A flower shop is the perfect place for flower and flower arrangement marketing and those who work here - florists, flower artisans or flower designers - can offer you qualified and useful pieces about flowers and carrying them.

To choose the best place for your expectant flower shop business, we give some advices for you to follow, if want to.

Flower Shop

The most important for a flower shop business to be a profitable one is the place as a position, like we said before, (it has to be a main road or a free trade zone, however a place in front of which are passing a lot of people, who can visit and admire your flower shop and maybe buy a flower, or a bouquet or a flower arrangement) and as a functional space, because the florist need the appropriate conditions to make high quality things.

A functional flower shop space has to be well proportioned, a corporate from doorway, shop window, selling space, working space, storehouse, social rooms. Our opinion is that you have not to dispense with one of those spaces. When you visit a possible space, you need to mind and distribute it in accordance with material conditions.

The doorway and the shop window are the strongest points for a business, especially for a flower shop. The doorway includes the exterior wall, the doors and the outdoor advertising elements. People has to admire and hold back the doorway, it has to inspire them hospitability and quality. Thus a looker can become a visitor and maybe a client. On the sign board you have to write "FLOWER SHOP" and the name of course, that has to be short, in evidence, noticeable and easy to hold back.

Put the coming door behind the shop window, so this one can take the entire image.

The shop window is a must, letting the light to come in and its arrangement is very important for the visitors to enjoy and want the same decoration at their places too. A beautiful shop window reflects the neatness, subtlety, imagination, professionalism of the florist.

Tricks and advices for you to create the decorations for the shop window:
o The looker must have a general vision on the shop window
o Put the flowers you want to sell quickly under the client's eyes, on the same level.
o The shop window has to be a small exhibition of numerous types of flower that there are inside.
o The flower arrangements have to be fresh that you can sell if someone wants.
o Don't associate the natural with artificial flowers. That is a "not to do!".
o Don't you prefer the artificial flower for its resistance, decorate the shop window only with natural flowers. Consider that it's an investment for your flower shop to be noted. As we said before, the flower shop business needs time and money to be on top.
o Create a point of much interest, with color contrast (a yellow flower, like freesia or daffodil in center of a lot of violet, represented by iris) or best color combination (a joyful flower arrangement made by yellow, green, orange roses).
o Choose a theme of decoration than find and use the elements that compose it (freshness can suggest even a fruits and flowers combination arrangement; the spring will be recomposed with lilac, peony, daffodil; for autumn, choose to present a dry flowers, leafs and nuts arrangement).
o Put your imagination to the proof to create the most sophisticated flower arrangement for the shop window. That is a step for you to select yours clients.
o Illuminate it. For the flowers to maintain the natural colors, is important the light to be warm. You have to avoid the white and cold nuances of the light.

Aura Surcel is a Romanian floral designer with many ideas of natural decorations, freelance writer of nature, flowers and plants, traditional treatments and of the flower shop business. She also loves nature, flowers and to make floral arrangements. For more information, visit http://www.flowersgrowing.com

I have an opportunity to decorate a local Italian restaurant for their newly developed wedding services. We want the flowers and plants we place at the restaurant to be a selection of those that are grown in Italy for decorating and flowers a Bride would carry on her wedding day.

The most traditional flowers for a wedding in Italy are orange -tree flower, white lily, and white, yellow and pink rose. In general, use only delicate shades of colors (white, yellow, pink, orange), so that they match the bride's white gown. The bride's buquet is usually very simple, all white or yellow, with lily or orange-tree flower as the best choice (these flowers represent purity and innocence).

You can also show the bride and the groom what kind of flowers and plants that you had in mind that why the bride and groom have a good idea of what kind of flowers and plants will be there and they can kind of picture what it is going to look like when they walk in for the first time on there wedding day.

Yellow and orange would be a good colors. You want to use a yellow that is in the same intensity as the orange of the dresses. Burnt Orange sounds subdued. You are not going for a match with your dresses because that gives a very fake look. You want to coordinate the colors to go with the dresses.

There are many flowers that are yellow. Actually, since you are using silk flowers, you can dye flowers yellow and or orange with Rit fabric dye. So if you can get white silk flowers, you can get your orange or yellow pretty easily.Make sure to always wear gloves with using dyes. Follow package directions exactly for rinsing so the colors don't rub off.Use nice silk flowers. If they look nice to you up close they should photograph well. Personally I think real flowers are less expensive than nice silks.

But they are more difficult to use than silks and if you have alergies or if someone that gose to the wedding has alergies it can be a real problem. For that person and it is going to make them leave a lot faster even if they don't want to.

But because of the alergies they will have to leave. Having silk flowers dose sound good, but you should also add in some real flowers so that it will make the silk look as though they are real flowers. But make sure that the flowers you choose are the colors that you want for the wedding. If you get the wrong color it could throw off the other colors of your wedding and it will not match any of the colors that you have in the wedding.

The one thing to keep in mind with blue is that there are few design materials in that color. One that comes to mind is Hydrangea. Another is Hybrid Delphinium. That pretty much sums up the blue flowers. All the others are more toward the purple. So you could use that color as an accent...as the focal flowers do not come in that color. The wood tones will go with anything. The cranberry should go with all your magenta/pinks ("Pink Broadway" Lily).

There are roses and lilies in various red and bright pink shades plus quite a few other flowers that are in those colors. Alstroemeria as a filler. Another flower with a lot of bright looks are the Gerber Daisy. Less expensive are the mums and carnations.

What about utilizing orange and pink flowers with just a touch of purple to accent. You could also go with cream colored flowers and have them tied with a champagne ribbon. Orange and shades of pinks are really pretty together and go well with purples. All of these colors would work well with your colors. You don't want to get to many colors going, but also don't want to draw attention to the groom's "special" tie) I'd recommend you take in a swatch of your dress and your bridesmaid dresses to your florist for her to also assist you.

Another idea is to take the swatches into a hobby shop where they have silk flowers. Experiment with different colors until you find just the right combination. Just because the groom will be wearing a purple tie, doesn't mean you have to incorporate that into the wedding. Because you are all wearing very neutral colors, your flowers can be a combination of any colors you like. Look through catalogs and bridal magazines to get ideas.

You could stay simple with white bouqets with pinks and reds incorporated or throw in some greens. Or, you could just have a mixed bouqet with several colors. Look around and visit some florists to get better vision. Since you are mentioning warm colors we would suggest a warm color for the flowers. Any ivory or latte flowers would not provide enough contrast and would just be blah. To make it more festive we would say peach color and if you want to you can mix in some ivory and latte color, that will help blend in everything together.

Gerbera daisies, calla lilies, gladioli, stargazers, asters, and chrysanthemums are beautiful fall flowers for fall weddings. The lilies tend to have very long stems as do the daisies. For the shorter stemmed flowers, a little florist tape can keep those tidy looking even in a revealing hand-tied bouquet. All of the flowers (except for the calla lilies) come in beautiful fall colors (reds, yellows, oranges, etc.) Also, depending on where you're getting your flowers, you can also have quite a selection of roses.

Remember that South America has different growing seasons, so getting some South American roses in fall colors is also an option.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for http://www.SendFlowers4.info. SendFlowers4.info is a great place to shop for flowers, gift baskets, and plants when you are looking for a special gift. Start here to search by "Special Occasion": http://www.SendFlowers4.info/category/occasions.html.

A lotus flower can be successfully grown in "tubs" in or around your pond. Large containers will work as well. Just be sure to keep them wet, and by wet the professionals mean VERY wet. Usually there should be at least two inches of water above the ground soil in which you plant your lotus flower. They love the soil, however they are very thirsty plants, which is why the garden pond conditions (perhaps particular to your landscape) may be perfect.

There are several kinds of lotus flowers for you to choose from, available on the market today. Increase the luxury and ambiance that a garden pond provides already, by planting lotus flowers - these will bloom impressively and flourish in your personal outdoor sanctuary. Create an even more beautiful place to relax and unwind at home. Perennial plants such as lotus flowers are a great idea for any garden pond. These plants want good soil, however, and humid condition. Nonetheless, it is not absolutely impossible, to adjust them to more dry environmental conditions.

Winds as well as the height of the plant's leaves may bend or become discolored, brown and dry or discolored. So you should care for your lotus plants with a dedicated, continuous observation. If you live in less than ideal conditions, for the safety and beauty of your lotus flowers and overall garden décor, be sure t tend to them properly.

Warm, if not what are considered hot temperatures, are preferred by the lotus plant. Eighty to ninety degrees are actually ideal conditions for this kind of pond life. As with any kind of plant or garden flower, a lotus flower under pf conditions will reach their full, flourishing and most beautiful potential. By their potential I mean the size and condition of the blossoms, as well as the health and fragrance of your pond in general. Of course, this adds to the appeal of your home outdoors and your ability to relax and unwind.

There are several kinds of lotus flowers, such as the "Chinese Dbl Rose" these are described as deep rose colored dbl flowers. They can grow to be up to three feet in height. Because this is one of the smaller lotus flowers, they can be grown in the water in a three gallon container. The Chinese dbl rose is a beautiful sight to see! You would be surprised at the bright color and the ambiance it creates all around you. This rose of a lotus flower may become the center of attraction in your garden pond. But there are many, many more kinds of beautiful garden pond plants on the market for you to choose from, and a long list of lotus, which is what this article will focus on.

The "Empress" or Alba Striata are great flowers. They are a whitish bloom with gentle strokes of pinkish colors on the edges of the petals. These plants can grow up to five feet tall in perfect conditions. The empress lotus flower bursts into a wide white rose-shaped blossom when in full bloom. As all plant life will, the Lotus flower will increase the oxygen in the air. It is also a great way to enhance your g pond and / or landscape design with a water plant which best suits your personal taste.

One of these bright and beautiful flowers is called the "Mrs. Perry D Slocum" and what lovely ladies they are! These flowers are multi-colored and abs el. The first day they appear pink, on the second day they are pink and yellow, by the third day of blooming they are a creamy, flushed pink color. These colors combined are luxurious buds you will certainly love. The Mrs. Perry D. Slocum lotus flower grows to be about four to five feet in adequate conditions. And will decorate your already relaxing outdoor pond with a burst of colorful, fragrant allure.

The lotus flower called "Momo Botan" is a deep, brilliant pink, it will produce double blooms, of truly elegant water blossoms. Older flowers are able to stay open through the night. The blooming season of this wonderful flower will last longer than the average blooming seasons of other flower blossoms, including, lotus lowers. These plants can also be placed in a small cont in your g pond.

The "Lavender Lady" is another lovely member of the family of lotus flowers. These are, as their name indicates produce dark, yet chalkish, and lovely, lavender colored blossoms with a tinge of pink. These beautiful ladies grow to become five to seven feet tall depending on the stability of their conditions. Like all other lotus flowers, you must be attentive to their needs as far as the amounts of water, light, and humidity. The conditions of your environment are only part of it. You can create special conditions when you care for your lotus flower, such as misting the flowers being extra attentive to their intake of water, the health of the surrounding plants, and the flower's overall stability.

Another beautiful lotus bloom is called the Green Maiden. In addition to the elegance and grace of all these decorative females, is the common distinctive shape and color, which vary slightly between the separate species of this flower. In the case of the Green maiden, (as with many lotus flowers) their sequential pattern of color transformation goes from pink to yellow to a cream-color. The final blossom looks as though the tips have been dipped in a bright, yet subtle pink, the yellow can be seen more closely from the center of the bloom. These blooms can grow up to three feet in your g pond.

Another wonderfully named lotus flower is the Frankly Scarlet lotus flower. These are dark pink and a very impressive, colorful, and alluring addition to your pond. These plants can grow to be up to six feet and produce multiple, single blooms. Frankly, the frankly scarlet lotus flower is one of my personal favorites. Treat her like a princess and she will treat you like royalty too. Find our how amazing these flowers will look in your garden pond, not to mention the possible habitats that many kinds of lotus plants will help provide for other wild life.

Single white blooms can also be decorative outdoors in your garden pond, to add that extra splash of life to your landscape. These flowers are lotus flowers called the "Alba Grandiflora" or otherwise known as the "Asiatic." This lovely, cup shaped lotus flower can also grow up to five feet in good conditions. No matter what your outdoor garden motif, if you have a garden pond a lotus flower could be the perfect solution for you. Look at the kinds of flowers available on the market today and decide what you want for very best landscaping you can possible imagine in your outdoor design or garden pond.

Silk flowers are not what they used to be! Back in the Cheap silk flowers can be spotted from across the room. They look fake and plasticy. But silk flowers have come a long way! Even modestly priced flowers look authentic. Often it's hard to tell the difference between real flowers and premium silk flowers.

Are there any "real" silk flowers anymore? Yes but they are rare and fading fast. The reason is that new poly-blends hold their shape better and can be made more realistic looking than "silk" flowers.

The term "silk flowers" has become a generic term and is used to talk about almost any fake flower or plant. Most people can visually see the difference in quality but there is an even simpler indicator for quality and that is price. Quality silk flowers look much more authentic and they cost more because of it. In stems, good quality stems will start in the $2 per stem range traditionally (unless it is a small stem). Floral Arrangements are usually over $40 for real looking flowers. Cheap plastic flowers have their place, but maybe not in the dining or living room.

How much do they cost?

As with most things, you get what you pay for. The prices of silk flowers will vary according to size, quality of the silk, and workmanship. If you are looking to bring the most realistic silk flowers into your home, be prepared to spend some money. A nice, realistic drop-in bouquet will cost you around $40.00. A large arrangement may cost around $125.00-300.

Why Purchase Silk Flowers?

Like fresh flowers, silk flowers come in many colors, sizes, and shapes. If you can name a flower, there is likely a silk flower duplicate on the market. Why should I purchase silk flowers, when I can but real thing instead?
# Always Blooming - no matter how much you neglect your silk flowers, one thing remains constant: they won't wilt and die like real flowers. You can ignore them for months and they will remain as beautiful as the day you left.
# Low Maintenance - Silk flowers are very easy to care for. No plant food, no water, no light.
# No Bugs - Real flowers attract bugs. Silk flowers only attract people.
# Easy clean-up - To clean your silk flowers, all you need is a feather duster.
# No allergons - Many people are highly allergic to real flowers. With silk flowers, these folks can enjoy the beauty of flowers without the sneezing.
# No Toxic - They will not harm your pets. Some flowers, such as calla lilies are poisonous to animals. Still, I don't advise feeding them to your pet.

Silk flowers are a great way to brighten up your home or office with color! http://fastsilkflowers.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=43

Perhaps the most popular way to present a gift is to present flowers because flowers appeal to all our senses and brighten up our lives and our hearts. Perhaps you can find difficult to express your exact feelings and sentiments in words but you can express your exact sentiments by presenting flowers. Flowers bring good cheer and convey the right message in their own language - truest language of love. That's why the popularity of flowers is.

But there is a question which arise in our mind is when to send flowers and when not to.
Flowers are a classic gift for any occasion and are always welcomed. There are many occasions when flowers are sent to loved ones. Wedding ceremony, birthday, Valentines Day, Mother's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving Day are some such occasions when you send flowers to your friends and relatives.

If you present beautiful flowers together with a carefully selected gift enhances the beauty of the gift. If you present flowers to the newly wed couples, you express your wish for their wedding life to be filled with the same sweet fragrance as that of flowers. A red rose gifted by you to your beloved on the occasion of Valentine's Day fills the heart of your beloved with fragrance and those sentiments which you can't say in words.

If you present flowers from Israel, to your loved one or beloved, it will be too much fascinating, because it is said that a rose is just a rose, except when it is from Israel.

In present days, online flowers sending and purchasing are in vogue. With the increase of flowers uses in various occasions, many flowers delivery shop has been opened. They also provide online ordering system. Israel is an important centre for flowers and gifts delivery shops.Israel flower delivery centers have flowers and gifts for every occasion.

When you send Israel flowers you send two gifts at a time to your loved one. First one is flowers and second one is flowers delivery that puts a smile upon your loved one.

Sending Israel flowers online is very easy. When ordering flowers online you can look through online catalogues and find the ideal gift for any occasion. This is tremendous help for anyone who forgot a special occasion. Flowers gift Israel delivered to your loved ones home or office as a last minute gift will bring joy to their hearts and you will be overflowing with a special sense of pleasure.

If you are looking for online flower shop you may go with online Israel flower delivery centres and choose your flowers & gifts from a wide spectrum of flowers & gifts. So don't be late and send Israel flower, and put a smile upon the face of those you love and respect.

Michael Braganza is an eminent analyst and writer in Travel & Tourism and Society related topics. He has authored many books on Flowers Israel and send flowers Israel. Now he is rendering his services to http://www.flowers-israel.net

A basket decorated with fresh flowers looks exceptionally beautiful. Decorating a basket with flowers is interesting and rewarding. Some people find it therapeutic. Although creating a flower basket is not difficult, it certainly requires some creativity and imagination to transform a simple basket to a stunning one decorated with flowers. It is really astonishing to see the superb transformation. With some creative ideas and techniques, you will be able create something beautiful and unique on your own. Every flower basket arrangement is your own special creation. In completing it, you will feel a great sense of satisfaction.

There is no need to spend a lot of money on the equipment you need. With some basic flower arranging tools, you can create a wonderful flower basket arrangement. Baskets are beautiful handiworks. They are made from natural materials such as rattan, willow, rush or plywood. It is fortunate to have a great variety of baskets available in the market. It provides us with more choices for our flower basket design. There is also a great variety of flowers available for you to choose for the decoration of your basket. The abundant availability of flowers makes it so easy to get the types that match your design and preference. In fact, all flowers look beautiful, but if you want to create something spectacular with them, you need to put in some effort and use some of your creativity to make the right selections.

There are many kinds of flower basket arrangements you can make to suit different purposes. For example, you can make an arrangement that can be use as a centerpiece on a dining table, a hanging floral basket in a room, a floral display near the window or a gift to a special friend. If you want to place the basket with flowers in a room in your house, you should fill the basket with those flowers that can match the color scheme of your room. In this way, it can enhance the decor of your room.

A flower basket can be used as a form of decoration during special occasions. It can help to enhance the mood of an occasion. For example, if you are holding a party in your garden, you can make a flower basket arrangement with bright colored flowers to be placed on the table. If you are planning a special dinner with some friends at your house, you can create a flower basket with flowers, candles and ribbons. An elegant mixture of delicate blooms, beautiful ribbons and flickering flames will certainly light up the atmosphere. Flowers have a language of their own. In creating flower baskets for special occasions, you need to select the types of flowers to match the particular mood or occasion. If you are presenting the flower basket as a gift to someone, you need to select the right types of flowers to convey the message you want.

Decorating a basket with fresh flowers is a wonderful pastime. You do not need a lot of equipment to create a flower basket. Flower baskets can be used in a variety of ways. You can make many kinds of arrangements to suit different purposes. The types of flowers you choose must suit the purpose of the arrangement. With many types of baskets and flowers available in the market, you can create a limitless number of designs. For more information, please visit Baskets & Fresh Flowers. [http://www.internetbizcenter.com/fruits-basket/index.php]

Rose Mary. To learn more about wedding flowers, gift baskets, please visit Baskets & Fresh Flowers. [http://www.internetbizcenter.com/fruits-basket/index.php]

The wedding flowers set the tone of the wedding. Flowers are always been the symbol for happiness and joy. By adding flowers to your wedding, you are expressing happiness, joy, style, and taste. Flowers come in different shapes and colors. So, there are many ways to express thru flowers.

A variety of flowers may be abundant on a particular season (summer, fall, winter, and spring). Thus, the flower theme may be different for each season. Typically, the roses and lilies are the wedding flower of choice. However, more variety of flowers appears in a contemporary wedding. Here are a few popular wedding flowers with their description.

Roses

This flower is the most popular garden flower. Rose is coin from Latin word Rosa. Each color has special meaning. For example, red means love, white means purity or innocence, yellow means friendship, and orange means desire and enthusiasm. Roses can also have many meaning on how you give the rose. For example, three roses mean I love you, and ninety nine roses mean lots of love. The rose petals are a favorite for wedding tosses.

Calla Lilies

The flower is from the Greek word "Kallos". It means beauty. The beautiful arrow shaped flower provides an incomparable elegance to the wedding. The flower is also called Water Arum, Bog Arum, Wild Calla, and Water Dragon. The lilies bloom between June and July.

Casa Blanca Lilies

This flower has the most romantic flower name. The wedding roles of the flowers are to provide the classic beauty and romance of wedding. Meanwhile, the natural fragrance lifts the height and drama of the wedding.

Carnations

It is the national flower of Spain. The flower vibrates with pinkish-hued natural color. Now, the florists manage to cultivate red, white, yellow, and green flowers. The name of the flower is believed to come from "coronation", or "corone". And, the Greek used the flower as a crown flower garland.

Daffodils

It is a flower with central trumpet crown. The crown sits around flower petals. The natural color is gold yellow. Nowadays, breeders developed several rows to resemble a golden yellow ball, compressed crown to resemble bottle soda cap, or frilled petal to resemble daisy petals.

Dahlias

It is the national flower of Mexico. The name of the flower is from Swedish 18th century botanist called Anders Dahl. The flower is brightly and stunningly colored with many pointy flower petals.

Daisies

The flower brightens the wedding. The most popular is the Shanty Daisy. It has a yellow center which is surrounded with white petals.

Stephanotis

It is cluster of flowers which is waxy, scented, and star-shaped. After a few days, the flowers fade to yellow. You will often see the flower in bridal corsages, bouquets, and decorations. And, the flower emits a long lasting sweet scent. So, the bridal corsages and bouquets add a distinct style of the wedding dresses of the bride, maid of honor, and bridesmaids.

Tulips

The flower grows in cold climate areas. The bell shaped flower come in vibrant red, yellow, white, and yellow. Popular in Netherlands, North America, and Australia, they made a festival out of the flower.

Flowers are one of nature's heralds of the seasons. The various flowers that blossom in the different seasons can inform us what season we are in. For instance flowers like the Poinsettia are known to bloom only during the wintertime season, more specifically during December. Annual flowers on the other hand are wonderful flowers to plant in your gardens.

I know most of us have passed by a nice arrangement of outside florals and wondered - how might I do the same. Well, first we must start by understanding the different types of annual flowers and the which flower will survive in which climate.

You will find that many of these flowers are excellent choices for the garden as they can be grown in the different seasons. The best way to select the type of annual flowers that you want is to decide which flower varieties you want to see. You should buy the annual flowers that are appropriate for the required season otherwise your flower plant will rot even before you have a chance to plant it.

When you start selecting your annual flowers you can purchase stalwart annuals, half hardy annuals and tender annuals. These differences reflect the type of weather and soil conditions that these annual flowers will grow in.

Remember, the selecting process maybe some what challenging at first. However, don't let that intimidate you, make a selection based on the season and what looks good to you. With experience you will start to understand the other elements, like soil, sun and water, that also have an effect on your annual flowers.

Sturdy annuals are beautiful plants that will produce flowers even in the cold wintertime season. These annual flowers are planted during the spring season or fall season when the weather condition is not that cold. Unlike other annuals these hardy annual flowers don't like hot weather as they are not heat tolerant.

The types of stalwart annual flowers that you can buy include calendula, foxglove, viola, sweet alyssum, stocks, cornflowers, pansy, larkspur and the many varieties of dianthus cultivars. The half sturdy annual flowers include torenia, snow-on-the-mountain, blue sage, strawflower, baby's breath, candytuft, bells of Ireland, celoma, love-in-a-mist, and forget-me-nots.

These half hardy annuals don't mind damp cold weather but they can't live during the cold fierce months of winter. You will need to plant these annual flowers after the last spring frost. Unlike tender annuals these half sturdy annuals have no need of warm soil conditions for the seeds to begin sprouting.

While some flower species can't bear lots of hot summertime weather the half hardy annuals may sometimes wilt for the weather but they will perk up in the later summer months. You can select some tender annuals like scarlet sage, morning glory, petunias, begonias, celosia, balsam, nasturtium, and verbena.

These annuals as their name suggests are not well-off in the cold wintertime months so the idealistic time to grow them is three weeks after the last spring frost. Since these annual flowers grow well in warm climates you can expect to see them in all of their glory in the late spring and the warm months of summer.

These are just a few of the many annual flowers that you can grow in your garden, and the riot of colors that they bring will utterly make any garden look great. You will also have the added benefit of flowers that grow in different seasons adding a break up of color right through the year.

Fresh flowers are the reason one creates paper flowers simply because like they say art imitates life. Although there are many paper flowers that are not replicas of fresh flowers there are many that are. Fresh flowers inspire the designs of paper flowers because it makes a very good example of what a flower should look like. When making paper flowers whether it is a Rose or a Carnation or a Tulip, the real flower is usually used as a guide to the pattern design.

The petals are dissected and a rough sketch is drawn using the petals as a guideline. Leaves are another aspect of some flowers that is also copied. With the amount of varieties of flowers in the world there are so many ideas you can come up with. Some times people take two flowers and combine them making one very unique paper flower.

Paper flowers are much cheaper than real flowers and are also maintenance free and can last indefinitely, that's why many people replicate real flowers through paper flowers as there's nothing sadder than a wilting bouquet. It's very hard to throw away a bouquet from a loved one when it dies, with paper flowers you may never have to. Paper flowers can be made with many different kinds of paper creating different textures and unique colors not found in natural flowers that the creator may prefer.

The scent of real flowers is one thing that cannot readily be duplicated although this allows for the creator to imbue the paper flowers with her or his own specially preferred scents, although paper flowers do not hold scents for very long. The art of making paper flowers is practiced a lot in Japan where origami is a great hobby. Origami can be quite elaborate and when based on real flowers can take a great deal of time to complete, but in the outcome you will have a treasure worth keeping for a long time. Paper flowers may be cheaper, last longer and require no maintenance however real flowers are irreplaceable, their true beauty coming from their ephemeral nature and as such we should never take these delicate blossoms for granted.

The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flow'r.

William Cowper

If the idea of eating flowers strikes you as fanciful or faintly ridiculous, how do you feel about broccoli? Or asparagus? These common vegetables are, in fact, immature flowers. And when you leave your broccoli in the garden too long and it develops yellow flowers, it is indeed still edible.

The flowers of most herbs are edible, usually imparting a similar, but milder flavour than the herb itself. Steady favourites include sage (especially pineapple sage) hyssop, basil, borage, chamomile, dill, fennel, chives, oregano, lavender, marjoram, mustard, clover, linden, rosemary, scented geraniums, thyme, sweet woodruff and winter savory. One of the most enduringly popular edible flowers, calendula, or pot marigold, is in fact an herb.

Probably the top six edible flowers, the ones that appear most often as garnishes in high-end restaurants are: nasturtiums, roses, calendula, violets, Johnny-jump-ups (known by herbalists as heartsease or viola tricolor) and squash blossoms (usually from the zucchini). However, there are countless others, too many to list here. Some of your favourite flowers you might be surprised to learn are edible, including: tulips, lilacs, daylilies (popular in Chinese hot & sour soup), the English or wild daisy, carnations and chrysanthemums. The flowers of many fruits and vegetables add colour and nutrition to many a meal. Apples blossoms and the flower of the runner bean are prime examples.

Albeit, and this cannot be emphasised strongly enough, many flowers are poisonous or toxic and unless it has been reliably documented as edible by its botanical name, do not eat it! Also, do not eat flowers from a florist's shop or garden centre. Only eat flowers grown in a totally organic garden. Plants will absorb herbicides, pesticides and chemical fertilizers from the soil.

Other edible flower caveats: If you suffer from hay fever, asthma or allergies, be wary of eating edible flowers. They could trigger a reaction. If wild-crafting edible flowers, be absolutely certain that you have correctly identified the species. And don't pick flowers from the side of the road. They will be contaminated by car exhaust. Remove the pistils, stamens and sepals from the flower and the bitter white area at the base of the petal. Check carefully for any insect hitchhikers. Wash the flowers carefully in cool water and drain them on clean cotton or paper towels.

It's probably best to grow your own edible flowers. Sourcing them at retail can be a challenge, although some of the natural and organic stores now carry them on a seasonal basis. The most common use of edible flowers, just like parsley, is as a garnish. This is a waste. Edible flowers offer a wealth of taste including sweet, spicy, floral, minty and citrus. Salads are the usual beneficiary of edible flowers, but they can be creatively used in cooking also. Try adding borage or calendula flowers to cooked rice or violets to an omelette. Deep-fired sage blossoms are a popular side dish.

Here are a three very simple recipes using common edible flowers:

· Blend chopped nasturtium petals with cream cheese or butter and spread on very thin slices of dark pumpernickel bread for savory appetizers or snacks.

· Honeysuckle Strawberry Sorbet: Use only the Lonicera japonica species of honeysuckle. Cut the pistils and stamens from half a cup of honeysuckle flowers. Blend these with three cups of strawberries, hulled and halved, in a blender or food processor. Process until smooth and then pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze.

· Johnny Fruit Salad: Peel, section and cut two oranges into bite-sized pieces; add one medium bunch of green, seedless grapes; two cups of strawberries, hulled and halved; one apple, peeled, cored and cut into bite-sized pieces, two kiwi fruits, peeled and thinly sliced. Mix the fruit in a non-reactive bowl (preferably glass) and refrigerate for two hours. Serve in four individual bowls, garnished with five Johnny-jump-up flowers in each bowl.

Similar to herbs, many edible flowers have medicinal qualities. Nasturtiums, native to South America, were a time-honoured Andean remedy for wounds and chest infections, being a powerful antibiotic. Honeysuckle flowers are antispasmodic and were traditionally used to relieve coughs. Honeysuckle is also one of the Bach Flower Remedies and is believed to counter feelings of nostalgia and homesickness. Johnny-jump-ups are a purifying herb and are used for skin conditions such as eczema.

Edible flowers offer an abundance of taste and visual delight in the kitchen, but caution should be king. In some jurisdictions, all flower garnishes must be edible by law, but don't assume this everywhere. If in doubt, don't eat it and brush up on your botany!

Bruce Burnett is a chartered herbalist who has also won four Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Gold awards for travel journalism. Read more of Bruce Burnett's writing on his websites: 1. [http://www.globalramble.com/] 2. http://www.bruceburnett.ca 3. http://www.herbalcuisine.com

Artificial flowers have become so popular that people are now opting for these rather than buying real flowers and spending much more money only to have them thrown away after the wedding. It is more economical to buy artificial flowers for your wedding. It is also a good alternative if you suffer from allergies and cannot be around real flowers. The flowers can be stored and reused for another occasion and no one would probably know the difference, or you can keep that one special bouquet as a keepsake of your wedding. The only way you can use real flowers after a wedding is to make them into a nice potpourri after they have dried up.

When buying real flowers for your wedding, it all depends on the time of year that you are getting married and what flowers are in bloom. So if you really want a certain type of flower you should make certain that you are getting married when those flowers are in bloom, because most flowers bear in a particular season. That is why if you choose to go with artificial flowers you can get just about any type of flower that you want, it doesn't matter what time of the year it is.

Another point to consider is with real flowers you will have to hire someone or ensure that the flowers are maintained, they have to have enough sunlight and water to keep them looking fresh. This is definitely going to cost you some dollars, whereas artificial flowers are a breeze to maintain, you just place them where you want and you are on your way, no worries about maintenance and no extra expenses for maintenance. Also you can order artificial flowers way in advance and store them in your home unlike real flowers where you have to order within a certain time and have them stored in the florist refrigeration until you are ready to collect them. This will certainly save you that trip of rushing to the florist in time to collect your fresh flowers.

If you order artificial flowers from a professional florist, you can expect to get very realistic looking flowers that most of your guest might not be able to differentiate whether they are real or not unless they touch them. The only thing that might give them away is the scent that is associated with real flowers. Try using a nice air freshener or maybe you can add some real flowers in with the artificial creation to give them some scent. This would make for a nice combination. You do not need to order a lot just maybe one or two flowers to put in with each artificial arrangement.

Artificial flowers will not fade or wilt after a few days or years for that matter and you can keep them for an indefinite period without having to use preservatives to maintain their original look. They do not cause any allergic reaction so you and your guests won't have to worry about going through the service with red itchy noses or eyes.

Find more tips on flowers at http://www.worldofflowers.info/ a website offering views, opinions and factual resources on issues such as artificial wedding flowers, painted flower pots and even all about sending flowers online.

Tradition holds that a girl carrying flowers should bring extra good luck to the marriage. After the bride, the flower girl is the member of the bridal party most capable of stealing the hearts of all the guests. In choosing the flower girl dress, consider the style, colour, fabric and formality of the occasion. The flower girl should not outshine the bride, but complement her gown while blending with the bridesmaids' outfits.

The Flower Girl Gown

Although bridal styles change from season to season, flower girl fashion has changed very little. The gown is always classically "little princess" in style but in keeping with the style of ceremony - church wedding, beach wedding or garden wedding.

A flower girl's gown should complement the bride. It can be bridal white or ivory, the same colour as the bridesmaid's gowns, or a contrasting colour that complements the outfits of the entire party. If white is chosen for the flowergirl's gown, a colour sash may be used to tie it in with the colour of the bridesmaid's gowns.

The age of the flower girl is a factor when choosing the length of her gown. A small child could trip over a long skirt, so ankle length is better for the "little ones". A younger girl (say 5-6 years old) can wear an ankle length "princess" style dress, while an older girl (10-12 years) might prefer a more sophisticated silhouette with more length. While traditional formal weddings do tend towards floor-length gowns, practicality should be considered as well.

If you are having several flower girls of varying ages, you can co-ordinate their dress styles using colour, fabric and accessories such as flowers or jewellery.

Whatever the style you choose, avoid those that will make your flower girl look too sophisticated for their age. This is an occasion when you want to play up her little girl charms. When else can she have the joy of wearing rustling silk or satin gowns, full petticoats, tulle skirts and big bows?

Perhaps this is why flower girl fashion has remained constant over the years - little girls love dressing up!

Fabric Choice

Fabrics such as polyester and cheap lace can be very itchy. No matter how precious the flower girl looks, if her gown and shoes are uncomfortable, it will be reflected in her face and behaviour. Scratchy gowns and tight shoes can cause everything from fidgeting to temper tantrums, so take this issue seriously in order to not interrupt the ceremony itself.

If possible, invest in a better fabric, keeping in mind that the dress doesn't have to be a "one-time" dress. It can be re-worn often, from a portrait sitting to a birthday. It can also be preserved and handed down as an heirloom once the child grows out of it.

Choose fabrics that aren't wrinkle prone, such as silk, satin or velvet for the best results. Dupion silk does have a reputation for creasing, but it is actually a pronounced fold that the fabric develops in line with the vertical or horizontal threads, and as such does not appear crushed.

Fabrics and colours for flower girl gowns vary greatly depending on the time of year and the location. If the wedding is in autumn or winter, rich fabrics such as velvet, satin and silk are popular choices not just for their beauty, but because they will keep the chills away. For a spring or summer wedding, lighter fabrics such as dupion silk, delustered satin and tulle.

For the cooler months, a gown with sleeves may be considered, but as the ceremony is usually indoors at this time of year, perhaps a wrap or shawl would be a better choice, allowing clothing to be removed in layers as suits.

Colour will primarily be dependent on the bride's choice for the wedding party.

Also, wait until the very last possible minute to dress your flower girl. Her dress will be free from wrinkles, and you won't have to worry about any food or drink spills just before the ceremony. A nice comfortable robe for the child to wear prior to the final dressing is a good idea.

Shoes

Flower girl shoes can be a satin or silk "streetwear" style ballet shoe or similar flat shoe that is comfortable and complements the fabric and colour of her gown. If having a beach wedding, a flower girl may go barefoot with a petite silver or gold fine chain anklet or ankle bracelet.

A young child in uncomfortable shoes will fidget, so regardless of anything else ensure that the shoes for the flower girl fit well and are comfortable. If the shoes are stiff, tight, unworn or new it's a good idea to slip them onto the child at the last minute.

Hair

A "fresh" look is perfect for a flowergirl. If the girl has natural curls let her hair flow naturally with a flower or a hairpin to finish it off. Floral or ribbon head wreaths, and lightly jewelled tiaras are also popular. if you prefer a bun, adorn it with flowers or hair jewellery matching the bride's attire, always remembering a flower girl represents youth in the bridal party. An elegant silk tiara adorned with satin ribbons flowing gentle behind her hair would also be appropriate.

Flower Girl Jewellery

Flower girl jewellery should be be kept simple. A delicate necklace and bracelet is usually enough to compliment the gown, but tiaras, headpieces, chokers, earrings, and hairpins can also be worn. Simple silver or gold with pearls or coloured Swarovski crystal provides an inexpensive yet elegant finishing touch to the flowergirl ensemble.

Young children may be unused to wearing any jewellery at all and it may become a distraction to them. If this is the case then some pretty hair jewellery (small crystal clips and hair slides) and a simple bracelet would be the best choice.

A wide range of flower girl jewellery and junior bridesmaid jewellery is available online, however many of the pieces marketed in this way are just downsized bridal pieces which may be too flashy for a flower girl to wear, and run the risk of detracting from the bride. Look for formal jewellery specifically made in children's sizes, of a style intended for a flower girl rather than a bride

On the practical side look for a sturdy lobster style clasp to reduce the possibility of loss, and be aware of "spiky bits" on the jewellery that a young child may inadvertently catch on the gown causing damage, or worse, cause injury to themselves with.

Makeup

The flower girl theme is "natural" and a minimum of makeup is a must. A little light lip gloss, some light foundation, and a touch of mascara to highlight her eyes. Don't forget the sunscreen as majority of photos are taken outside - give some thought to using a foundation that has a 30+SPF factor.

Nails

Nail decoration is best kept to a minimum - simply filed to shape and a light clear coat applied. Many brides prefer their flower girls to either wear a light pastel or natural colour, or just a shiny clear lacquer. No bright reds or sparkly kiddy purples!!!

Flowers

A basket of flowers carried by the flowergirl is a tradition, regardless of the whether the flowergirl carries out her traditional role of sprinkling petals in the bride's path as she walks down the aisle.

As a bridal fashion accessory, a small posy of flowers is also popular, and usually matching the floral adornments (bouquets, buttonholes, etc) of the rest of the bridal party.

Flowers worn in the hair are also a traditional touch, either as flowers woven into the hair style, floral headbands, or flowers attached to hair clips. Artificial silk or satin flowers can be used, as well as fresh flowers.

In all floral adornments and bouquets try to use miniature flowers. A flower girl is half (or less) the size of anyone else in the bridal party, and the size of the flowers should be scaled down accordingly.

Dress Care

Some simple storage and handling advice for your flower girl gown:
* Always dry-clean the gown
* Wash your hands before handling the gown.
* When packing the gown in a box or chest, pack with acid free tissue paper.
* Keep the box stored out of direct sunlight and away from moisture, and away from household fumes and pollutants.
* Store the box where vermin and insects can not get to it.
* Ensure there is adequate air circulation around the box to prevent mustiness.
* To hang the gown, use a material coated hanger and place the gown in a sealed garment bag.

Flowers are a symbol of beauty and exude freshness all around. However, fresh flowers have a short shelf life. Drying flowers using the right technique can result in preserving them as close to their original form, flexibility, color and texture. There are many methods that are used to dry flowers.

Pressing is the most popular form of drying fresh flowers. Flowers are neatly straightened and kept between sheets of paper and weighted. This ensures that the pigments are not lost and the color is retained. Special devices called plant presses give excellent results. This method should be adopted when the flowers are fresh, so that they remain so in the dried form. Violets, pansies, larkspur and ferns preserve well when pressed in this manner. These dried flowers can be arranged in framed displays.

Air-drying, also known as "hang and dry" method, is the oldest and simplest method for preserving flowers. The flowers are collected, tied and then hung upside down in a warm, dry place. Since the flowers are dried in air, the method is referred to as "air-drying." The darkness helps retain the color of the flowers. Flowers such as baby's breath, cattail, celosia, dock, goldenrod, heather and pussy willow preserve well when stored this way. Blue and yellow flowers retain their color whereas pink flowers fade.

Flowers are also dried using desiccants. Embedding the flowers in a granular, desiccating material is considered the best all around method to dry flowers. The flowers are covered with the desiccant so that their form will be maintained.

Water drying is also used to preserve fresh flowers. Here, stems of the flowers are initially placed in a couple of inches of water, the water is allowed to evaporate and be taken up by the cut flowers. The container and flowers should be in a dry, warm and dark location. Hydrangeas, yarrow, bells-of-Ireland and celosia dry well with this method.

Most people pursue drying and preserving flowers as a hobby. Even with the increased popularity of synthetic flowers, many people still prefer the real flowers preserved in a lifelike manner.

The advantages of Silk Wedding Flowers

Hay Fever.. If you or any of your guests have an allergy to pollen or hay fever - silk wedding flowers will be ideal.

Transport Perfectly.. If you are getting married abroad then Silk Wedding flowers are easily transported. They will arrive in perfect condition without any fuss.

No Seasons.. You can choose your favourite flower varieties what ever the season - Silk wedding Flowers varieties are always in season!

Long Lasting.. When fresh wedding flowers have faded away your silk wedding flowers can be a long lasting memory of your wedding.

Robust.. Silk Wedding flowers don't wilt or break easily and the pollen won't stain your clothes.

Light Weight.. Compared to fresh flowers silk wedding flowers are lighter to carry.

Preparation.. Your Silk Wedding flowers can be made up weeks or even months before your wedding allowing you to make any adjustments that you like.

Re-Useable.. After the wedding your Silk wedding flowers can be re-used in decorations for your home.

The dis-advantages of Silk Wedding Flowers

Perfect Reproductions?.. There is a perception that silk wedding flowers will look fake and tacky - whilst there have been vast improvements in the appearance of Silk flowers - some flowers such as Calla Lilies are difficult to fake. Having said that there are some flowers varieties that are incredibly realistic and quite beautiful but you will need to shop around for them - good quality Silk wedding flowers aren't the cheap option and can be expensive.

Fragrance.. Silk flowers don't smell as beautifully as fresh flowers.

Choice.. The vast choice of colour, variety, shape and scent of real flowers cannot be faked - real flowers can create a completely unique mood for your day.

Selections.. If you are choosing Silk Wedding flowers also consider mixing and matching fresh and silk - maybe a fresh flower bouquet with Silk table arrangements.

If you are still in doubt as to whether to choose Silk flowers for your wedding - chat through ideas with your florist and visit them to see the quality of the Silk wedding flowers for yourself.

DIY flower arrangements can be presented as gifts for weddings, Valentines Day, or any other special occasion. DIY flower arrangements are well suited for simple house decorations. These add color and elegance to any home. DIY flower arrangements save you a lot of money while at the same time offering an opportunity to have enjoyment and fun.

Some of the essential materials that are needed for DIY flower arrangements are flowers, floral tape, stem cutter, and stem stripper. The first step for creating DIY centerpieces is the preparation of flowers. Assembling of flowers comes next. Securing and measuring the centerpieces are the other steps. You can also add filler flowers and extra greenery according to your desire. Small flowers and candles will add beauty to DIY flower arrangement.

You can make DIY flower arrangements from dried flowers, paper flowers, and silk flowers as well. If you are purchasing flowers from local florists or from grocery stores, always select fresh flowers. Also check petals, stems, and leaves. For creating DIY rose bouquets, select the rose colors to coordinate with your interior décor.

A large selection of fresh flowers with bulk pricing for DIY flower arrangements are offered through online stores. A wide selection of exclusive designs is offered in kit form in many flower shops. Included in the kit are flowers, foliage, vases, and other accessories needed to design DIY floral arrangement.

With the advent of the Internet, it is no longer necessary to spend loads of money for flower arranging courses or floral design books. Plenty of tips and techniques are provided through websites. These websites offer all needed advice on making DIY flower arrangements. You are able to view pictures of popular bridal bouquet styles, wedding flowers, flower arrangement styles, floral design basics, and more.

Flowers in New York have a wide range of selection and variety. Rose is the popular flower variety, which you can see in a huge selection. It also happens to be the state flower of New York. Florists in New York provide an interactive way to buy and to send the flowers of your own preferences. New York flowers have various florists who provide you with a wide range of floral arrangements. It offers you different arrangements of floral selections for any different occasion. The teams in New York flowers help you to send your message quickly.

New York flowers have a wide range of floral arrangements with huge selection. It varies from a dozen long stem roses, intricate flower arrangements, large bunch of balloons - the list goes on. New York flower providers make it all for you. It gives the maximum enjoyment and satisfaction by providing you the freshest blossom flowers.

New York flowers can really make a big impact on the one who receives it. The most popular varieties of New York flowers are Natural, Romantic, Traditional, Contemporary, and Expressive. It offers you the New York State flower in large selections, the various shops that you can buy and send, the flower markets, the New York flower districts, the New York flower delivery and the New York Wholesale flowers.

There are many New York Florists that are available in your city. Factors like increasing competitiveness and high reliability in delivery make most of the florists strive to offer you the best in the market. Few of the major florists like the Rochester New York Flowers provide you exquisitely handcrafted floral presentations. New York flowers provide you only farm fresh flowers directly from the grower.

New York flowers enclose a floral preservative with each bouquet, providing your flowers extra life. New York flowers help you to save yourself from holiday stress, by consulting with you about your floral needs for occasions like Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, the holiday season, anniversaries, and birthdays. New York flowers make every day extra special, just by showing loved ones how truly they are appreciated.

New York Flowers provides detailed information on New York Flower Delivery, New York Flower District, New York Flower Market, New York Flower Shops and more. New York Flowers is affiliated with Thanksgiving Flower Gifts [http://www.e-FlowerGifts.com].

Keeping cut flowers fresh is simple: just add water. And a little pampering, perhaps. Oh yes, and a brass penny, some bleach, some lemonade and some vinegar, but perhaps not all at once - or perhaps not at all if you've any sense.

If you're overwhelmed by the numerous old wives' tales, urban legends and internet myths purporting to prolong the longevity of flowers, read on.

Caring for fresh flowers really just requires a bit of role play. How do you feel when you arrive somewhere after a journey? Chances are your flowers feel much the same, so welcome them to their new environment as you'd like to be welcomed (give or take a suffocatingly tight hug and several slobbery kisses).

1. Just as you like to take off your coat and put down your bag on arrival, your flowers want to get rid of any excess baggage. Carefully peel off any outer guard petals that look a little rugged (these would have been left on by the florist to protect against potential pre-arrival stresses). Likewise, remove any leaves that will be below the waterline of the vase, and untie any bits of string that are holding the stems together (unless, of course, your bouquet is a hand-tie, in which case those bits of string are essential to its good looks).

2. While relaxation is important, you need to keep your flowers on their toes. Cut about 3cm off the stems, ensuring you make the incision at a 45-degree angle. If you can perform this task while holding each stem under water, all the better.

3. Drinks and snacks all 'round! Empty the sachet of plant food into a spotlessly clean vase and fill it with fresh water. Not ice cold water, mind you. Water is the red wine of flowers, so they prefer it served at room temperature.

4. Arrange the flowers in a vase and then settle your guests somewhere they'll feel welcome - away from bright light and drafts, and somewhere you'll enjoy their company and remember to take care of them.

Easy as 1 to 4, yes? Not if your florist didn't think to pack some snacks for your flowers. As much as you might fancy yourself as a dab hand in the kitchen, don't think about concocting your own special flower cocktail without making sure it's a recipe that gets the florists' nod... or order from this menu at your peril:

Sugary Sling

The rumour:

Sweetening the water with sugar or lemonade gives the flowers a boost that keeps them going for days longer.

The truth:

Au contraire, sugar can reduce the lifespan of flowers (think what would happen if you sat in a Jacuzzi with an infinite supply of chocolates). Flowers do need sugar to keep them sustained, but it's simple sugars they prefer (on growing plants, the leaves produce this special sustaining elixir). Raw sugar and sweet sodas are ultimately just a big drawcard for bacteria and fungi, which shouldn't be encouraged because they block the stems and prevent the flowers from taking in sufficient water.

Success rating: 3

Caipir-Vinegar

The rumour:

You can keep cut flowers fresher for longer by adding vinegar to the vase.

The truth:

Vinegar is mildly acidic, so it will help to lower the pH balance of the water slightly - a good thing, as it makes it easier for the stems to absorb water. The acidity may also help to keep the stem-blocking fungi at bay. Unfortunately, vinegar has the nutritional value of a Turkey Twizzler, so it's not going to provide the sustenance a flower needs to live for longer.

Success rating: 2

Harvey Headbanger

The rumour:

Dissolving an aspirin in the water helps keep flower heads from drooping.

The truth:

There's probably not enough sugar in aspirin for it to be an effective pick-me-up, but the aspirin does slightly lower the pH balance of the water, helping water absorption and inhibiting the growth of bacteria.

Success rating: 3

Bleach Bellini

The rumour:

A capful of bleach a day keeps the germs away from your flowers

The truth:

Bleach is very acidic, so it will dramatically lower the pH balance of the water, encouraging absorption and preventing the growth of bacteria. The trouble is that it could also burn the flower stem - and there's nothing in the white stuff for the flower to feed on.

Success rating: 2

Rusty Coin

The rumour:

Dropping a penny in a vase will increase the lifespan of flowers.

The truth:

Wishful thinking. Pennies used to have a high copper content, which would lower the acidity of the water, but nowadays they're so thinly coated they're about as much use to your flowers as they are to you.

Success rating: 1

Store-cupboard Sidecar

The rumour:

1 teaspoon of bleach, 1 teaspoon of vinegar and 2 teaspoons of sugar in a litre of room-temperature water is a favourite treat of fresh-cut flowers.

The truth:

Will the limitations and negative effect of each ingredient be balanced by the positive effect of another? Well, yes, perhaps, but not enough to make this concoction a viable replacement for commercial flower food. And you'd probably be better off leaving out the bleach.

Success rating: 4

So what's in commercial flower foods that make them so successful? Quite simply, a combination of the correct nutrients (sucrose or glucose sugars) to sustain the flowers, biocides to kill the germs, and an acidity that lowers the pH balance of the water and helps the flowers to drink more easily.

Commercial plant food manufacturers are very cagy about revealing their secret recipes, but some smart folks in Suffolk have decided that if you can't join 'em, beat 'em. On 19 June 2006, it was announced that a small company had developed an environmentally friendly product to combat MRSA: Bio-Shield. Not only is their product non-toxic to humans, but, diluted in water, can keep a cut-flower bouquet alive for up to 10 times longer than garden-variety florists' food.

Scientific advances will indubitably prove a great boon to flower lovers, but they'll never be able to outdo what flowers like best: a little bit of TLC. Tips and tricks abound, but if you really want your flowers to last longer, simply play the perfect host to your floral guests by changing the water, resnipping the stems and pulling off any wilted leaves every few days. You can also perk up heat-exhausted blossoms by soaking the entire flower in a sink of cold water for about an hour.

And feel free to talk to your flowers, but be careful not to cause unease amongst any other guests who may be visiting.

This article was written by flower enthusiast Ivy Wood who contributes to the official blog for online flower delivery boutique Serenata Flowers. Article reproductions must include a link to http://blog.serenataflowers.com

This is a perfect activity for a summer time but don't let the kids know this is a learning game.

There are big flowers, little flowers, bell-shaped flowers, red flowers, yellow flowers and so many more kinds of flowers that surround us everywhere in the summer months, whether in your backyard or at a park.

Even a visit to a flower nursery will be enjoyable because the kids will be happily looking at all the flowers to find answers for their Scavenger Hunt list and they will never know they are learning about nature in one of its most beautiful forms.

This scavenger hunt should be adult-guided and fun, better for kids ages 6 to 10 than younger children.

For teenage hunts, a special twist hunt list just for them -- that will make them think creatively and have fun at the same time.

Sample Scavenger Hunt Questions

(create questions by ages of the hnters)

A flower shaped like a bell

A group of flowers that is shaped like an umbrella

A flower that has spots or stripes inside the petals

A flower with four petals

A flower with three petals

A flower with leaves shaped like a heart

A flower that is trumpet shaped

A flower that smells good

A flower that smells bad

A flower with no leaves

A flower that is round

A flower that has points

A flower that grows really tall

A flower that is on the ground

A flower that is so beautiful (child's perception)

A flower that is ugly (child's perception)

A Flower that is favorite color flower

A flower that has two colors on the flower petals

A flower with a very long stem

A flower that is very tiny

Other Ideas for Questions:

A Bee (where did you see one?)

A Butterfly (what color was it?

A Caterpillar (where was it?)

A cat?

A dog?

A bird?

A birdhouse

A bird bath

A red flower

A yellow flower

A blue flower

A purple flower

A white flower

A lady with a hat

A man mowing the lawn

Etc.


TEENAGERS FLOWER SAFARI

SCAVENGER HUNT

Add this special twist if teenagers are the flower safari hunters:

Ahead of time preparations:

List flowers you know are in the area of the hunt

Draw a vvery simple outline sketch of each flower on the list

Ask the hunters to find the flower and list where it was located

Ask the hunters to use each simple flower sketch to convert it to another object, such as a cartoon character, a house, a car, etc.

Enjoy these fun projects with your children by letting your imagination be your guide... be an "un-grownup", it's fun! The author has been an 'un-grown-up' for all of her adult years, way too many to brag about!

Meet the Original Party Girls!
Mary Ann & Kimberly are a mother and daughter team dedicated to providing a treasure trove of free kids birthday party, baby shower, cake decorating, baby and bridal shower and holiday party ideas to help parents and grandparents create lasting celebration memories. They also have all the party and cake decorating supplies you need to make your celebrations stand out. They are here to help and want to make thePartyWorks.com your celebration destination!

The buzz in gardening seems to be about whether to plant annual or perennial flowers. Some of these flowers give us textures, shapes and heights, while others just go blooming crazy all season long. Here's a basic flower guide for these two kinds of flowers that will help you design a spectacular wash of color for your garden.

Annual Flower Guide:

Annuals do all of their growing in one season. The seeds germinate in the spring, the plants bloom and grow all season, and then they die. You will have to plant them each season, but the result is instant color. Also, if you make an error in your design about color or height, the wrong effect will only last a year.

Annuals produce an endless array of colors and sizes, and most are easy to plant and grow. They can be used for cuttings, in mass plantings, for edging, in rock gardens, in mixed beds, in containers, and in hanging baskets.

Indeed, most annuals are fabulous plants for the weekend gardener because they are so versatile and not too finicky. For all their glorious color, annuals are very inexpensive. You can start them indoors as seedlings, or buy bedding plants from your nursery or garden center. The majority of annuals bloom for most of the growing season.

Here's a list of some great annual flowers that are easy to grow, show off spectacular colors, and are worth every dig of a trowel to plant:

Begonia - Grows 6 to 12 inches tall. Flowers are white, pink, red, rose and scarlet.

Tricolor Chrysanthemum - Grows 2 to 3 feet. Flowers are white, yellow, gold, red, or maroon, with contrasting color bands on the base of the petals. (This chrysanthemum is different from the perennial chrysanthemum called the "garden mum".)

Dahlia - Grows 1 to 6 feet. Flowers are every color except blue and green.

Geranium - Grows up to 2 feet. Flowers are white, pink, scarlet, orangish-red, red, and salmon.

Impatiens - Grows to 1½ feet. Flowers are white, pink, rose, scarlet, violet, salmon, and orange.

Marigold - Grows 6 inches to 4 feet. Flowers are yellow, gold, orange white, near red, and mahogany.

Zinnia - Grows 6 to 36 inches. Flowers are all colors except blue.

Perennial Flower Guide:

Basically speaking, perennial flowers live more than one growing season, returning year after year. When perennials finish blooming, their foliage provides wonderful background texture, form, and color for your garden.

Perennial flowers may only bloom for a short spell and at certain times of the growing season. This makes it more difficult to plant a garden limited only to perennials and still achieve the desired effect of constant color. For this reason, mixing perennials with annual flowers is the key to a fabulous garden of continual color.

Let's look at some favorite perennial flowers that offer magnificent color and depth to any garden, and will grow just about anywhere:

Butterfly Weed - Grows 1½ to 3 feet. Flowers are bright orange (great for attracting butterflies!) with pretty pods covering the plant once the flowering ends. Blooms all summer.

Chrysanthemum or "Garden Mum" - Grows 1 to 4 feet. Flowers are all colors but blue. Blooms in the fall.

Daylily - Grows 1½ to 3½ feet. Flowers are all colors except blue and white. Blooms from late spring to fall.

Felicia - Grows 1 to 2 feet; Flowers are blue-petalled with yellow centers. Blooms from early summer to fall.

Hosta - Grows up to 3 feet. Flowers are white, lavender or pale violet, often with colorful foliage. Blooms from summer to early fall.

Peony - Grows 2 to 4 feet; Flowers are white, pink, maroon or red. Blooms from late spring to early summer.

Shasta Daisy - Grows 1 to 4 feet. Flowers have white petals usually with a yellow center. Blooms all summer.

With a little experience and planning, you can create a flower garden that blooms from one end to the other, from spring through fall. Bring together a few of these annual and perennial flowers for a wonderful mixed garden.

Learn as you go, make your own improvements... but most of all enjoy whatever time you do have in your garden. Soon you'll be writing your own flower guide inspired by your garden creations!

Flowers represent joy and happiness, desirability and fertility and vigor and life force. Ideal gifts to present to anyone on any occasion, flowers are also tokens of sympathy and gratitude. Over the past few years, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of flower shops that offer flowers and floral arrangements. The flower suppliers are now providing various attractive offers such as discount rates; discount flower delivery schemes and free shipping.

Discounted flower delivery is one popular scheme offered by florists. These schemes vary from one another depending on the shop. Some offer discounted delivers in certain areas, while others offer shipping at discounted rates overseas. Most flower shops provide same day discount flower delivery services; but this is applicable only within a specified distance of the stores. Discount flower delivery services are offered to a wide selection of floral arrangements that include birthday flowers, mother's day flowers, Valentine's Day flowers, Christmas flowers, get well flowers, baby congratulation flowers, friendship flowers and anniversary flowers.

Almost every flower shop assures the freshness and quality of the flowers they deliver. When selecting an established flower supplier so with an established company who will guarantee their services. Be aware that ordering ahead of time may not give you an additional discount on flowers, since the flowers have a shelf life and are grown fresh all of the time. However, some companies do offer discounts for wholesale purchases and sometimes advance purchases, just to secure your business. This can begin a valuable relationship for both customer and business.

There are several types of exotic flowers to best suit any occasion. And of course, depending on your personal taste, you will want to choose the best exotic flowers you can obtain to be the perfect flowers, the most adequate for the purpose they will be serving. For example: at someone's funeral, you may want to choose bouquet of flowers that the deceased would have loved. Here are some other examples (after all, these flowers are for happy occasions as well as the more tragic ones.

Musas:

The Chinese Musa flower is a stunning example of the kinds of exotic flowers that are perfect for gardens or bouquets.

Calatheas:

The exotic flower called the Genus Calathea is in the Marantaceae family of plowers, however it differs from other genera. The Marantaceae family of exotic flowers, in which Maranta and Ctenanthe are included, are unbranched inflorescences cone-like clusters.

The calathea comes from tropical South America, Calathea, it has about three hundred different species. These flowers love the shade and humidity, they are virtually all grown in much of the world only indoors. These flowers require full shade from the sun. However, if they must, they can handle a small amount of morning sun. These exotic flowers need their soil to be moist but well-drained soil, the use of a fertilizer is recommended.

When, on the rare occasion that these exotic flowers are grown outside--you must be sure that they are healthy, they must be free from all pests and diseases. Some of calathea will die midwinter, but will return again midsummer.

Cymbidiums:

Cymbidiums contain approximately forty-four species they are found in the tropics of the old world. The elegant, large flowered types of cymbidiums come from the higher regions of the Himalayas, and they must be kept in cool conditions in order to bloom well.

Dendrobiums:

Dendrobiums actually have about one thousand different species in their enormous family, they have countess hybrids as well. However, there are many varied growing conditions for this type of exotic flower. It is recommended that one establish from where in the world, and at what altitude their plant is accustom to, in order to determine how to best take care of the plant.

Miltonias:

Miltonias are referred to as the Pansy Orchid sometimes. There are approximately ten different kinds of species, and miltonias are found primarily in Brazil, therefore they are warm-weather flowers, and there are many hybrids with wonderful fragrance, because the militona is such a fragrant flower to begin with. These flowers will add a wonderful sensory ambiance to their surroundings, because in addition to their scent they are extremely pleasing to the eye.

Odontoglossums:

Odontoglossums also have a wide range of species, approximately 0ne hundred and seventy-five. These exotic flowers originated in the mountains of South America, as well as in higher altitudes and are used to wet clouded forests. Thus these wonderful flowers must be tended to under cool conditions, many hybrids exist as well, so there are many types to choose from.

Oncidiums:

These are among the most popular exotic flowers and there are approximately six hundred different species in existence. They come from the tropics of the Americas, and few of them even grow in high altitudes, these also must be supervised under cooler conditions. Fortunately, the hybrids are more tolerant than the species, you will find that this is true for most plants.

Paphiopedilums:

Paphiopedilums, the root word being Paphinia--who was the greek Goddess that the Romans later named Venus. Around sixty species exist, coming from Asia India and New Guinea. There are species with mottled leaved which need to be kept in warm conditions. And the paphiopedilums that are plain leaved and single flowered require intermediate/cool conditions, and plain leaved multiflowered species have to have warm environments to survive.

Phalaenopsis:

Phalaenopsis, or the exotic flower that is often called the Moth Orchid comes from Java and the South Seas, the Phillipines and Queensland Australia. Therefore, they are definitely warm weather growers, and they do prefer to be in the shade. Phalaenopsis would make the perfect houseplant, they are very free flowering and also make great gifts.

Vandas:

Vandas have approximately fifty species. Several hybrids have been derived from the tropics, Asia, and the orient--as far down as Australia. These hybrids require a warm environment that includes plenty of bright light. Many people hang them in their homes or gardens from wooden baskets.

Water Gardening:

Water Lilies and Lotuses are a beautiful touch to your pond, or waterfall etc. Major cultivars of water lilies and lotuses--almost all of which are hybridizers--explore the best landscapes in which to grow these exotic flowers.

Nymphaea and Nelumbo:

The genera Nymphaea and Nelumbo are beautiful species of exotic flowers, other genera in the waterlily family include Nuphar, Victoria, Euryale, Barclaya

Draecena:

Draecena (otherwise known as the dragon's tree) is an exotic flower that neither requires regular watering, nor does it need much light at all. It's a symbol of power and prosperity. These flowers may live up to one thousand years. A perfect gift for yourself or a friend or family member who does not have that much time for gardening, but would love to have a beautiful garden, however small, and something elegant and exotic to pass on for generations to come.

Anyone can add a striking touch of color to their home, or even the office with the elegant of wild exotic flowers. Exotic plants and flowers add a beautiful touch to any garden, home, patio or yard, as well as weddings, celebrations, banquets, and more solemn occasions.