
Bonsai styling breaks into two groups, single trunk and multiple-trunked. In
the single trunk styles there are four main groups…
In the multiple trunks styles there are styles that incorporate two or more plants in one pot; these include…
1.
Chokkan Style (Formal
upright)
This is a most complex style with very specific rules for branch placement, pot selection and such. It is NOT a style for beginners, and even experienced artists approach this one with caution. Some of the sub-categories of uprights include:
This is a most complex style with very specific rules for branch placement, pot selection and such. It is NOT a style for beginners, and even experienced artists approach this one with caution. Some of the sub-categories of uprights include:
Tachiki - (Informal upright, the style I feel
suits most beginners)
Hokidachi - (Broom Style)
Sabamiki - (Split Trunk)
Saramiki - (exposed trunk, the bark is MOSTLY
stripped off)
Sekijôju - (Root over Rock; the plant is grown
over a rock and into the soil of a pot)
Ishitsuki - (planted in crevices in a rock)
Neagari - (exposed root, like a mangrove)
2.
Shakan Style (Slanting
Style)
This style is fairly common and not too esoteric for the budding enthusiast. Some other similar styles include Bunjingi or Literati Style (a few branches at the top of a long slanted trunk, usually in a small, shallow pot), and Fukinagashi Style (Windswept Style, with all the branches coming off one side of the trunk).
This style is fairly common and not too esoteric for the budding enthusiast. Some other similar styles include Bunjingi or Literati Style (a few branches at the top of a long slanted trunk, usually in a small, shallow pot), and Fukinagashi Style (Windswept Style, with all the branches coming off one side of the trunk).
3.
Kengai Style
The Cascade Style is easily recognized as the trunk dips below the bottom of the pot. Two other styles that are offshoots are Dai Kengai, the formal cascade, where the first branch plunges down below the bottom of the pot, but the rest of the branching proceeds as a Formal upright, and Han Kengai, or Semi-cascade, where the trunk descends below the rim of the pot, often in a windswept style.
The Cascade Style is easily recognized as the trunk dips below the bottom of the pot. Two other styles that are offshoots are Dai Kengai, the formal cascade, where the first branch plunges down below the bottom of the pot, but the rest of the branching proceeds as a Formal upright, and Han Kengai, or Semi-cascade, where the trunk descends below the rim of the pot, often in a windswept style.
4.
Bankan Style
The Twisted Style is probably closest to what came over from China; the Chinese are very fond of this style and often refer to them as “dragon” trees (In Feng Shui, the Green Dragon is an auspicious presence in the garden) especially in the East). The tree coils around itself like a Chinese dragon The secondary styles for this one include Nejikan, or partially twisted style where the trunk does not make a complete turn on itself, and the little seen Takzukuri Style, or Octopus, where even the branching is twisted on itself from a very distorted trunk
The Twisted Style is probably closest to what came over from China; the Chinese are very fond of this style and often refer to them as “dragon” trees (In Feng Shui, the Green Dragon is an auspicious presence in the garden) especially in the East). The tree coils around itself like a Chinese dragon The secondary styles for this one include Nejikan, or partially twisted style where the trunk does not make a complete turn on itself, and the little seen Takzukuri Style, or Octopus, where even the branching is twisted on itself from a very distorted trunk
In the multiple trunks styles there are styles that incorporate two or more plants in one pot; these include…
1.
Soju Style
Two Trunks Style is usually used in the Wedded configuration with one trunk subservient to the other. An adjunct of Two Trunks is Sôkan Style, or double trunk, where one trunk splits just above the soil line and the two branches are treated as separate trees.
Two Trunks Style is usually used in the Wedded configuration with one trunk subservient to the other. An adjunct of Two Trunks is Sôkan Style, or double trunk, where one trunk splits just above the soil line and the two branches are treated as separate trees.
2.
Yôse Style
Group plantings are denoted by how many trunks are in the planting. Sambon-Yôse (3 trunks), Gohon-Yôse (5), Nanahon-Yôse (7) and Kyuhon-Yôse (9) are the usual groupings. These groups are all done with roughly the same caliper plants Yôse-Ue Style is any group with more than nine trunks; Yomayose Style is a naturalistic grouping with different calipers and heights of trees. All these different styles have a corresponding Kabudachi style, where the different trunks all spring from a single root, and a Tsukami-Yôse style, where the different trunks all spring from the middle of the pot.
Group plantings are denoted by how many trunks are in the planting. Sambon-Yôse (3 trunks), Gohon-Yôse (5), Nanahon-Yôse (7) and Kyuhon-Yôse (9) are the usual groupings. These groups are all done with roughly the same caliper plants Yôse-Ue Style is any group with more than nine trunks; Yomayose Style is a naturalistic grouping with different calipers and heights of trees. All these different styles have a corresponding Kabudachi style, where the different trunks all spring from a single root, and a Tsukami-Yôse style, where the different trunks all spring from the middle of the pot.
3.
Kôrabuki Style
Raft Style copies that tree we’ve all seen that has fallen over and the branches on one side have all grown as individual trees. In this first style the trunk rest partially below the soil level. The Ikadabuki, or Straight Line Style keeps the trunk (at least the middle) wholly out of the soil and straight, as the name suggests. Netsunagari Style is the Sinuous Style where the root twists and winds through the pot and the trunks are more twisted.
Raft Style copies that tree we’ve all seen that has fallen over and the branches on one side have all grown as individual trees. In this first style the trunk rest partially below the soil level. The Ikadabuki, or Straight Line Style keeps the trunk (at least the middle) wholly out of the soil and straight, as the name suggests. Netsunagari Style is the Sinuous Style where the root twists and winds through the pot and the trunks are more twisted.
Other Bonsai
groups
There are some other groups we
should touch on as they are often seen in conjunction with displayed
bonsai.
1.
Bonkei
Bonkei, or landscape trays, often include a small pruned tree, along with rock, mosses, grass and other perennials, water and little figurines. The Chinese still like the occasional figure or under-planting with their pen tsai, but the Japanese frown on it and relegate it to it’s own slot, a decidedly lower slot than bonsai (If you brought a tree to a judged show with a figure in it, they won’t throw you out, but you lose BIG points. And that’s internationally in the bonsai world…)
Bonkei, or landscape trays, often include a small pruned tree, along with rock, mosses, grass and other perennials, water and little figurines. The Chinese still like the occasional figure or under-planting with their pen tsai, but the Japanese frown on it and relegate it to it’s own slot, a decidedly lower slot than bonsai (If you brought a tree to a judged show with a figure in it, they won’t throw you out, but you lose BIG points. And that’s internationally in the bonsai world…)
2.
Kusamomo
Kusamomo plantings are small tray plantings of grass or bulbs used as a compliment to bonsai displays.
Kusamomo plantings are small tray plantings of grass or bulbs used as a compliment to bonsai displays.
3.
Suiseki
Suiseki are miniature mountains, displayed on beautifully carved wooden stands called daiza. Rocks are selected for their appearance as a mountain, hill, a hut, island or even an animal. One cut is allowed to give a flat side to rest upon, and the daiza is custom fit to the stone. More cuts or polishing the stone demotes it to biseki, or pretty stones, with the same loss of prestige that bonkei suffer. These are not bonsai, but can definitely add to your enjoyment of the real thing. And that's the key to Bonsai, to enjoy.
Photo Credit - http://www.bonsaiempire.com
Suiseki are miniature mountains, displayed on beautifully carved wooden stands called daiza. Rocks are selected for their appearance as a mountain, hill, a hut, island or even an animal. One cut is allowed to give a flat side to rest upon, and the daiza is custom fit to the stone. More cuts or polishing the stone demotes it to biseki, or pretty stones, with the same loss of prestige that bonkei suffer. These are not bonsai, but can definitely add to your enjoyment of the real thing. And that's the key to Bonsai, to enjoy.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Morse code
Morse Code is one of the main branch of Amateur Radio. Radiotelegraphy using Morse code, also known as
"CW" from "continuous
wave", is the wireless extension of land line (wired) telegraphy developed by Samuel Morse and dates to
the earliest days of radio. Although computer-based (digital) modes and methods
have largely replaced CW for commercial and military applications, many amateur
radio operators still enjoy using the CW mode—particularly on the shortwave bands and for
experimental work, such as earth-moon-earth
communication, because of its inherent signal-to-noise ratio
advantages. Morse, using internationally agreed message encoding such as the Q code, enables communication
between amateurs who speak different languages. It is also popular with homebrewers and
in particular with "QRP" or very-low-power enthusiasts, as CW-only
transmitters are simpler to construct, and the human ear-brain signal
processing system can pull weak CW signals out of the noise where voice signals
would be totally inaudible. A similar "legacy" mode popular with home
constructors is amplitude
modulation (AM), pursued by many vintage amateur radio
enthusiasts and aficionados of vacuum tube technology.
Demonstrating a proficiency in Morse code was for many years a requirement to obtain an amateur license to transmit on frequencies below 30 MHz. Following changes in international regulations in 2003, countries are no longer required to demand proficiency. The United States Federal Communications Commission, for example, phased out this requirement for all license classes on February 23, 2007. But in Sri Lanka, Telecommunications Regulation Commission of Sri Lanka retain the requirement of proficiency in Morse code for Advanced class license.
Demonstrating a proficiency in Morse code was for many years a requirement to obtain an amateur license to transmit on frequencies below 30 MHz. Following changes in international regulations in 2003, countries are no longer required to demand proficiency. The United States Federal Communications Commission, for example, phased out this requirement for all license classes on February 23, 2007. But in Sri Lanka, Telecommunications Regulation Commission of Sri Lanka retain the requirement of proficiency in Morse code for Advanced class license.
Photo credit - http://www.djibnet.com
Amateur Radio Operating
Amateur radio (also called ham radio) is the use of designated radio
frequency spectra for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial
exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and
emergency communication. The term "amateur" is used to specify persons
interested in radio technique solely with a personal aim and without
direct monetary or other similar reward, and to differentiate it from
commercial broadcasting, public safety (such as police and fire), or
professional two-way radio services (such as maritime, aviation, taxis,
etc.).
Photo credit :- http://wa8uns.blogspot.com/2011/04/is-775-eoc-management-and-operations.html
Photo credit :- http://wa8uns.blogspot.com/2011/04/is-775-eoc-management-and-operations.html
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