Acai berry is also a potent cancer fighter. One of the herbal products is obtained from Acai plant this plant is known as tree of life. The plant products are also given as diet supplements and are best known antioxidants. Acai have been scientifically proved to be anti aging products. All the parts of the acai tree are useful including stem, fruit, etc.

Acai berry is seen as a treatment alternative to chemical treatment. Juices from the berries of Acai plant are helpful in reducing the speed of aging process. Acai plant is also called as nature’s perfect food; it has been clinically proved in certain quarters to fight cancer.

Acai has been around for years and has only recently become a fad with modern society being advertised as a super food. It has a short shelf life, and extracts may not always be pure but a component which means you’re not getting the real acai deal, so, beware of commercial acai ventures.

The idea between having a private garden is to create a space that provides you with a creativity zone, and lets you be one with nature in these busy times. To make your garden a really lovable place, you can choose to work with multiple accessories designed especially for your garden. Among these, there’s a range of weathervanes that apart from serving their purpose are a great decoration that can stand the test of changing weather conditions, and continues to hang in place for as long as you need.

Who said you needed to have pets in order to invest in bird houses. You can have one of these and fill it with water and bird feed regularly and soon you’ll see a number of colorful friends making regular stops, feeding, feasting, bathing, and playing in your garden making the place more lively than you would have ever imagined.

Rain chains are certainly cute accessories. As the name suggests, they can be hung in your garden to add glamor. These chains are available in various designs and colors, as well as varying lengths. They’re a rather decorative replacement for your gutter downspout, and it’s a joy to watch raindrops flow down these channels drop by drop, adding to the charm of the season, and can certainly be a focal point of attention.

The concept of using dried flowers is a rather modern concept and preference. The practice of drying flowers is age-old and many youngsters tend to preserve their first Valentine’s Day roses. Though done with the intention of preservation, very often, the dried varieties lose their color, tend to come apart and worse still, develop cracks. Hence, when discussing dried flower shops, it is advisable for potential customers to verify the company’s reputation and policies.

Dried flower shops specialize in flower wreaths, swags and flower arrangements. They also offer beautiful dried flower wedding bouquets. These are highly valued as they allow people to preserve the special memories of their weddings. Dried flower arrangements can be preserved, without the fear of degeneration, by following instruction manuals.

Dried flower shops offer gift baskets, which comprise of dried flower potpourris. Apart from this, they are made available when combined with other gift items. This includes photo frames and writing pads.

The design of a Japanese garden is enhanced by the many direction specific and symbolic elements used. The stone lantern is flaunted all over the garden and each one is designed differently. Initially, they used to be placed in the garden as sources of light. The lanterns are now used for decorative purpose. The Pagoda is usually five stories tall, with each story representing the natural elements, earth, water, fire and wind.

The moon-bridge is a common sight at the San Francisco Japanese Garden. It goes over the special ‘ Strolling Pond’. These bridges are delicate creations of exquisite workmanship. There are stone lions positioned at the entrance of the garden, to protect the garden from intruders. The gardens are designed on the Zen philosophy. The male lion has his foot on a ball, to signify power. The two statues represent the yin and the yang, the two opposing forces of fire and water.

The water basin is also referred to as the ‘Deer Chaser’. The sound emitted by a bamboo stick that fills with water and strikes the basin is supposed to chase away the negative ‘chi’ and keep the water level from receding. The fish called ‘koi’ are used as decorations in the ponds within the Japanese Gardens.

Japanese gardens are very significant in the traditional Japanese lifestyle. The purpose of these gardens is to flaunt the flora and fauna with a touch of creativity. The Japanese gardens have an ancient history, influenced by Shinto, Buddhist and Taoist teachings. These teachings used in the designing of the Japanese Gardens invoke a spiritual feeling to the whole experience. The Buddhist influence is one that carries the mysticism, allowing people to look back and reflect or meditate.

The necessary elements to a Japanese garden are flowing water, the carefully chosen plants, stones, waterfalls, trees and bridges. The designer has to follow the ancient Japanese symbolism, however, he is free to express his originality through the design.

The Japanese Tea Garden

The Japanese Tea Garden comprises of two parts, an outer garden and the inner one. There is also the traditional teahouse, stones, stone lanterns and the traditional stone water basins. They are symbolic and even their positioning is direction specific.

The inner Japanese garden is a private garden, surrounding the Teahouse and it can be observed only from the Tea House. The outer garden or ‘soto roji’ serves as the parlor area for guests. The host greets the guests as they relax on wooden benches, with straw cushions. If the weather is cold, a teaburi, a kind of heat radiator is used, to keep guests warm. As a sign of ritual purification, the guests are requested to wash their hands and rinse their mouths, before they enter the garden.

These bright colored blooming flowers commonly used for decorative purposes are commonly referred to as buttercups. They are commonly found throughout the pacific region in northern Alaska, British Columbia, and California. They generally occur on lands with moderate climate, but are also known to flower at heights above 3000 m above the sea level.

They are commonly found on both dry surfaces and on wetlands like ponds, streams, and water filled ditches. Ranunculus are often dubbed as “little frog” because of their close proximity to water bodies. They are available in six different colors namely violet, cream, red, pink, yellow and orange. The leaves of the plant are finely divided and tend to float above the water surface in a cluster. The flowers are generally 10-20mm wide and are generally found on single stocks. The stems generally remain submerged in water, and are quite fragile and need great care since they measure only about 1 m in length and 1-2 mm in thickness.

Scientific classification
Kingdom     Plantae
Division     Magnoliophyta
Class     Magnoliopsida
Order     Ranunculales
Genus     Ranunculus
Family Scientific Name     Ranunculaceae
Family Common Name     Buttercup

Cultivation: Ranunculus can be cultivated both in the open field, as well as, in pots. While cultivating ranunculus care should be taken to choose a ground with good drainage system which receives sufficient sunlight during the day time. Ranunculus should be planted into holes about 2 meters deep and positioned at least 4 meters apart from one another. The side of the bulb resembling a banana should face the ground. Regular watering will help the roots to sprout by the end of autumn, and flowers can be seen at the beginning of spring. After completing one season cycle, the plant prefers to lie dormant and it is advisable to leave the foliage in its place so that they can gather sunlight and nourishment for the cold winter months.

Propagation: Ranunculus was primarily propagated as a field grown cut flower. However, with its wide spread popularity, many varieties of seed propagated Ranunculus were developed. Ideal temperature  required for the germination of the seeds are between 50-60º F. Light is not required during the process of germination, however, care should be taken to keep the seeds sufficiently moist during this period. After a period of 8 weeks, fertilizers should be used in low amounts to provide nourishment to the newly germinating plant.

Varieties: Firstly, we have the Ranunculus Asiaticus known as the most primitive form of ranunculus flowers. They are mainly known for their smaller stature and more widespread petals like that of the rose. Secondly, there is Ranunculus Africanus which blooms earlier, and is relatively easier to grow. The flowers produced from this variety are more convex in shape. The third variety is called Ranunculus aconitifolius popularly known as ‘bachelor’s button’. They are generally available in central Europe, and are known for its pure white flowers with 5 lobbed leaves. The forth variety is called Ranunculus acris or crowfeet. These bright yellow flowers are the most common variety of buttercups found around the world. The fifth variety is Ranunculus bulbosus and it is commonly found on the plains of southern England. The sixth variety called Ranunculus Lingua grows on watery areas, and is regarded as the most beautiful among all the varieties of ranunculus available. The seventh variety is called Ranunculus aqudtilis or water buttercups. They are typical examples of perennial species of ranunculus characterized by rounded leafs and white flowers. The last variety is called Ranunculus Ficaria, which bears strong resemblance to a typical spring flower with bright lustrous petals, and glistening cordate leaves.

Disease and Cure: The most common types of insect that invade the Ranunculus plants are Aphids, Leaf Miner White Fly, Spider Mites, and Thrips. An effective use of pesticides can help avoid wilt, botrytis, and powdery mildew.  The best way to protect these tender plants is to provide them with proper care and nutrition. Moderate temperatures and moist soil beds facilitate their growth, while harsh weather and excessive use of fertilizers often result in stunted growth and untimely death of the plant.