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Take a look at new shoots growing on a favorite shrub or vine and you'll see that the bases of these shoots may be beginning to toughen up, their once soft, green outer layer turning brown and woody.
Such shoots, snipped from the mother plants as so-called half-woody cuttings, can be rooted to make new plants.
Cuttings made from shoots still soft and green are called softwood cuttings. Those cut from thoroughly woody, leafless shoots taken in winter are called hardwood cuttings.
Plant hormones, called auxins, play an important role in rooting any of these kinds of cuttings. Under natural conditions, auxins are produced in the buds and growing tips of plants, and are then carried down stems in decreasing concentrations. If you apply auxins directly to the bases of your cuttings, rooting can be hurried along, and you get an increase in the percentage of cuttings that root as well as the number and quality of roots that form.
Natural auxins, once extracted from a plant, decompose too quickly to be of practical use. But we can still use auxins by applying commercially available, synthetic ones, such as IBA and NAA, which are slower to degrade.
These synthetic rooting hormones are available either in liquid or powder form. Concentrations and combinations of auxins will vary with the manufacturer, with higher auxin concentrations generally are used for more difficult-to-root species. Fungicides may be added to prevent cuttings from rotting.
Apply a powdered rooting hormone by dipping the base of a cutting into the powder, tapping it to shake off excess, and then sliding the cutting into a hole without brushing off the powder. Because varying amounts of powder might adhere to a cutting, rooting response to powdered hormone preparations is less consistent than it is to liquid ones.
Liquid rooting hormones also are more rapidly absorbed than powdered formulations. Merely soak the bases of cuttings in the liquid formulations. The soaking time required depends on the hormone concentration.
Whether you use powders or liquids to promote rooting, pour only as much material as you need into a clean container, then discard that portion after use. Eventually, the materials do deteriorate. An easy way to test whether a material is still good to use is to snip a leaf from a tomato plant, treat its base, then poke the base into moist sand or potting soil. If the preparation is still good, abundant roots will have formed after a couple of weeks.
You don't have to go out and buy rooting hormone to root cuttings. Before commercial, synthetic auxins became available, some savvy gardeners would help rooting along by soaking cuttings in water in which stems of willow, an easy-to-root plant, had previously been soaked.
And rooting hormones, whether from a package or from willow stems, are not essential in propagation, nor do they perform magic. No need to use them for propagating willows, chrysanthemums and other species that are so easy to root. And don't waste your time trying to root stems from a mature apple or maple tree, or other plants that just do not root from conventional cuttings.
The ultimate size and vigor of a plant will be unaffected by whether or not hormones were applied during propagation. Rooting hormones also won't make up for poor propagation practices. You must still pay close attention to how you take a cutting, to the rooting medium you use, and to moisture, light and humidity.
And always follow directions closely for a particular rooting hormone preparation because hormones can be toxic to plants at certain doses. Another synthetic auxin — 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid — is better known as 2,4-D, a widely used weed killer.


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Artwork description:
Ink on paper
Reminder: receive a surprise GIFT with any 3 or more of my artworks ordered at the same time!
Please check my store front for available discounts and offers.
Materials used:
ink and pencil on paper
#hair style #portrait #woman #drawing #face #figure #paper #sitting #pensive
In the Hair, 29x41 cm (2002)
Ink drawing by Frederic Belaubre
- Ink drawing on Paper
- One of a kind artwork
- Size: 11.42 x 16.14 in (unframed)
- Signed on the front
- Style: Illustrative
- Subject: People and portraits
This artwork is sold by Frederic Belaubre from France

subset: commoncrawl


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VANCOUVER, WA — The company that purchased some of the assets of Nautilus Inc.'s StairMaster and Schwinn Fitness commercial line last month has puzzled many in the industry.
Few people know details about Fit Dragon International Ltd. The company does not have a Web site listing. Even the public relations department for Nautilus — as of press time — had no additional information about Fit Dragon.
In transactions that were scheduled to close late last month, the Nautilus assets were sold to Fit Dragon for $12.3 million. Nautilus nets $10.9 million of the purchase, and Fit Dragon assumes $1.4 million in liabilities.
Nautilus had announced last August that it would divest its commercial business to focus on its consumer (retail and direct) business.
The sale to Fit Dragon includes the licensing of indoor cycling products from the Schwinn Fitness brand for commercial use. Nautilus will retain certain rights to the Schwinn brand and will continue to market Schwinn fitness products in the consumer market.
The Vancouver, WA-based company also will retain certain rights to sell StairMaster products in the retail and direct-to-consumer markets.
"We believe this is an important step towards our goal of focusing exclusively on our direct and retail channels," Nautilus CEO Edward Bramson said in a press release. "The Schwinn and StairMaster brands and products have been an important part of the commercial marketplace, and we are pleased that these products will continue to be available for health clubs and fitness centers for the future. We are confident that Fit Dragon will be an excellent supplier to the commercial markets, and we will work aggressively with them to support an effective transition of our StairMaster and Schwinn indoor cycling commercial products and service."
The press release, which Nautilus produced, did not include a comment from a Fit Dragon official.
Nautilus also stated that it is continuing to work with Robert W. Baird & Co., an employee-owned financial services firm, to divest its remaining commercial assets, including its strength and cardio lines and its manufacturing plant in Independence, VA.


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Blush Perfection Roses in Crystal Vase
When trying to pick a name for our one-of-a-kind arrangement, only one word seemed to capture it: "Perfection". Gathered in our glittering prism vase crafted from sparkling crystals, the stunning bouquet of three dozen long-stem pink roses is an expression of love and affection they'll always remember. Add a dazzling SWAROVSKI® heart pendant necklace for a truly unforgettable surprise.
Add to her gift:


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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), under the Department of Homeland Security, spawned the National Preparedness Month in 2004 in an attempt to encourage Americans to prepare for such disasters as mentioned above. When I consider my own preparedness, and I am consider well counseled as identified by my many hours of training with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and by virtue of my Master USCG License, I was appalled at my own lack of readiness for natural disasters.
Living in the hurricane alley of the northeast, we are regularly hit by not only hurricanes, but nor'easters, as well as the aftermath of nearly every hurricane or storm that hits any part of the east coast. These two points (my USCG training and my geographic area) might make you think that I would be exceptionally well prepared for any such disaster – unfortunately, this is not the case. I had to look for flashlights, and to have any emergency water supply on hand, I would have been reduced to taking water from my pool (ever drink pool water, yuck!).
Needless to say, I was not prepared and I would venture to guess that many of those reading this article are equally unprepared. A Citizens Corporation National Survey of 2009, showed that only 57% of Americans surveyed reported having supplies set aside in their homes just for disasters, and only 44% have a household emergency plan.
All families should:
With regard to business response to an unexpected disaster, you should:
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Preparedness_Month
At Visiting Angels, we too have felt the serious impact of many natural disasters. Our family and friends, which includes our franchisees and their staff, our clients, our care recipients, and our caregivers; have been exposed to a plethora of floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, terrorist attacks, and other devastations. One goal of the Department of Homeland Security is to "educate the public about how to prepare for emergencies, including natural disasters, mass casualties, biological and chemical threats, radiation emergencies and terrorist's attacks." (Ibid.) As President Obama said in his Proclamation speech, "I encourage all Americans to recognize the importance of preparedness and observe this month by working together to enhance our national security, resilience, and readiness."
Below are a few websites that will you direct you to information focused on helping you to get prepared – read them and implement their suggestions. You really never know when YOU will be the one in need!!!
If you haven't done so already … Get Started. Be Prepared. Learn More about Disaster Preparedness and visit our Brochure Library. Click here
More Hints, Tips & Advice
You are a lovely person, and it's been a real pleasure to meet you and to be a part of your organization.
You are a lovely person, and it's been a real pleasure to meet you and to be a part of your organization.


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The ruling African National Congress bridled at news media scrutiny of its record on poverty, crime, and corruption, which raised concerns about the durability of post-apartheid democratic reforms. In June, the government announced a new policy to use state advertising expenditures to reward supportive media outlets. Members of the ANC's youth wing tried to intimidate media outlets that examined the affluent lifestyle and private business dealings of its fiery former leader, Julius Malema. Youth members assaulted journalists covering Malema's appearance at a party hearing convened to discuss his hard-line statements. President Jacob Zuma, who traveled to Libya twice in support of Muammar Qaddafi, was criticized for failing to hold Libyan officials accountable in the case of Anton Hammerl. Loyalist forces killed the South African photojournalist in April, but Libyan officials withheld information about Hammerl's death for many weeks. In October, South African officials acknowledged that police had tapped the phone conversations of journalists Mwazili Wa Afrika and Stephan Hofstatter. The two faced persistent threats and intimidation related to a 2010 story on police corruption. The ANC pushed several restrictive legislative measures, including a bill that would allow officials to classify virtually any piece of government information in the name of "national interest." The National Assembly approved the bill in November, sending it to the National Council of Provinces for consideration in late year.
Assaults against journalists increased sharply in 2011, CPJ research shows. Members of the ANC's Youth League were believed to be responsible for about two-thirds of the assaults.
President Zuma has made a practice of intimidating the press through defamation suits. Although no lawsuits were reported in 2011, local news outlets documented a series of defamation complaints filed by Zuma over the past several years.
Throughout 2011, the ANC Youth League issued statements demonizing the independent press. In at least 10 statements, the youth league accused the private press of unprofessional or unethical activities.
Some salvos from 2011:
June 2011: The youth league accused the South African National Editors Forum of "false reporting and spreading of lies."
July 2011: A statement accused the independent press of spreading "stupid and pathetic lies about the leadership of the ANC Youth League" after media reported that the group was building a costly residence.
July 2011: Malema called the independent press "illiterate and uneducated" after City Press accused the youth league leader of corruption. Malema sought an injunction to block the story, but City Press was able to rebuff the effort, according to local reports.
October 2011: A statement said the private station Talk 702 and the private daily Sowetan had spread "desperate and disgusting lies." They had reported that Malema used a vehicle instead of walking with protesters during a protest march.
The National Assembly considered at least four bills in 2011 that would restrict press freedom, according to local journalists and the Media Institute of Southern Africa. Despite heavy local and international criticism, ANC leaders insisted that broad, new media legislation was needed.
Four restrictive bills:
Protection of Information Bill: Often dubbed the "secrecy bill," it would allow authorities wide discretion to classify information deemed "in the national interest." Journalists who report on classified information would face up to 25 years in prison.
Protection from Harassment Bill: The measure would bar individuals, including journalists, from pursuing someone in a way vaguely described as unreasonable. The South African National Editors Forum said the legislation could be used to block journalists' inquiries. A five-year prison penalty was proposed.
Public Services Broadcasting Bill: The measure would provide the government wide powers to regulate broadcast content, local journalists told CPJ. The legislation also obligated community radio stations to partner with local governments, locate their studios at municipal offices, and have government officials serve on their boards.
Independent Communications Authority Act Amendment Bill: Local journalists were concerned the legislation would undermine the independence of the authority, which oversees electronic and broadcast licenses. The proposal would allow the Information Ministry to appoint and evaluate members of the authority.
Internet use has crept upward since 2005, according to the World Bank Development Indicators. With a population of nearly 50 million, though, South Africa offered considerable untapped Internet potential.


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No, Clevelanders aren't bitter at all about LeBron James claiming his second straight NBA title. We're sure WEWS chief meteorologist Mark Johnson excised the word "heat" from last night's postgame late local news forecast for reasons entirely unrelated to basketball.
Johnson—who's been at the Cleveland ABC affiliate since 1993—eventually ran out of adjectives, relying at the end on "Ninja Turtles" as a substitute for describing what is most certainly hot North Coast weather. It's a good thing LeBron chose Miami instead of the Lakers for his destination, though; that would have made it near-impossible for him to deliver the marine forecast. [WEWS]