Saijiki for Europa ..... (WKD - EUROPE)

Welcome !

2009-12-31T23:58:00.000-08:00

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Welcome to the World Kigo Database !

... ... ... The Europa Saijiki
... ... ... Saijiki for Europe

Use your browser to find a word in this index..... OR
input your keyword or a possible synonym in the search winodw on the right side to search all files of the World Kigo Database.

© Gabi Greve

Alphabetical Index of the World Kigo Database

... ... ... … Please sign our GUESTBOOK …

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.. .. .. .. .. .. .. General Items

ENTRY: Submitting your Entry for a Kigo

Seasons and Categories Learn the Basics of World Kigo

Basic Haiku Theories

................. . Copyright Policy .

. Waitinglist . Add your entries here as a comment.

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Gateway to the European Union
.......................... Culture

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.......................... Countries in alphabetical order

Balkan Region

Haiku pages from Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro
Balkany, by Norman Darlington

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Belgium

Haikoe Centrum Vlaanderen (HCV)
Willy Vande Walle

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Bulgaria

Bulgarian Haiku Club
SOFIA
Bulgarian Haiku Club at Aozora

................. Poets in 2006

Nenni Ballina - Нени Балина
Ginka Biliarska - Гинка Билярска
Omilla-Tsveta Djagarova
Hristo Paunov Ke Pella
Kunka Radeva

Ginka Biliarska
http://www.worldhaiku.net/poetry/bul/g.biliarska.htm

Haiku from Bulgaria
Collection of the Europa Saijiki

Bulgarische Haiku zwischen Ost und West
Ginka Biliarska

BRIEF HISTORY OF BULGARIAN HAIKU
by Petar Tchouhov
Shamrock Shamrock Haiku Journal, Issue 4, 2007.

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Croatia

Karolina Rijecka - Haiku Society (Rijeka)
http://www.blogger.com/www.karolina-rijecka.com

Welcome to the Web Pages of the Croatian haiku poets association
Dobrodošli na stranice društva Hrvatskih haiku pjesnika

Haiku Society Rijeka was founded in Rijeka in 2000 with the aim of popularizing haiku poetry in this part of Croatia and in the world.
Haiku poets Siniša Posarić, Borivoj Bukva, Žarko Milenić and Ph. Dr. Jadran Zalokar established the Society. This Society organized traditional international haiku poets gatherings in Rijeka. Haiku poets from Rijeka have established collaborations with other Croatian haiku associations as well as with the world ones.
The first president of the Haiku Society Rijeka is Ph. Dr. Jadran Zalokar.
http://karolina-rijecka.com/

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The Association of Croatian Haiku Poets
Društvo hrvatskih haiku pjesnika
Višnji McMaster

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Dina Franin
http://members.tripod.com/~dina_hr/haikuen.htm

Iz zbirke
" U plavetnom beskraju / In blue infinity"
http://free-st.htnet.hr/NivesDelic/haiku-stokavski.htm

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Danmark

"Haiku på Dansk"

haikugruppen og haikunetværket
HaikuDanmark.dk

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France

Saijiki in French <> Saijiki francais. Créé par Laurent Mabesoone
ABC ... Index
... ... ... Le Saijiki du printemps en francais
... ... ... Le Saijiki de l'ete en francais
... ... ... Le Saïjiki de l'automne en français
... ... ... Le Saijiki de l'hiver en francais

Nekojita, Paris
Index
Japanese Haiku in French Translations
KIGO in French and Japanese

Poésie: Haïku

Association Française de Haiku

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Germany

GERMAN Saijiki, World Kigo Database Deutsches Saijiki

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Hamburger Haiku-Team:

Eindeutiger Bezug zu einer Jahreszeit durch Verwendung eines Jahreszeitenwortes (kigo)

Um dieses Kriterium gab und gibt es immer wieder Dispute, nicht nur bei uns, sondern auch in Japan. Jedoch sollte man das Setzen des Jahreszeitenthemas als Chance und als Hilfe begreifen, nicht als Einschränkung. Die lyrische Kürzestform hat sich nur entwickeln können, weil die Bedingungen für Imagination und Assoziationen mit einem Wort, dem Thema, gesetzt waren. Erst das kigo, das kidai schafft den Freiraum für den Dichter, in den restlichen ca. 2 ½ Zeilen das wirklich Wichtige, das Bedeutende und vor allem, das Neue zu sagen.
Kurz gesagt: Die Kurzform braucht Konventionen.
http://www.haiku.de/haiku2/navi/indexframe3_kriterien.html

Seit einem halben Jahr arbeitet dieses Team am Aufbau eines deutschsprachigen saijiki (Jahreszeitenlexikon) .
Deutsches Saijiki, Haiku heute

Deutsche Haiku Gesellschaft eV
http://haiku-dhg.kulturserver.de/

Haiku heute

Hamburger Haiku-Verlag (HHV)

Deutsche Haiku-Links / German Haiku LINKS

Der Sperling . Haiku Magazin
Hubertus Thum

Mundart-Haiku
Gesammelt von Claudia Brefeld

LINKS : Japan: Haiku

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Great Britain, England

The British Haiku Society was founded in 1990.

The BHS is pioneering the appreciation and writing of haiku in the UK, and has links also with similar organisations throughout the world.

There are currently approx. 300 members, four-fifths of whom live in the UK.

Members receive for their subscriptions the Society journal, Blithe Spirit, a newsletter called The Brief, a Members Address List, use of the Society's library (postal loans possible), various other occasional papers, and a vote at the AGM and biennial committee elections. Periodically members receive invitations to specially organised events, such as discussion groups, workshops and haiku walks, with a national conference held every year.

Our efforts in the fields of literature and education were recognised in 1996 by a Japan Festival Award (second place in tandem with Sadlers Wells Opera) the first prize being won by the British Museum.

The British Haiku Society

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Hungary

MAGYAR HAIKU KÖLTŐK ÖSSZEGYŰJTÖTT VERSEI

Már 1000 költő és műfordító több mint 25 000 haikuverse magyarul!
More : Haiku fórumok
http://haiku.hu/

Szerkeszti: Terebess Gábor
http://www.terebess.hu/haiku/magykezdo.html

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Haiku poetry in Hungary, Essay by Judit Vihar

Haiku from Hungary Collection of the Europa Saijiki

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Ireland

Read all the details here please:

WKD : Ireland Saijiki, Irish Saijiki

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Italy

Haiku & Zen

Italian Haiku-form
by Ronald A Pavellas

LINKS : Poesia: Haiku

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Lithuania

mėgėjiški haiku sau ir neabejingiems
amateur haiku for myself and loving people
Ričardas BLOG

„ Haiku Vilniui“

„ 4th World Haiku Association Conference“
Haiku News from Latviya 9.2007

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Poland

Magazyn i forum twórców haiku po polsku
http://haiku.az.pl/

Grzegorz Sionkowski about the Haiku Situation in Poland

LINKS : Poezja: Haiku

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Romania

ROMANIA Saijiki, World Kigo Database

Romanian Haiku Society (founded in 1991)
Florin Vasiliu, President

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Revista Societatii de HAIKU din Constanta
Ion Codrescu
http://aozora.tempslibres.org/en/asc/ahomecdr.html

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Romanian Poetry in Romanian, English, French, German, Swedish, Portuguese and Spanish
Poeţi Romanesi :
Poeţi Clasici, Poeţi Contemporani
http://www.romanianvoice.com/poezii/

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Romanian P o e t r y
Tudor Arghezi, Lucian Blaga, George Cosbuc, Mihai Eminescu, Adrian Paunescu
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/1978/Ro_poetry.html

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Romanian Journal for Japanese Studies
http://www.opensys.ro/rjjs/litterature.html

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Romanian KuKai
set up at 25 February 2007
http://romaniankukai.blogspot.com/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/romanianhaiku/

three sites for seasonal creations:

http://primavaratirzie.blogspot.com/
http://atanasiu.blogspot.com/
http://birindinbalada.blogspot.com/

Romanian Kukai
Update November 2007

with Corneliu Traian Atanasiu, Magdalena Dale and Maria Tirenescu

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WORLD HAIKU FESTIVAL: WHF 2005 in Romania
# 11 - 13

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Interview with Petre
De data aceasta, Flueraşu Petre ne rezervă plăcerea de a citi un interviu luat uneia din cele mai importante personalităţi din lumea haiku-ului, Gabi Greve, de naţionalitate germană, trăind însă de 30 de ani în Japonia. Traducerea în română este urmată de originalul în limba engleză.
Interviu cu Gabi Greve

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Russia

Russian on-line magazine "Ulitka"

The on-line magazine ULITKA (the SNAIL), published both in Russian and in English, is dedicated to the entire variety of haikai genres, predominantly to the haiku poetry. The main objective of the magazine is to familiarize its readers with the selected works of the Russian-speaking poets, as well as with the works of the most interesting authors writing in other languages.
We also plan to publish reviews, essays, critical and research articles on subjects related to haikai.

Интернет-журнал УЛИТКА, выходящий на русском и английском языках, ориентирован на современное многообразие жанров искусства хайкай, и прежде всего на поэзию хайку. Основная цель издания - знакомить читателя с творчеством русскоязычных поэтов, а также с произведениями наиболее интересных авторов, пишущих на других языках.
Редакция планирует также публиковать обзорные, критические, теоретические статьи и эссе на темы хайкай.

...................... Editors of ULITKA

Dmitry Kudrya Владислав Васильев
Alexander Kudryashov
Natalia Levy
Natalia Sedenkova
Vladislav Vassiliev
Elina Vitomskaya

January 2006
http://www.ulitka.haiku-do.com/

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Scotland

haiku in scots (with english versions adjacent)
John McDonald

http://zenspeug.blogspot.com

Haiku Scotland

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Serbia

Serbian Haiku Society
Dejan Bogojevic
http://www.tempslibres.org/aozora/en/asc/phome.html

Haiku Associations and Clubs in Serbia and Montenegro

Haiku Club "Shiki", Francuska 7, 11000 Belgrade,
President: Milenko D. Cirovic Ljuticki
Founded in 1992.

Haiku Club "Aleksandar Nejgebauer", 21000 Novi Sad
President: Ljiljana Petrovic
Founded in 1993.

Haiku Association of Serbia and Montenegro (HASMN),
Francuska 7, 11000 Belgrade
President: Milenko D. Cirovic Ljuticki
Founded in 1999.

"Haiku novine" /"Haiku Newspaper"/
Editor: Dragan J. Ristic
Ljubomira Nikolića 148/10, 18000 Nis

"Listak" /"Leaflet"/
Editor: Bogdanka Stojanovski
1300 kaplara 1, 21000 Novi Sad

"Lotos" /"Lotos"/
Editor: Dejan Bogojevic,
14202 Rajkovic, Valjevo

"Ljubicica" /"Violet"/
Editor: Ljubinka Tosic
Nemanjina 33, 31000 Uzice

"Maslacak" /"Dandelion"/
Editor: Bogoljub T. Mihajlovic
Bulevar Nemanjica 20/38, 18000 Nis

"Osvit" /"Daybreak"/ (HASMN's magazine)
Editor: Milenko D. Cirovic Ljuticki
Pante Tutundzica 7/st. 2, 11070 Belgrade

"Paun" /"Peacock"/
Editor: Milijan Despotovic
Brace Lekovica 9, p. fah. 29, 31210 Pozega

"Skoljka" /"Shell"/
Editor: Nelica Ivanovic
Jovana Tomasevica 7, 81000 Podgorica
Vladike Cirica 12/, 21000 Novi Sad

"Vesnik" /"Herald"/ (HASMN's bulletin)
Editor: Milenko D. Cirovic Ljuticki
Pante Tutundzica 7/st. 2, 11070 Belgrade

http://www.geocities.com/ana_vazic/associations.htm

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Skandinavia

Scandinavian Haiku / Essay
by By Helga Härle

Recently, the Swedish Haiku Society published its first all-swedish anthology of haiku, "Haiku.Förvandlingar" (Haiku.Transformations).
http://www.haikurymden.se/essay.htm

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Slovenia

HAIKU DRUŠTVO SLOVENIJE
HAIKU CLUB OF SLOVENIA (HCS)

Haiku Club of Slovenia was founded in September 1997. It currently numbers about 50 members.
HCS issues the literary magazine "LETNI ČASI" / "Seasons" twice a year (June & November).
Alenka Zorman, Ljubljana
http://www.tempslibres.org/hcs/letni/dhome.html

Haiku Drustvo Slovenije / Slovenian Haiku Association
Joze Volaric

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. SPOTTED WOODPECKER HAIKU .
BLOG of Borut Zupancic, Lubljana

. Ladybird Haiku .
BLOG of Polona Oblak, Lubljana

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Southeast Europe

....................................... Aozora
is an international project between haiku poets, societies and magazines from the South-east Europe.

AOZORA
Haiku Clubs and associations
Haiku Magazines
First European Haiku Meeting in Bad Nauheim (Germany)

Aozora Team :
Jasminka Nadaskic Diordievic, SB
Zoran Doderovic, SB
Serge Tome, BE
Alenka Zorman, SL

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Knots:
The Anthology of Southeastern European Haiku Poetry
by Jim Kacian and Dimitar Anakiev
Red Moon Press

Book Description
This seminal volume is the first collection of contemporary haiku from the war-torn Balkans available in English. Over 2500 poems in 23 languages were considered and translated to arrive at this volume featuring 125 poets and nearly 200 poems. The volume also marks the movement of poets away from Japanese models to a more contemporary and international style of writing.

About the Authors
Dimitar Anakiev is a poet and chess master living in Slovenia. He edits the haiku journal "Green Apples" and is widely published, mainly in Serbian. Jim Kacian is current editor of "Frogpond," the international journal of the Haiku Society of America. He is also editor in chief of the best-selling Red Moon Haiku Anthology series, and is the author of 4 books of haiku.
Amazon co jp

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Spain

Spanish Haiku from Paraguay

Spanish Haiku Web Resources
Millikin University

LINKS : Poesía: Haiku

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Sweden

The Swedish Haiku Society Svenska Haiku Sällskapet

The Swedish Haiku Society, a non-profit association, was established on 7 October 1999 in Stockholm.

Kai Falkman, President of the Swedish Haiku Society

The Swedish Haiku Society plans to organize the Second European Haiku Conference in the medieval town of Vadstena 8-10 June 2007.
The Swedish Haiku Society hopes that many haiku poets from Europe will come to the conference as well as some special guests from Japan and USA.

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Swedish Haiku

Anders Österling's review of Asatoro Miyamori's A anthology of Haiku ancient and modern in the daily Svenska Dagbladet (1933) was probably the first broader Swedish presentation of the genre. Österling gave a vivid description of "the shortest poem of the world" where he confessed not being too familiar with the subject. He mentions how the Japanese sense of humour makes him feel unsure - it can be hard to tell the serious from the fun in a poem where "the smile is so fleeting and discreet".

In 1959 the first edition of classical Japanese Haiku in Swedish translation appeared Haiku. Japansk miniatyrlyrik - thanks to the Romanian musician and translator Jan Vintilescu.

In 1961 the Swedish poet Bo Setterlind published a collection of short, haiku-inspired poems Några ord att fästa på siden. He was the first of several renown Swedish authors to show an active interest in haiku.

The next collection of Swedish haiku though, was to be written by a diplomat: the UN: s Secretary General, Dag Hammarsköld. After the plane crash that killed him the in Kongo in 1961, one found a manuscript entitled Vägmärken that was published in 1963: a diary-form collection of notes, observations and haiku verses. (Auden's not too faithful translation entitled Markings appeared in 1964).

Since japanologist Lars Vargö, editor of the Swedish Haiku Society's magazine Haiku, did publish Japansk haiku. Världens kortaste diktform, Swedish readers also have access to a comprehensive work that opens for a deeper understanding of what haiku really is about. Including translations of some three hundred modern Japanese haiku this book that appeared in 2003 not only introduces history and definitions, but also gives some clues to contemporary Japanese developments.

Read more here:
Kaj Falkman and Helga Härle
Stockholm, May 2005

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Yugoslavia

Grass and Heaven
Jasminka Nadaskic Diordievic
http://www.tempslibres.org/jasminka/en/

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Back to the Worldkigo Index
http://worldkigodatabase.blogspot.com/

Europa Saijiki - TOP

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Waitinglist

2009-12-30T23:25:00.000-08:00

nnnnnnnnnnnn TOP nnnnnnnnnnnnn

Waitinglist for the Europa Saijiki

Please add your submissions and additions as a comment!
I will pick them up from there.

Or

Submit a Kigo to the Europa Saijiki

Gabi Greve

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See the comments below for more kigo on the waiting list.

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Please send your contributions to Gabi Greve
worldkigo .....

Back to the WHC Worldkigo Index
http://worldkigodatabase.blogspot.com/

Elm tree

2008-06-08T17:27:00.000-07:00

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Elm tree

***** Location: Europa
***** Season: Non-seasonal topic
***** Category: Plant

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Explanation

Elms are deciduous and semi-deciduous trees comprising the genus Ulmus, family Ulmaceae, found throughout the Northern Hemisphere from Siberia to Indonesia, Mexico to Japan. Many species and cultivars have also been introduced as ornamentals to parts of the Southern Hemisphere, notably Australasia.

Elms have alternate, simple, single- or doubly-serrate leaves, usually asymmetric at the base and acuminate at the apex. They are hermaphroditic, having perfect flowers which, being wind-pollinated, are without petals. The fruit is a round wind-dispersed samara.

The other genera of the Ulmaceae are Zelkova (Zelkova) and Planera (Water Elm). Celtis (Hackberry or Nettle Tree), formerly included in the Ulmaceae, is now included in the family Cannabaceae.

Elm wood was valued for its interlocking grain, and consequent resistance to splitting, with significant uses in wheels, chair seats and coffins.

From the 18th century to the early 20th century, elms were among the most widely planted ornamental tree in both Europe and North America. They were particularly popular as a street tree in avenue plantings in towns and cities, creating high-tunnelled effects, and to this day, 'Elm Street' remains the most common road name in the USA.
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !

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Sacred Trees

In England the Elm tree was associated with elves.
It was also belived that the falling of leaves of the Elm out of season predicted disease among cattle.
The Elm was also used to cure cattle by means of the "Need fire".
Elm leaves have also been used for centuries for medicinal purposes.
Herbalists still use Slippery Elm.

In Finno-Ugric mythology the Elm`s were believed to be the mothers of the fire Goddess Ut.
©　www.paralumun.com

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Elm trees have entered our mythology - a mark of their prominence in the lives of early civilizations.

Germanic tribes included the elm in their creation myth, and Mongols incorporated it in a wedding prayer.

Germanic Creation Myth
The ancient Germanic peoples who came to inhabit much of Europe, believed that three gods, Odin, Vili and Ve, created the world.

According to the myth, these three gods were walking by the sea examining their handiwork when they came upon two fallen trees. One was an ash, the other an elm. Odin imbued them with the spark of life. Vili endowed them with spirit and a thirst for knowledge. Ve gave them the gift of five senses.

When they had finished, the fallen trees resembled the gods themselves. Out of the ash came man. Woman was created from the elm and her name was Embla.
(Source: "Mythologies" compiled by Yves Bonnefoy v. 1, p.281)

Mongol Wedding Prayer

"Mother Ut (Fire), Mistress of Fire, descended from the elms on the tops of the Khangai-Khan and the Burkhatu-Khan mountains. Thou, who wast born when Heaven and Earth parted, who camest forth from the footprints of Mother Ötygen (Earth), thou creation of Tengeri-Khan. Mother Ut, thy father is the hard steel, thy mother the flint, thy ancestors, the elm trees.
Thy brightness reaches the heavens and spreads over the earth. Thy brightness reaches the Heaven-dweller, nursed by the Mistress Uluken.

Goddess Ut, we offer thee yellow butter and a yellow-headed white sheep. Thine are this brave boy and the beautiful bride, the slender daughter."
(Source: "Mythology of All Races" vol. iv, Uno Holmberg, p.453)
©　www.elmcare.com

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Worldwide use

Germany

Ulme

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Things found on the way

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HAIKU

today's thunderstorm
sheets of rain drum on the roof --
the elms full of birds

~ Denis M. Garrison, US
Previously published in
Haiku Harvest and Eight Shades of Blue, Lulu Press, 2005.

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yellow leaves
smothering the flowers -
a dying elm

©　MGSwartout

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an elm tree shrugs
summer leaves
this autumn night

©　mary seabright

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Related Words

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Back to the Worldkigo Index
http://worldkigodatabase.blogspot.com/

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Scilla

2008-04-10T17:38:00.000-07:00

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Scilla

***** Location: Russia
***** Season: Spring
***** Category: Plant

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Explanation

There are various members in the Scilla family.

Scilla (squill)
is a genus of bulb-forming perennial herbs in the Hyacinthaceae. The 90-odd species are found in woodlands, subalpine meadows, and seashores across the Old World. Their flowers are usually blue, but white, pink, and purple types are known; most flower in early spring, but a few are autumn-flowering.

Several African species previously classified in Scilla have been removed to the genus Ledebouria. The best known of these is the common houseplant still sometimes known as Scilla violacea but now properly Ledebouria socialis.

Species include:
©　More SCILLA in the WIKIPEDIA !

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Scilla Sibirica (Siberian Squill)
kigo for mid-spring

Siberian squill (Scilla siberica), also known as the wood squill or spring beauty, is a small perennial plant native to Siberia.

This plant grows to 15 cm (6 inches) tall and produces small, violet-blue flowers with blue pollen early in the spring.

It spends the winter as a small bulb, perhaps as big as the end of a little finger. It puts up short, somewhat grassy foliage very early in the spring, produces one or more tiny blue flowers, goes to seed, and disappears by summer.

This plant can be planted into a lawn, and, if it naturalizes, can give a very pretty early spring display. It can tolerate light foot traffic while dormant and transplants easily. They are best grown in cool, moist locations with well-drained soil of average fertility. They are very cold-tolerant. It does not do well in hot and/or dry conditions, though it does well in sun or light shade
©　More in the WIKIPEDIA !

More external LINKS
http://www.hort.wisc.edu/mastergardener/Features/bulbs/scilla%20siberica/scilla%20sibirica.htm

http://www.fixedglance.com/picture.php?image_id=377&cat=9&expand=9

http://www.wildchicken.com/nature/garden/nature_200_106.htm

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Worldwide use

Germany

Szilla, Scilla bifolia, Blaustern

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Things found on the way

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HAIKU

© Photo by Viola

murky day --
Siberian Squill gathers
the sky's blue

пасмурный день --
все краски неба собрал
цветок пролески

Siberian Squill --
stamens poking into
the cold air

©　Origa, Olga Hooper
Live Journal

апрельская синева -- ..... April azure --
тянется к небесам ......... a thin shoot stretches out
тоненький росток .... ..... to heaven

©　viola

Read more haiku in Russian on the
Live Journal of Origa san!

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Related words

External LINK to Origa's BLOG
The Pasque-flower
is called a "dream grass" or a "sleepy grass" in Russia.

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Beech Tree

2007-12-03T17:20:00.000-08:00

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Beech Tree

***** Location: Ireland, Europe
***** Season: Various, see below
***** Category: Plant

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Explanation

Beech tree (Latin: Fagus sylvatica)

The beech tree (or rather its leaves) in Europe is a kigo at least twice each year
-- in late spring / early summer for the fresh green of its young leaves,
young leaves of the beech tree

and in late autumn / early winter for the colouring of its leaves before they fall, and when they are shed.
red leaves of the beech tree

beechnut
kigo for winter

Beech trees are either green-leafed or copper-leafed, and much enjoyed during the entire leaf-bearing season. During the winter, the trees’ branch structure is equally appreciated. The beechnuts are edible for humans, and prized by squirrels. The bark of the beech tree is smooth, and many a love-lorn person has carved names and wounded hearts into these trees.

Even though the beech tree is not officially recognised as a native tree of Ireland (not having grown there 10,000 years ago, when Ireland was cut off from mainland Europe), it is nevertheless common and has been planted in parks, avenues and hedges all over the country (especially in Leinster). Many ancient beech trees are free standing and may suffer during the worst of the winter storms.

40-year-old beech avenue in the Midlands of Ireland

Text and photo © Isabelle Prondzynski, 2007

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The European Beech is the most common dominant climax tree of the woodlands and forests of central Europe and here it grows in a wide range of soils: acidic, neutral and calcareous. It is often found in combination with Silver Fir and Norway Spruce on the continent and this trio makes very productive, soil-improving forests. In the southern mountains of central Europe it will ascend to 1700 metres. The Beech is a native tree from southern Norway and Sweden down to northern Spain, Italy and the Balkans. The biggest species are found on low-lying sheltered parts. Towards the edges of its northern range it becomes rather stunted. In Finland, for example, its appearance will be much more bush-like.

The tree is able to thrive in poor thin soils, since its roots have a habit of spreading widely all through the upper layers of the soil. This is probably an important contributory reason why, in a wood that starts of with both oak and beech, the beech will usually end up being the dominating tree. The beech cannot cope with waterlogged soils and it prefers dry light soils. It also does well in heavier, stiffer loams, as long as the subsoil does not have a wet character. However, having said that, people have also observed that, as climate changes cause prolonged periods of hot dry weather, that the Beech does not thrive in drought conditions.

Beech delights in chalky subsoil and in Britain it is still only found growing naturally in the Cotswold Hills, the Chiltern Hills and the Sussex Downs, where the soils overlies chalk or limestone. Pollen grain studies suggest that Beech has been native to south England for at least 7000 years, but only around 500 BC did it spread to any considerable extent, including Wales and northwards to Yorkshire. Agricultural and timber felling practices may have eventually reduced its spread again, except on the thin limestone soils, which may not have been as attractive for ploughing to farmers as the more fertile lowlands.

Beech is an important timber tree and has displaced the Oak as Britain's biggest hardwood 'crop'. It has been successfully planted by foresters, as far north as Aberdeen, for its valuable wood, as shelterbelts, and as soil improvers. The beauty of this tree with its massive smooth trunk, its deep shade and attractive Autumn foliage, has also made it an extremely popular, widely planted ornamental tree. Young trees and those who are continually pruned, keep the brown , dry leaves on the twigs all through the winter and this peculiarity has made beech hedges a favourite choice around gardens and wherever else a windbreak or a non-see-through deciduous hedge is required.
http://www.the-tree.org.uk/BritishTrees/beech.htm

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Beech tree in winter

Photo © Isabelle Prondzynski

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Beech (Fagus sylvatica)
Irish Fea (Family - Fagaceae)

Description: Magnificent, large, deciduous tree. Important economic forestry tree.
Height: Max 40m. Age: mature at 120 years

Where found: Chalky soils and limestone but tolerant of a wide range of soils and conditions. Up to 300m. Natural distribution in Southern England to Gloucestershire and a few localities in South Wales. Not native to Ireland. Found throughout most of Europe except Spain, Former USSR, Norway and Sweden.

Propagation and growth:
Grown from seed. Scaly cup splits in Autumn to release 2 three sided nuts. Seed should be moist chilled for approx 12 weeks before sowing. Approx 3000 germinable seeds per Kg. Best established when sheltered by birch or hazel coppice. Frost tender. Increases in size to 120 years.

Uses past & present:
Pale brown hard wood but relatively easily worked. Whitest wood considered to be best grade.

Uses of wood :
Large trees for timber. Not suitable for outside use although used for piles immersed in water. Used for furniture and many other uses such as bowls, spoons, tools, plywood, and veneers. Valuable as sawn timber. Good for firewood and production of charcoal.

Food and drink :
The nut is known as mast and occurs in abundance every five to eight years. It is nutritious and rich in oil and attractive to birds and small mammals including deer and badger. The oil can be extracted and used for culinary purposes.
http://www.british-trees.com/guide/beech.htm

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Worldwide use

Germany

Rot-Buche (Rotbuche )
Buche
Gemeine Buche
Orientalische Buche

Read more names from other countries !

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North America

American Beech (Fagus grandiflora)

American Beech trees live a long time in the eastern United States from Michigan to Texas, except in southern Florida. They are usually found as canopy trees on acidic soils growing at higher elevations. The bark of American Beech trees is smooth and gray. They are grown as a landscape tree and turn from green to bronze in autumn. The nuts are eaten by people and animals.

Janice Rosenberger, Kigo Hotline

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Things found on the way

The historic Forêt de Soignes (Sonian Forest) of Brussels (Belgium), the biggest forest within a European city, consists very largely of beech trees and is a popular walking domain for the inhabitants of the surrounding communes.

More here :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonian_Forest

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HAIKU

beech avenue --
every bud on every twig
sparkling with dew

early nightfall --
the white of the snowdrops
under the old beech

even today --
beech leaves float in the wind
one by one

wayside statue --
Christ too is covered
in beech leaves

young dog --
every beech leaf is
a new world

Haiku and photo © Isabelle Prondzynski

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drover's road
beech leaves turn it
gold again

©　~ MATTM

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A Haiku Gallery of the WHC Autumn Festival Ginko
at Beacon Hill, Loughborough, Charnwood
September 23, 2001

'great place for haiku'-
from the giant beech shadows
rounds of laughter

grey autumn sky -
a golden beech candelabras
over it's sapling

©　Haiku Series: Kevin Ryan

...

the darkness
of old beech trees
children's laughter

©　Haiku Series: Haiku Series: Paul T. Conneally

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Related words

***** Colored cover leaves of beech tree buds falling on snow

yuki momiji 雪もみじ , haru momiji 春もみじ
kigo for early spring

***** Storm, Gales Europa

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Belgian National Day

2007-07-28T21:39:00.000-07:00

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Belgian National Day
(Fête nationale de la Belgique)

***** Location: Belgium
***** Season: Mid-Summer
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation

21 June is the National Festival of Belgium, celebrating the historical achievement of independence in 1830. 21 June is always a public holiday, and everyone enjoys joining in for at least some of the varied activities.

The country has three languages -- Flemish, French and German -- and is never quite safe from a potential split. In addition, nowadays there are immigrants from all the EU Member States, as well as many other countries around the world -- and this day is a great unifying occasion for the country, as everyone enjoys the activities together.

The festival starts with a big outdoor dance party the night before, in one of the downtown city squares, free of charge for the population to enjoy.

Belgians are not a flag-waving people, but for the National Day, some of my neighbours hang out their black-gold-red flags and enjoy a short-lived burst of national fervour.

Belgian flag

The National Day always starts with the King and Queen attending a festive Te Deum in the Cathedral of SS Michel et Gudule, after which they proceed to host a parade of armed forces, many of them marching or riding past in their festive costumes. The parade concludes with a fly-past by the airforce, indulging in mild aerobatics.

Many of the Belgian institutions open their doors to the public, and so, for instance, one can take school groups to the Parliament, and ask questions about how it works, or be part of a mock debate. The museums are open free of charge, and some archaeological sites around the royal palace can be visited only on this day.

Between the Parliament building and the royal palace lies a huge park, where all day long special sports activities are organised for children and teenagers. Called “Olympicnic” and held under the auspices of the Belgian Olympic Committee, the event even includes the lighting of a mini Olympic flame. The young people are given cards and set to try out a circuit of the less well known sports, such as archery, beach volleyball, rugby and golf -- and for the small ones rope skipping and even gym dancing to the latest pop music. It is great fun! This year, for the first time, I noticed baseball was also there...

All who finish the course, win a prize -- this year, it was an orange sun hat, worn with pride by many around the park.

The armed forces and other disciplines, such as the fire brigade and the Red Cross, have stands to explain their work to all comers. The European Union had a prominent presence this year, celebrating its own 50th anniversary.

Finally, in the evening, there is a huge fireworks display in front of the royal palace -- a definite "must", with a great atmosphere gathering huge crowds, and always some new creation of beauty. My own commune (Saint-Josse Ten Noode) has its own fireworks immediately afterwards, and I enjoy them almost as much, as they are for the locals, on the local square, and one can get right up to the action. In some positions, one can even get showered with interesting Chinese debris...

Text and photos © Isabelle Prondzynski

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More information here about the 2007 events :
http://www.sibp.be/parc/fr/accueilparc.htm

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A bit of history...

In the 17th century followed Austrian rule, and a few years of French rule under Napoleon. After Napoleon's demise, in 1815, Belgium was reunited with the northern provinces in the United Kingdom of the Netherlands, until the Belgian Revolution in 1830, which established an independent Belgian state. The Belgian revolution was initiated by the French-speaking minority who controlled the factories and other economical resources and who did not want to live under a Dutch-speaking administration. The fact that Belgium was mostly Catholic and the Netherlands predominantly Protestant also played a role. Another important factor which played a decisive role was the dramatic gap between the respective economic levels of the southern and northern provinces.

...

Since the 20th century, the history of Belgium became more and more dominated by the increasing autonomy of its two main communities, the Dutch- and the French-speakers. As an indication of this, since around 1970, there are no longer significant national Belgian political parties, but only Flemish- or French-speaking parties (and one German-speaking party). The regular attempts to re-establish national, Belgian parties end up below 1 percent of the electorate; the Brussels parties either never got started (as with the 'Blauwe Leeuwen' and 'Rode Leeuwen' for the Flemings in Brussels), or got merged into one of the French-speaking liberal parties (such as the French-speaking FDF, which, however, has had a significant influence for years, and still keeps some independence).

As such, the political landscape shows a near-perfect dual political system, reflecting the two underlying dominant communities. While some observers believe that Belgium is well on its way to disintegration, falling apart into two independent states, Flanders and Wallonia, others go on to argue that this would have already happened had it not been for the problem posed by the city of Brussels. Today, many view this as quite improbable, considering how the vast mayority of the inhabitants are in favour of a united Belgium.
©　en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium

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Ghent Festivities, Ghent Festival, Gentse Feesten

Always at Summer time we have our Ghent Festivities. The Ghent Festivities are organised each year an the ent of July. That week must include the National Belgian Day - the 21. of July.
During this week, the whole center of Ghent is one festivity zone.
Each day there is a lot to see. We have street theatre, music tents and many more. Infact the festivities go on the whole days and nights. Our Belfort is symbol for our willing for freedom. On top there is a 'golden' dragon with spread wings; a 'wind cock'.

And we have our halter procession. A procession reminding of the time we were terrorised by our 'son' Charles the Fifth. Born at Ghent in 1500. In that procession haltered men (must be real Ghenter during several generations) are walking in a silent procession. Also Charles the Fifth is seen with his soldiers and family.
At the end of that procession the whole procession stops in the shade of the belfry. People and the haltered men are singing the 'Roland Song (our 'national Song) about the clock Roland (or Roeland) who warned the Ghent Population against enemies and desasters. During the song (sung by most of us Ghenters) Charles The Fifth and his clique are showing their back to us public.

During the procession people are still insulting Charles and applauding the haltered men.
We are known as the halter people or rope people (stroppendragers) .

Die Genter Festzeit
Der goldne Belfrieddrachen
Steckt die Zunge aus.

Ghent Festivities
The golden Belfry dragon
Putting out its tongue.

ron rozendaal, July 2008

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Worldwide use

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Things found on the way

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HAIKU

horse guards --
so many and so still
as they wait
(2007)

all cameras out --
the chessboard buttocks
of the chestnuts
(2007)

national day --
sound of cathedral bells
and hooves on cobbles
(2007)

national parade --
yellow balloon meets a
helicopter
(2005)

national holiday --
Belgian colours waft
across our street
(2005)

my windowsill --
a perfect position
for the fly-past
(2006)

old drone
skims over our roofs --
scaring the crows
(2006)

concentration
as he strikes his first baseball --
Olympicnic
(2007)

all decked out
in Belgian national colours --
two Americans
(2006)

fireworks --
catching the debris
spinning down
(2006)

Haiku and photos © Isabelle Prondzynski

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Related words

***** Independence Day worldwide

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Swift (Apus apus)

2007-07-27T22:18:00.000-07:00

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Swift
(Latin : Apus apus --
German : Mauersegler -- French : martinet noir)

***** Location: Ireland and Europe
***** Season: Mid-Summer
***** Category: Animal

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Explanation

Swifts are one of the sure signs of the European summer. They arrive immediately after the swallows, at the beginning of May, and leave again, almost unnoticed, weeks before the swallows depart, at the beginning of August. They often fly in flocks, wheeling at high speed over the rooftops or under the clouds, screeching in chorus as they go, and are said to spend almost their entire lives flying.

The swift is more urbanised than the swallow, at least in Europe. While both happily coexist in rural Ireland, swallows lack the mud they need to build their nests in the modern city. Swifts make use of holes and crevices in buildings, and so long as sufficient old buildings offer such spaces, they will be found even in major cities.

Some years back, one of them strayed into my bathroom in Ireland, and flew round and round just below the high ceiling, in a space that was far too confined for it. After considerable time, I managed to trap it with the help of a curtain and found that, while its wings were wide and strong, it had quite rudimentary feet.

The shout of the swift is part of the height of summer in the same way that open windows are... and its disappearance is a clear harbinger of the imminence of autumn.

View from my window -- the swifts were too swift for my camera!

Text and photo © Isabelle Prondzynski

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Scientific name : Apus apus

Status :
Common summer visitor everywhere except far N and W Scotland.

Habitat :
Breeds almost exclusively in buildings in towns and villages, but travels large distances to feed and can then be found almost anywhere.

Description :
Superb fliers and the most ariel of birds. All dark except for whitish chin (hard to see), and best told by its characteristic scythe shaped wings, and its screaming calls, often in small parties wheeling around buildings. Unlike swallows and martins, never lands on ground or perches on wires, and indeed spends almost all its life on the wing.

Size :
16 - 17 cm

http://www.birdsofbritain.co.uk/bird-guide/swift.htm

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Worldwide use

Czech Republic

The trials of the Common Swift - bird of the year in the Czech Rep
[11-08-2004]
By Jan Velinger

Over the last couple of days we've seen one of the first signs of autumn here in Prague, as swifts have started gathering for their annual migration to the south. But for how much longer will this annual ritual continue? The common swift has been chosen this year by the Czech Ornithological Society to be the subject of its annual Bird of the Year campaign to heighten a growing threat to the swift's traditional habitats.

In Latin it's known as Apus apus - the Common Swift. It's an acrobatic and feisty bird - easily recognisable for its characteristic screech that you often hear in the spring and early summer months.

The swift is no stranger to Czech cities, as the breed favours nesting under the eaves of apartment buildings or even within building themselves. Pavel Vasak is from the Czech Ornithological Society. He explains how the bird developed new habits in reaction to changing trends.

"After 1989 the majority of cities in the Czech Republic - especially Prague - began seeing extensive reconstruction of old buildings in very poor shape. The repairs of facades and roofs, however, meant that the birds' nesting choices eventually grew limited, which eventually influenced the species to begin nesting in ventilation shafts in pre-fabricated apartments. Today, that has proven to be a bad choice."

Setting up home within ventilation shafts is a habit that has now put the birds at threat. There have been many cases of birds being holed up, trapped inside ventilation shafts with access routes cut off.

The danger to the swift is one reason the Ornithological Society chose the bird for its 2004 campaign in the first place, and in part thanks to the campaign the society along with the Ministry for Regional Development, City Hall, and members of the concerned public,have been able to put pressure on construction firms to respect the birds' habitat, and rebuild in such a manner as not to put the species at continued threat. Pavel Vasak again:

"In past years our experience with construction companies was not that positive. But since last year we began co-operating with the Ministry for Regional Development and City Hall - that has made the difference. Construction firms - and the public - are now more aware of the needs of the swift and what needs to be done - and can be done - to help the bird's habitat survive."

In primeval times swifts used to nest in cracks and crannies on the sides of natural cliffs but their choosing man-made structures for nesting goes back to ancient times too - to the first stone structures and villages ever built by man. That set-up proved successful for millennia: the Czech Ornithological Society will do every thing within its power to makes sure that set-up continues.

http://www.radio.cz/en/article/56949

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France

martinet noir

More photos here, and a write-up of the swift (martinet noir) in French :

..www.oiseaux.net/oiseaux/

With a wonderful photo :
..www.oiseaux.net/photos/

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Germany

Mauersegler

Beautiful pages at the URL below, with photos taken by Erich Kaiser, who loves, researches and accommodates swifts in the gables of his house. The write-up is in German, but following the pages from 1 to 8, you will see a fascinating series of photos of swift fledgelings, from hatching all the way to stretching their enormous wings and getting ready for their first flight -- which they must succeed, as they could not manage to take off again if they fall to the ground.

..www.mauersegler.klausroggel.de/

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Things found on the way

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HAIKU

balmy day --
balcony seat under
swiftless skies
(15 September 2005)

high above
in the blue morning sky --
the first two swifts

evening sky --
a cloud of swifts
mills about
(both 3 May 2006)

swifts have gone --
will I be back next year?
warm autumn night
(5 August 2006)

all at once --
a sky full of
swifts
(4 May 2007)

evening sky --
full of jasmine
and swifts’ wings
(20 June 2007)

fading daylight --
the last swarm of swifts
more heard than seen
(15 July 2007)

Isabelle Prondzynski

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bedtime -
darting swifts
play tag

©　~ joanie

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evening -
some swifts in and out
of a train's sound

©　~ O.G. Aksnes

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noisy swifts spiral
into the old church chimney
as evening air cools

©　~ Pardee A Gunter

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Haiga

a traveller
in time and space
common swift rush by

Curtesy of ©　Ashi

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Related words

***** Swallow (tsubame, Japan)

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Bog grasses

2007-07-16T19:22:00.000-07:00

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Bog grasses

***** Location: Ireland
***** Season: Autumn
***** Category: Plant

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Explanation

Bog Grasses

There are three major types of bog in Ireland; firstly Fens, which form where the bog is fed from ground waters rich in nutrients; raised bogs, which occupy the sites of former lake basins, and often form on top of fens, especially in the Irish midlands; and lastly blanket bogs, which cover mountain tops or sloping ground, especially on the west coast.

Fens are bogs which form in lake basins (right). The community of grasses, sedges, and bryophytes is fed from ground waters rich in nutrients. They are very often an early stage in the formation of raised bogs which grow on top of the fen. Their depth can vary depending on their location but they are usually 2 to 3m in depth. ome of our rarest flowering plants and bryophytes are confined to fens.

Raised bog is almost pure sphagnum moss (susán) with scattered grasses and sedges, and these are the bogs from which moss peat is extracted. Sphagnum can grow on rainwater alone, and as long as grasses, sedges and heathers cannot obtain sufficient nutrients from the bog, the sphagnum will continue to outstrip them in speed of growth, forming a huge dome of moss that gradually spreads outwards from the original lake basin from where it starts. Raised bogs probably began growing about 7,000 years ago.

About a foot below the surface of a bog the water is deprived of all oxygen, and the dead remains of moss, other plants and even humans can be preserved indefinitely. Country dwellers used to store butter below the surface of bogs, and examples of ‘bog-butter’ are still occasionally found. Raised bogs are fragile because they are like a huge plastic bag full of water - as soon as you make a pin prick in them they drain away and collapse. These bogs are sometimes called red bogs, because the dry peat looks brownish-red in colour - in blanket bog the cut turves dry black.

Blanket bogs cover much of the hills and land along the west coast of Ireland. They are dominated by heathers, grasses and sedges as well as sphagnum moss. Blanket bogs only develop in areas of the west, or mountaintops, with particularly high rainfall (more than 1.3 metres per year). They began growing about 4,000 years ago when rainfall increased. On higher ground, bogs are often referred to as moorland, where they are somewhat transitional between heath (dominated by heathers) and bog (dominated by sphagnum moss).

Heath is a transitional community, which links the more upland types of grassland with the drier types of mountain blanket bog. It occurs on shallow, peaty soils, with a higher mineral content than true peat characteristic of bogs. This community usually comprises a patchwork, with different areas dominated by different species; bracken, raithneach mhór (Pteridium aquilinum), bilberry, fraochán (Vaccinium myrtillus), bell heather, fraoch cloigíneach (Erica cinerea), ling heather, fraoch mór (Calluna vulgaris), rushes, sedges or grasses.

HEATHER, see below.

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Worldwide use

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Things found on the way

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HAIKU

bog grasses in the evening -
a seagull
absorbs the light

© Aisling White, 2006

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Related words

Heather (Erika) (Ericaceae)
kigo for autumn

ヘザー（Heather）
エリカ属(Erica), カルーナ属(Calluna),ダボエシア属(Daboecia)
ヒース（Heath）, リング（Ling)

Heather is at home in Europe (e.g. Ireland) in areas with acid soil, such as bogs and similar landscapes.
Ireland, Scotland, Germany (Lueneburger Heide) are among the best.
France and Spain have their heathers too.

Heather flowers in the autumn and produces spectacular purple landscapes at that time.

Heather honey is the very best in flavour and the most expensive, and it is very hard nowadays to find it pure.

Ericaceae family:
HEIDE, Heidekraut, Erika in German.
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidekraut

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When God first made the world, He looked at the bare and barren hillsides and thought how nice it would be to cover them with some kind of beautiful tree or flower. So he turned to the Giant Oak, the biggest and strongest of all of the trees he had made, and asked him if he would be willing to go up to the bare hills to help make them look more attractive. But the oak explained that he needed a good depth of soil in order to grow and that the hillsides would be far too rocky for him to take root.

So God left the oak tree and turned to the honeysuckle with its lovely yellow flower and beautiful sweet fragrance. He asked the honeysuckle if she would care to grow on the hillsides and spread her beauty and fragrance amongst the barren slopes. But the honeysuckle explained that she needed a wall or a fence or even another plant to grow against, and for that reason, it would be quite impossible for her to grow in the hills.

So God then turned to one of the sweetest and most beautiful of all the flowers - the rose. God asked the rose if she would care to grace the rugged highlands with her splendour. But the rose explained that the wind and the rain and the cold on the hills would destroy her, and so she would not be able to grow on the hills.

Disappointed with the oak, the honeysuckle and the rose, God turned away. At length, he came across a small, low lying, green shrub with a flower of tiny petals -some purple and some white. It was a heather.

God asked the heather the same question that he’d asked the others.
"Will you go and grow upon the hillsides to make them more beautiful?"

The heather thought about the poor soil, the wind and the rain - and wasn’t very sure that she could do a good job. But turning to God she replied that if he wanted her to do it, she would certainly give it a try.

God was very pleased.

Read the rest of the story here
　©　www.electricscotland.com

COPY

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***** WKD : Ireland Saijiki, Irish Saijiki

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Rubber plant

2007-07-16T19:08:00.000-07:00

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Rubber plant (Ficus elastica)

***** Location: Ireland
***** Season: Summer
***** Category: Plant

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Explanation

Rubber plant (Ficus elastica) is grown around the world as an ornamental plant, outside in frost-free climates from the tropical to the Mediterranean and inside in colder climates as a houseplant. Along with Philodendron, it is one of the most common houseplants in modern-days Ireland.

A ficus has green glossy leaves, which usually are about 3-4 inches long; they have a stem about as thick as the ink refil on a pen, about one inch long and attached to a wooden stem. The underside redness can vary greatly depending on the age, and so can the woodiness. A Ficus would drop their oval-shaped or rather pointed leaves in hot, dry conditions.

Anatoly Kudryavitsky

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Worldwide use

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Things found on the way

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HAIKU

day's writing done -
the rubber plant sheds
a moony leaf

by Anatoly Kudryavitsky
(from 'Morning at Mount Ring', DOGHOUSE Books, 2007)

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Related words

***** WKD : Ireland Saijiki, Irish Saijiki

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