If Your Bridal Bouquet Could Speak

Your wedding is one of the most memorable of your life. A great deal of planning goes into making this day a perfect expression of your love for one another, love of family, and uniquely yours. The day is abundant with symbolism and tradition: the dress, attendants, unity candle, music, and flowers. Yes, flowers can offer their own distinctive symbolism and therefore another level to the ceremony.

Tradition holds that Persia introduced the symbolic use of flowers as an expression of emotion, or hidden message. Later, due to trade and travel, Victorian England and America embraced the seductive language of flowers. You, too, can enjoy placing secret meaning into your floral selection,

The red rose is by far the recognizable symbol of love, a hold over from Victorian times. Roses are the most popular flower for both the wedding bouquet and decoration because of their beauty and intoxicating fragrance. However, the choice in color can lend an interesting touch:

Red respect, unconscious beauty, courage, love Pink grace, admiration, thank you White purity, innocence, secrecy, silence Yellow gladness, joy, friendship

An example of utilizing rose language, before the bride and groom approach the minister, or official, they present each parent with a red rose and after the ceremony present each in-law with a yellow rose or maybe incorporating pink roses into the hairpiece of a flower girl or your attendants. You do not have to limit yourself to roses other flowers speak to us as well. For example, the tulip is quite popular in wedding bouquets and, it too is froth with meaning:

Red declaration of love Variegated beautiful eyes Yellow hopeless love

Floral arrangements are limited to blossoms, however, there are many aromatic herbs that have lovely foliage that will add another dimension to the bouquet as well as their own secret message:

Wintergreen harmony Lavender luck, devotion Fennel strength Oregano joy

Other greenery to consider:

Ivy fidelity Fern grace

Whether you choose a cascade, cluster or hand-tied garden bouquet for you, or a buttonier for your groom add more breadth to your choice with the language of flowers. Choose them not only for their visual beauty but for the secret message they will hold between you and your bridal party, family, or the one you love.

Information for this article obtained through the following sources:

The Language of Flowers: Symbols and Myths by Marina Heilmeyer

The Language Of Flowers by Sheila Pickles

AE Wise is an avid reader, and writer. Her work is featured on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers. This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.Prye.Com/ which is a site for Wedding Invitations.

 

You can Make Your Own Cookie Bouquet at Home

If you like, you can make your own cookie bouquet at home pretty easily.

I recommend baking sugar cookies and using a cookie cutter with a hole in the middle, such as a flower.

Once you have frosted your cookies, fill the hole with a gumdrop or other similar candy.

Then stick one end of a cooking skewer into the gumdrop and the other end into a Styrofoam ball that you have glued into the bottom of a vase or other container.

Arrange your cookies in the vase, cutting some skewers shorter than others to more closely resemble a flower arrangement.

Another alternative is to insert the wooden skewers into the bottom of your cookies before baking.

If you use this method, be sure to gently push the dough around the skewer after inserting it. This method allows you to use a greater variety of cookie cutters, as they don't require a hole in the middle.

Just be sure to make cookies that will not be too heavy once baked.

At http//www.best-cookie-recipes.com/cookie-bouquet.html you could see a variety of cookie baskets and cookie bouquets, they're a great project to complete with your children to deliver to a neighbor or a teacher.

Experiment a little with different shapes and arrangements, and most of all, have fun!

Efrain Morales is the owner and webmaster of www.Best-Cookie-Recipes.com. He publishes a monthly newletter called The Best Cookie Recipe Exchange where he shares tips and techniques on how to use cookie recipes to bake gourmet cookies at home.

Bridal Bouquets - Here's 5 Alternatives

Bridal bouquets are the most popular accessories for brides to walk down the aisle. But what if you want to be a bit different? Here are 5 alternative ideas that will work for both brides and bridesmaids:

1) Wrist Corsage

This is a small arrangement of flowers that is secured to the wrist. Roses, orchids and other small-headed flowers work best.

The great thing about a wrist corsage is that both of your hands are free - ideal if you're going to be hugging lots of guests.

Bianca Jagger looked very chic having chosen a wrist corsage instead of a bouquet when she married Mick Jagger.

2) Pomander

A pomander (also called a kissing ball) is a round ball shape of flowers that has a delicate ribbon handle. This is easy to carry as the ribbon just slips over the wrist. Roses are the most popular choice for pomanders but you could also use gerberas or carnations.

Pomanders are often carried by bridesmaids and flowergirls, but can look spectacular for the bride herself.

3) Hair Decoration

Hair decorations can be both elegant and stylish. You can choose one large flower such as a lily to form the focal point of your arrangement. This type of arrangement is worn on the side of the head.

Alternatively you could go for a circular 'halo' arrangement, such as Audrey Hepburn wore at her wedding. She had a halo arrangement of white roses that was worn on top of the head.

In addition to flowers, you can incorporate beads, jewels and feathers into your hair decoration. Have a quick chat with your florist and you could come up with a unique design that suits your personality and complements your bridegroom's boutonniere.

4) Prayer Book

Another choice instead of holding a bridal bouquet is to hold a prayer book or bible. Some brides like to decorate the prayer book with a small arrangement of flowers and/or ribbons.

You could use a cherished bible that was given to you as gift, or you could buy a new one as a symbol of your new life and how you plan to lead it.

5) Lantern or Candle Holder

These are great for church weddings, especially if it is an evening ceremony. Candles are very romantic and will add to the ceremony. Use non-drip candles and a lantern design that fully encloses the naked flame to reduce the risk of an accident.

The base of the lantern or candleholder can be decorated with a small arrangement of flowers to match the colors of your wedding theme.

Paul Ajao is co-founder of wedding florists Pure Botanics. For great ideas on creating beautiful bouquets, centerpieces and boutonnieres for your wedding, check out his website at http://www.wedding-flowers-guide.com

Wedding Bouquet: Think Different

A simple and elegant wedding bouquet is the perfect accessory to compliment your gorgeous gown and smiling face. We say 'simple' because you want your wedding bouquet to highlight your dress, not detract from it. If your bouquet is too 'flashy,' your dress may not receive the attention it deserves.

Nevertheless, this is not to say that your bridal bouquet should be plain, white, and boring. That's not the case at all. Just keep the flashiness in check! As a matter of fact, it's become very popular for the modern bride to use pastel colors in their bridal bouquets. Soft pink's and blue's can add a magnificent touch to any wedding dress. The hue's are very uplifting and pleasant.

Believe it or not, not everyone prefers a bouquet of fresh flowers. Many women have allergies, which prevent them from enjoying the subtle scent a fresh flower can bring. To accommodate these brides, many florists make bouquets of silk flowers. Instead of frowning at this idea, consider the advantage of silk flowers: like your love, silk flowers will never wither. They're a keepsake that will last for years! In addition, silk flowers require less maintenance during the course of the evening, and they're usually less costly.

However, if you have your heart set on a bouquet of real wedding flowers, have you considered wild flowers? This is a wonderful idea if you're having a garden-style or country wedding in the outdoors. The colors and scents are spectacular and very pleasing to the senses. They will look magnificent with any dress in the spring or summer. Unfortunately, wildflowers do not really go with the 'theme' of a winter wedding.

If you haven't decided what type of flowers to use for your wedding bouquet, mull these options over. Use your resources (such as the internet) to look at different varieties of silk flowers and real wild flowers. Several wildflowers that are suggested are: Queen Anne's lace, poppies, Canada Lily, European Columbine, New England Aster, true forget-me-not, Indian blanket, and Carolina Spring Beauty.

Don't be afraid to ask your local florist for quotes on bouquets of such flowers in comparison to other fresh flowers. You might discover that you'll save a bundle going the route of wildflowers as opposed to a bouquet of roses and another variety. While you're at the florist, ask to see pictures of different wildflower bouquets and silk bouquets (which they may have arranged). They say a picture says a thousand words! You might be blown away by a bouquet arrangement that you may not have considered before

Jen Carter is owner of My Wedding Blog, a free wedding planning guide about weddings. The following article is available in our wedding flowers category.

Wedding Bouquet - On A Mission Keeping Up With Tradition

Flower bouquets the button hole and centre pieces will always be one of the star attractions at weddings. Flower posy/bouquets denote a blossoming maiden which evidently helps reflect her feelings and emotions. The planning of the wedding bouquet takes just as much careful thought behind getting it right for on the day as that of the wedding gown.

Whatever race/religion, bouquets will still always be seen as a tradition to be kept. The more of natures natural beauties lining church pews/aisles will send out a lingering aromatic fragrance and a vast amount of colour to brighten up your day.

What to take into consideration when choosing your wedding bouquet:

1. By choosing seasonal flowers you will save time and money, if you insist on blooms out of season then you may find they have to be shipped in from another country. Time is important when you order and receive the flowers, you will want them fresh therefore a stronger sweet smelling scent.

2. If you have silk flowers in mind then better still this way you are guaranteed your particular favourite flower no matter the time of year so no need to put the wedding on hold.

3. Do not make the mistake of letting the bouquet outshine or cover your figure if you are of petite frame the reason being is, your posture maybe affected thus giving off the wrong image of how your wedding gown should look. If the elegant style of the gown is to stay then make sure to choose pastels instead of strong vibrant colours. (Depending on the wedding outfit of course)

4. Make sure that your flowers still hold up for late afternoon photo shoots should your wedding service take place in the morning. A preferred method by brides to keep the flowers fresh while not posing in front of a camera or piling on the pounds at the wedding feast, (who cares now you got your man)only joking is to have a bouquet holder close at hand. Ask the florist for advice on which flowers wilt more quickly than others, by having this information under your garter you will at least know the ones to avoid.

5. On your first visit to the flower shop don't let the florist conjure up what they think you have in mind, they are not mind readers, It is only you at this point knows what you are looking for. Make it easy on both yourself and the florist by taking a photo of the style and design of the bouquet, another good idea is to bring along a sample piece of gown fabric so that the wedding coordinator/florist can select the correct shade of flower to compliment the wedding dress. Additional touches to Bouquets include ribbons lace beads or pearls.

6. Say it with flowers and mean it, why not choose a flower that has special meaning? Take the Stephanotis which stands for happiness in marriage, then we have the Rose denoting love and being true, another fabulous flower is the Tulip with a meaning declaring perfect love, why not have them all if your betrothed means that much to you.

7. Bouquets are becoming more personalized these days so design yours to suit your personality, everyone else is so why not you. Clusters of flowers more widely known as nose gays can vary in sophistication and will fit any personality. Beauty prevails in the flower cascading bouquet which is seen a lot at traditional weddings.

Flowers where the stems are wrapped in ribbons are called Hand-tied bouquets. It is these bouquets that bring a casual aura more often to garden ceremonies. We also have the Contemporary bouquet where flowers are arranged tastefully in a style with no geometric form but still as gorgeous as any other hand held bridal piece, normally used in sophisticated weddings.

8. If your choice is Roses, Lilies, Orchids, Tulips, Stephanotis or Daisies for your bridal bouquet then you have just picked the top flowers that have dominated many a wedding in the past and in the future to come.

Hours of research brought me to this fabulous site and hey what do you know everything you could possibly need is all here to make your wedding day special..Well worth a visit dont just take my word for it http://www.your-wedding-planning-help.com.

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Wedding Bouquet Preservation

You've put all this effort into finding mementos for everyone else, but what about you? Of course you'll want to save a piece of your own wedding as a token. It's become increasingly popular for women to keep their wedding bouquets. It can be done, ladies! Nevertheless, in order to keep it, you need to preserve it-and you don't need silk flowers to do it!

If you haven't decided which wedding flowers to use for your bouquet yet-let us make a suggestion: Red Roses. If you decide to use white, they will look ivory after you preserve them. And by preserving them, we mean dry -freezing them. Fortunately, many floral businesses dry-freeze their bouquets in advance. You can request to have this done. The actual process is called: substantiation. During this process, the water is removed from the petals and turn from a solid state to a gas. Then a post-treatment solution is applied to the bouquet to keep moisture from entering the petals.

Most florists will tell you that roses are the best wedding flowers for preservation. Tulips and any other waxy flowers are probably some of the worst, as the waxy substance slows down the removal of moisture. Carnations too, can be preserved. But unlike roses, which undergo substantiation, Carnations are usually silica dried.

If you silica dried your floral arrangements, you're probably wondering what you can do with them now. Silica drying is a temporary solution. Well, many brides take their silica dried flowers and dip them into hot paraffin. This will gift them a very glossy protective coating that will keep moisture at bay.

Nevertheless , green and foliage can be kept with a glycerin solution. Ivy for instance, will do best if you immerse the entire foliage into the solution. Note: many women swear by this method-place a few drops of green food coloring into the solution, as it's been said to keep the leaves from turning brown.

It's important to take several precautions after you've preserved your flowers. For instance: don't place the foliage or flowers into direct sunlight, as the natural colors will fade and dissipate. In addition, placing them in a vase or shadow-box will keep the dust from collecting on them.

It's always a good idea to practice on other wedding flowers and plants before the big day. This way you're no longer experimenting, you'll want exactly how to get the job done. Whichever method you try on your wedding bouquet, you'll be satisfied with fresh-looking long after your wedding day has come.

Jen Carter is owner of My Wedding Blog, a wedding planner all about weddings. The following article can be found in our wedding flowers category

Crystal Wedding Bouquets And Boutonnieres vs. Flowers

Swarovski crystal bouquets and boutonnieres are the ideal way to do something that is different and incredibly beautiful on your big day. They provide a perfect way to extend the theme of crystals or pearls that are in your dress and jewelry throughout your entire wedding party and d?cor.

The benefits of choosing crystals over flowers for you wedding day are endless. In my personal opinion, the number one reason to choose a crystal bouquet is the sheer impact of the sparkle that will catch your guests eyes as you walk around the corner. The first thing that you do is not only shine, but you will twinkle. The bouquets will fill rooms with rainbows if they are in natural sunlight and are unbelievably sparkly and bright even in candle light.

I have learned recently that not all women are head-over-heels for flowers. If you happen to be one of these, whether it is due to allergies or simply personal preference, don?t worry because you have an alternative to traditional bouquets and boutonnieres (see link below). You can choose crystals for your entire party or you can decide to set yourselves apart from the rest and just you and your groom can carry and wear them, this is up to you.

Another benefit of crystal bouquets and boutonnieres is that that they can be shipped very easily. Since destination weddings are very popular these days, you don?t have to worry about not being able to meet with a local florist before your wedding date. You can purchase your bouquets months ahead of time and take them with you.

Preservation of floral arrangements can be very pricey if you decide to pay someone to do it for you, yet very tedious and frustrating if you try to do it yourself. With Swarovski crystal bouquets and boutonnieres you don?t have to deal with any of it, the arrangements will look exactly the same as they did on your wedding day eternally, and you don?t have to do a thing. When you think about it, they are heirlooms from the day they are purchased.

The arrangements can also be customized to coordinate with your color scheme by using any of the myriads of colors, or combination of colors, that you have to choose from in Swarovski crystals and pearls. You can also match the colors of the ribbons to your bridal party?s dresses and tuxedos, the possibilities are endless.

 Penny Olson is the owner and designer for http://www.brilliant-wedding-jewelry.com Crystal Wedding Boutonnieres: http://www.brilliant-wedding-jewelry.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1 Crystal Wedding Bouquets: http://www.brilliant-wedding-jewelry.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2<

TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR WEDDING BOUQUETS LAST

Because a lot of the wedding preparations start in the morning and go well into the afternoon, the flowers will need to be delivered well before the ceremony. If it's a warm day, you might find you and your bridesmaids with wilted, dropping flowers. But don't worry; there are ways to avoid this as well.

Keeping it cool

Most of the bouquets and other floral arrangements will come in either vases or small plastic bags of water. These are designed to keep them moist and pert until the start of the wedding. And while keeping them in these packages will help the most for keeping your flowers from wilting, there are other ways to spruce them up.

If you should get flowers that aren't as perky, then you can run the ends of the bouquets under cold water as you cut the ends at an angle. This will help to create new channels for the water to flow through. Place the bouquets back into their original water and they should become straighter and livelier within an hour or so.

What you may read in some books is that you can use ice cubes in the water to help you make the flowers look better, but this only freezes the routes of water to the flower, and can cause even more harm to a sagging bouquet.

If you decide to take outdoor pictures, they you can take the bouquets out of the water, dry them off with a paper towel and stand and pose. Once you are back inside, you will want to put the flowers back into the water once more, to make sure that they get the most amount of water they can before the ceremony.

After the fact

If you're looking to preserve your bouquet, here are a few tips. Although many florists can help you with preserving the bride's bouquet, you can also do it yourself. One route is to hang the bouquet upside down as soon as you can after the wedding. This helps the flowers to keep their original shape as they air dry. The air drying process will take a while, so don't worry if you're still waiting on them to dry a month later.

Another way to preserve bouquets is to spray them with hair spray immediately following the wedding and hang them upside down. This creates a sort of layer of protection around the petals and can shield the flowers from losing their original shape.

Amy Spade is an expert on planning weddings, and she has written an amazing totally free minicourse on how to make sure that you have the day of your dreams, and avoid wedding day disaster!

Get the free course "Your Special Day from Start to Finish" now at at http://www.weddingdata.com

Crystal Wedding Bouquets and Boutonnieres vs Flowers

Swarovski crystal bouquets and boutonnieres are the ideal way to do something that is different and incredibly beautiful on your big day. They provide a perfect way to extend the theme of crystals or pearls that are in your dress and jewelry throughout your entire wedding party and d?cor.

The benefits of choosing crystals over flowers for you wedding day are endless. In my personal opinion, the number one reason to choose a crystal bouquet is the sheer impact of the sparkle that will catch your guests eyes as you walk around the corner. The first thing that you do is not only shine, but you will twinkle. The bouquets will fill rooms with rainbows if they are in natural sunlight and are unbelievably sparkly and bright even in candle light.

I have learned recently that not all women are head-over-heels for flowers. If you happen to be one of these, whether it is due to allergies or simply personal preference, don't worry because you have an alternative to traditional bouquets and boutonnieres (see link below). You can choose crystals for your entire party or you can decide to set yourselves apart from the rest and just you and your groom can carry and wear them, this is up to you.

Another benefit of crystal bouquets and boutonnieres is that that they can be shipped very easily. Since destination weddings are very popular these days, you don't have to worry about not being able to meet with a local florist before your wedding date. You can purchase your bouquets months ahead of time and take them with you.

Preservation of floral arrangements can be very pricey if you decide to pay someone to do it for you, yet very tedious and frustrating if you try to do it yourself. With Swarovski crystal bouquets and boutonnieres you don't have to deal with any of it, the arrangements will look exactly the same as they did on your wedding day eternally, and you don't have to do a thing. When you think about it, they are heirlooms from the day they are purchased.

The arrangements can also be customized to coordinate with your color scheme by using any of the myriads of colors, or combination of colors, that you have to choose from in Swarovski crystals and pearls. You can also match the colors of the ribbons to your bridal party's dresses and tuxedos, the possibilities are endless.

Visit Brilliant Wedding Jewelry for more ideas on Swarovski Crystal Wedding Bouquets and Swarovski Crystal Wedding Boutonnieres.

The Bridal Bouquet

Bridal bouquets are an inseparable part of wedding ceremonies. The history of bridal bouquet dates back to ancient times. Historically, bouquets symbolized fertility and prosperity. One cannot envision a bridal ceremony without a bouquet.

Bridal Bouquets have evolved through the ages. In the eighteenth century, the practice of carrying a bouquet of flowers or herbs became a popular tradition that symbolized delicateness, purity, and new life. Today, bridal bouquets are tossed to assemble single women to symbolize new life and to pass on the bride?s good fortune.

Wedding bouquets can be as simple as a small collection of flowers, or extravagant with a price tag of thousands of dollars.

It is quite common for brides to have two bouquets. The more elaborate of the two bouquets is made to be carried down the aisle and used in photographs while the smaller bouquet is to be thrown into the crowd of unmarried girls.

Florists take great pride in the wedding bouquets they design and offer. Rarely is the simple group of daises seen at today?s weddings. Instead, wedding bouquets now consist of a variety of floral designs, including combinations of calla lilies, roses, and sweet pea or traditional white lilies and roses. Even sunflowers have made their way into modern wedding bouquet arrangements. The most commonly used flowers are roses, tulips, peonies, hydrangeas, orchids, calla lilies or gardenias.

When choosing the flowers for your bouquet, consider the type of ceremony planned, the location of the ceremony and the style of dress you will be wearing. For example, a formal church wedding requires a more formal bouquet than an informal non-traditional wedding. Compliment an elegant ballroom gown with a bouquet of proper proportions. The bridal bouquet should always complement the gown, but it should not become the center of attention either. The bouquet should also be proportional to the bride's height. A cascading bouquet may be more appropriate to a tall bride than to one of smaller stature.

One image that invariably comes to mind is that of the bride in her white dress and veil carrying a beautiful bouquet of flowers. For some reason, when we think of a wedding, we always think of the wedding bouquet. Whether you carry a single rose or a bouquet of orchids, the flowers you choose for your wedding should serve as a symbol of your love.

Picking The Perfect Winter Wedding Bouquets

Few things are as critical to a successful wedding ceremony and reception as the flowers you choose.

The right winter wedding bouquets can highlight and compliment any type of wedding, from the most casual to the most elegant. The key is to match the wedding flowers to your taste, that of your fianc?, and that of your family members.

==Choosing A Florist Who Has A Lot Of Experience==

There are many different kinds of winter wedding bouquets on the market, and it is of course important to choose a florist who has a lot of experience in creating floral designs and bouquets for weddings.

Chances are you will be buying your winter wedding bouquets from the same florist who does your other wedding flowers, so it is important to shop around for the best value.

==View Bouquets Of The Florist's Past Work==

It is also always a good idea to look at other winter wedding bouquets the florist has created.

It is generally better and more desirable to look at the actual bouquets themselves, but if no such bouquets are available, you may be able to get an idea of the quality through photographs of past wedding ceremonies.

==Get References From All Florist You Are Considering Using==

It is also important to get references from any wedding florist you are considering and to be sure to follow up with those references. Be sure to ask those you contact what they liked, and what they did not like, about their wedding flowers.

This kind of first hand experience is one of the most valuable tools to use when shopping for the perfect flowers for your wedding.

==Make Sure that The Flowers Compliment The Colors Used In Your Wedding==

It is also important to make sure that the flowers you choose for your wedding and your bouquets compliment the colors which will be used in your wedding.

Choosing flowers in complimentary colors will help to provide a consistent look and feel to your wedding and it will make the church and reception hall all the more attractive for the big day.

Shaunta Pleasant is a professional writer and editor on wedding planning topics. Visit my site to learn more about planning the perfect wedding at http://www.best-wedding-plan.com/winter_wedding_bouquets.html

Cocos Island... Green Bouquet Is Seen Far Into The Sea

Cocos Island... Green Bouquet Is Seen Far Into The Sea

 by: Aventuras Elegantes

Cocos Island National Park

Sank in the middle of the infinite Pacific Ocean, we find the Cocos Island. It is one of the protected areas with the greatest diversity in terms of wildlife and one of the best places for Costa Rica Scuba Diving Vacation. It is a huge natural laboratory for scientists and nature lovers. It has 2.400 Ha, with 510 species of sea mollusks, 362 species of insects, 235 species of plants, 200 species of fish, 97 species of birds, 57 species of crustaceans, 3 species of spiders and 2 species of reptiles. In this huge diversity, there are over 130 species of endemic flora and fauna. It is an ideal place for scuba diving, snorkeling, bird watching and wildlife watching.

The trip to Cocos Island is in itself a great adventure. After traveling for over 36 hours on the blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, a "green bouquet is seen far into the sea".

Legends say that pirates and corsairs, like William Davies, Benito Bonito and William Thompson, found a safe place to hide their treasures in this Island. For many, Robert Stevenson was inspired on those tales of sailors to write his famous novel the Treasure Island.

Although you will not find golden medals or precious gems, you will find the most valuable treasure of all: The natural richness of flora and fauna.

As soon as you arrive, it is as if time is suddenly going back, as taking a leap to an old world, a place that remains intact through time. Cocos Island is probably one of the places with most endemic flora and fauna in the world.

In just 2.400 hectares, there have always been 139 endemic species in the national park. More than 230 species of plants, out of which 70 are endemic, including the Palo de Hierro (Sacogiottis holdridgei). More than 85 species of birds inhabit the park, but 3 of them can only be seen in Cocos Island National Park: Cuclillo from Cocos Island (Coccyzus ferrugineus); Mosquerito (Nesotriccus ridgwayi) and Pinzon from Cocos Island (Pinaroloxias inomata). Two reptiles joined the selective and exclusive list of species that are unique in the world: Lizard (Norops townsendi) and the Salamander (Sphaerodactuylus pacificus).

If you are already amazed with the natural panorama in land, come on and explore the depths...many more treasures are waiting for you. Scuba Diving at Cocos Island implies a unique experience for any diver as soon as you go down, a world full of life appears before your eyes, thousands of fish swimming around you forming a synchrony of colors, a rainbow in the plenitude of the ocean.you will be hypnotized when your eyes are set of great schools of hammer shark (Sphyna lewini)or when you see the amazing white finned sharks (Triaenodon obesus) swimming very close to you.

Today, as it was for the buccaneers, the only way to get to Cocos is by boat. Divers, who make up the vast majority of visitors, usually arrive on live-aboard dive boats (a 9- or 10-day trip from the port of Puntarenas). If they go ashore, it's usually only to dry out for a spell. But exploring the 14-square-mile, virtually uninhabited island that Jacques Cousteau once called the most beautiful in the world isn't really a hardship. There are other Cocos Islands in the world (near Guam, Australia, and Mauritius to name a few), but there is only one "Shark Island. " That's a good thing, right?

Field Notes

Scuba Diving: As dive site names go, Dirty Rock isn't the most inviting, but this rocky outcropping about a half mile off the north shore of the island has one of the largest hammerhead shark populations in the world, along with giant manta rays. Expect 120-foot-plus visibility. For even more mantas, head to Dampier Head at the southwest corner of the island, where rays with wingspans up to 10 feet seem to like to swim with divers.

Nature, Nature and Nature. A natural laboratory similar in some ways to the Galapagos (which lacks the tropical rainforest here), Cocos is home to an estimated 60 endemic animal species. Bird watchers will note that the rocky islets off the island are prime nesting areas for seabirds, including the red-footed booby, and that three of the island's 70 or so species include three found nowhere else: the Cocos Cuckoo, the Cocos Finch (shades of Darwin!), and the Cocos Flycatcher.

Hiking: For a little legwork between dives, head up 2,092-foot Mount Yglesias, the highest peak on the island. The trail to the summit, one of several on the island, leads through rainforest (and passes the wreck of a B-24 in the jungle), and the view of the Pacific at the top might even make you forget about your swim fins for a while.

For more information, visit http://www.mytraveltocostarica.com/

Aventuras Elegantes is a Costa Rica Travel Expert. Visit http://www.mytraveltocostarica.com/ info@mytraveltocostarica.com

 

Cleaning Silk Bouquets In 3 Simple Steps

A Silk bouquet can last a lot longer than a bouquet made of real flowers, but it will still droop, and get dusty, over time. Fortunately a little bit of preventive care can go a long way towards keeping your bouquet looking like new.

A Silk bouquet can last a lot longer than a bouquet made of real flowers, but it will still droop, and get dusty, over time. Fortunately a little bit of preventive care can go a long way towards keeping your bouquet looking like new.

It doesn't take long either. 5 minutes spent caring for your bouquet every 3-6 months will keep your bouquet looking as good as it did they day you bought it.

Read on to discover the 3 simple steps to keeping your silk bouquet in pristine condition. You'll also discover the one thing you should NEVER do to clean your bouquet. Make this mistake, and you might ruin your bouquet forever!

Step 1: Rice Cleaning

Place your bouquet in a plastic shopping bag, along with half a cup of white rice. Twist the bag closed, and then shake the bag for about 60 seconds.

The rice in the plastic bag will get statically charged, and the dust will be attracted to the rice. In the past, people used salt instead of rice, but salt was found to be too hard, and would scratch the flowers. White rice is softer, so it won't damage the flowers at all.

Step 2: Fluffing

Once you have cleaned your silk flowers, hold the bouquet by the handle and then turn it upside down and give it two or three good hard shakes, dropping the rice back into the bag. This should loosen any rice caught in the flowers and also clear away any left over dust. It will also "fluff" the flowers, and give them back their original shape.

Step 3: Plumping And Teasing

After fluffing the bouquet, it is time to make sure all the flowers are in the right position. Using the back of your hand, go around the back of the bouquet and lightly push the flowers back into position, to "plump up" the bouquet. Once you are happy with the general shape, then tease the flowers into the correct position by lightly pulling and pushing on the individual flowers and petals until they are correctly placed.

That's it! Simple, wasn't it? Now, you may have read that you can lightly spray your bouquet with soapy water to get it clean. Regardless of what you may have read, don't ever do this! Never spray your bouquet with water because the wet dust will run and stain your flowers. And stained flowers do NOT look right!

If you follow these simple steps every 3-6 months, your bouquet will stay beautiful, and will be around long enough for future generations to enjoy.

Peta D'Silva has been making silk bouquets for over 14 years. She is the webmaster of http://www.visionsofsilk.com, a website featuring a catalog of bouquets that you can buy, as well as easy-to-understand articles about creating your own silk bouquets.

Valentine Chocolate Kiss Bouquet

Chocolate is a very popular gift for Valentines Day. Many gift boutiques and flower shops offer beautiful candy bouquets that make a wonderful surprise for any Valentine. However, these arrangements can be quit costly. The good news is that these arrangements arent that difficult to make. Try making this homemade rendition that is sure to make your Valentine feel very special.

Supplies:

~ One terra cotta pot 5 to 6 inches in diameter ~ A piece of Styrofoam or oasis (green florist foam) that fits snuggly into the pot ~ Red and Silver (metallic) acrylic paints ~ Foam paint applicator ~ Red and Silver Hershey Kisses ~ Iridescent cellophane wrapping paper ~ Long bamboo skewers ~ Green floral tape ~ Silk rose leaves (optional) ~ Long-stemmed red silk roses (optional) ~ Dried babies breath ~ Red bow ~ Red or pink tissue paper

Directions for the pot:

Paint the pot red and allow it to dry thoroughly. It may take two coats of red paint. Using the metallic silver paint, decorate the pot rim with a scroll design or small flowers. Paint the body of the pot with hearts. Allow to dry thoroughly. If desired, you can use a clear, protective coating to protect the decorative finish. The pot can be used later for holding a candle or individually wrapped candy. For additional ideas on how to decorate your pot, take a look at this web page: http://www.patriciaspots.com/valentineideas.htm.

Cut the Styrofoam or oasis and fit it snuggly in the pot. Crumple some red tissue and glue it on top to hide the Styrofoam.

Directions for making the rose buds:

1. Cut a four-inch square of cellophane. Holding a piece of cellophane in your left hand, place the tip of one of the red wrapped kisses in the center of the square. Add the other red kiss to the bottom of the first kiss (flat side to flat side) and wrap the cellophane around both pieces, gathering the corners together around the tip of the other kiss.

2. Insert the flat end of a skewer into the gathered cellophane until it meets the tip of the Hershey's Kiss. Wrap the gathered corners together as tightly as you can without breaking the cellophane.

3. Tape the "rosebud" onto the skewer with the floral tape. Continue taping down the length of the skewer, leaving about 1/4 inch up from the point uncovered.

4. Optional: Tape the silk rose leaves onto the stem.

5. Poke the sharp end of the "rosebud" into the Styrofoam filled pot and arrange your roses to look like a bouquet.

Continue making rose buds in silver and red until you have a dozen.

6. Fill in the gaps with silk red roses (optional) and babies breath.

7. Attach the red bow at the base of the arrangement. Wrap the entire arrangement in more iridescent cellophane. Don't forget a card with the following statement: "Roses are red and violets are blue. These are just a few of the 'Kisses' in store for you! Happy Valentine Day to my Best Friend."

Martha Matthews is the Editor of Christian-Homemaking.com, a web site with resources dedicated to Christian homemaking. In addition to her web site, she also has a popular free monthly newsletter for Christian wives called The Wives of Excellence Newsletter. To subscribe send a blank email to wivesofexcellence-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Or visit our web site at http://www.christian-homemaking.com/newsletter.html

Choosing your Wedding Bouquet

Dont know a Rose from a Rhododendron?



Every bride needs a bouquet fact. Not every bride is interested in flowers, their delicate formation, what part of the world they originate, just how much is this going to cost me?

Irrespective of your interest or lack of in your bouquet, it has to be colour co-ordinated with the bridal party. Every bridesmaid will need a bouquet, obviously smaller than the brides, bouquet or hand held posies for the flowers girls, button holes for the Dads, Grooms, Best Men and Pageboy. Stick to the following guidelines and (hopefully!) you wont go too far wrong.

What time of the year are you getting married?

This will determine what selection of flowers will be available to you If you want a specific flower that may be out of season, a reputable florist will be able to order it in for you but be ready to pay the price.

Do you have a favourite flower?

If so, incorporate it in your bouquet as the main flower with possibly only some greenery or babys breath added to pad out the bouquet.

What height are you?

You may ask what bearing this has on your bouquet!! If you are small in stature you do not want a large (wide) bouquet as it will only dwarf you. Select instead a long and narrow bouquet which will give you height. On the flip side, if you are a tall bride, you can opt for a larger bouquet but remember these bouquets can be heavy to hold.

If you see a bouquet that you like in either a magazine or on a website, keep a copy and bring it to your florist to give them an idea as what style you have in mind. It will make it easier on you both in the long run.

If you are decorating the venue of the wedding ceremony, remember less is more. An elaborate stand or two at the top is sufficient. If you wish to bring these floral arrangements to the reception, please give sufficient thought as to how (realistically) portable they are. Only give this job to someone you trust (speaking from experience here!)


Ensure that you get a quote in writing from your florist breaking down the costs so there wont be any hidden or surprise charges.


Flowers really do enhance a venue albeit church, reception room, wherever, so do put some thought into it.

Ideally, try and see your venue set up for another wedding. Take note of what they have done with the room and specifically where they placed the floral arrangements. If nothing else, it may give you some ideas of your own.


Colette O'Loughlin, Editor of Simply Weddings - Ireland's Premier Weddings Website. Truly taking the stress out of saying "I Do"


 

Wedding Bouquets for Life

One of the most beautiful of the bride's adornments at a wedding is the bouquet. Normally constructed of fresh flowers, the wedding bouquet would last for a week or two, and then have to be dried or tossed. Today that is not the case; today's modern bride has options that are more permanent.

There are various bridal books, magazines and shops to help you choose the perfect style and color. The arrangement you select should be a reflection of your personality and/or the color scheme of your wedding.

A growing popularity in wedding flowers is silk flowers. Silk flowers are non-allergenic, will never wilt and can be kept as a remembrance of your special day for years to come. Another advantage over silk flowers is their cost and durability.

Another option for the wedding bouquets is stunning handmade porcelain flowers. Porcelain and silk flowers are available in traditional styles. With a seemingly unlimited array of colors, these amazing creations last a lifetime. Many come with a display stand included in the purchase price, so your wedding bouquet now has become an exquisite family heirloom.

As you plan your special day, consider the option of a porcelain handmade bouquet. The cost is a bit higher, yet the memories of your ceremony will be with you forever. In addition, your wedding bouquet will be with you as well, a permanent reminder of your love for each other.

David Chandler For more information, visit these sites: http://www.WeddingFlowersInfo.com http://www.WeddingPlanningInfoCenter.com http://www.WeddingReceptionInfo.com

How To Select An Appropriate Funeral Floral Arrangement

Traditional arrangements are usually found in the form of flowers and presented as a comfort to a grief-stricken family during a funeral. A floral tribute could be just the right choice whether it is a traditional burial or a non traditional burial; either way these floral arrangements help you express your sympathy. Flowers express feelings that often go unsaid or unseen; there are just so many words you can say to a person who has lost a loved one expressing your feelings with a floral arrangement is just fine.

You may purchase flowers for your flower arrangement in bulk; with so many lush colors to choose from, the arrangement can be exquisite. Having real flowers or dried flowers in your floral arrangement is a big decision; a person should only choose dried flowers if they are really understand that style. Flowers express shops can be found in a lot of cities; these shops are helpful when you are trying to get flowers in a hurry. Having real flowers in your floral arrangement is very nice, however do not expect the arrangement to last for more than a week. Ask your florist for certain varieties that open nicely; flowers with large heads and a lot of petals always look good in a floral arrangement.

There are several steps you may take to combat the rising cost of floral arrangements, but the first one is to compare before you buy. Flowers express shops do have florist who know what they are doing, therefore it is okay to stop at one of these quick shops to buy your quick floral arrangements. Dried flowers in glass domes that are designed very nicely help bring out the beauty in the dried floral arrangement. Traditional arrangements may occasionally feature roses, carnations, irises, and daisies, but there is a whole world of exotic flowers used in floral arrangements as well.

There are many places you can go to have a floral arrangement made for you besides the traditional grocery store flower shop. The various styles of japanese floral art can be found in several eastern floral arrangements available from ordering online. To make a profit from making floral arrangements is not a simple task; you must have skills that will bring your customers back for more. Having real flowers as opposed to having silk flowers in your floral arrangement is not always a good choice to make; silk flowers will out last real flowers. Flowers express shops will not have a big selection of flowers to choose from, therefore you will have to choose from what they have if you are in a hurry.

Still looking for funeral floral arrangement information? Try visiting http://www.type-of-flower-arrangement.info, a website that specalizes in providing floral arrangement advice, tips,resources and information on how to buy flower arrangements!

Floral Design Schools

Flower arrangement is an art and if backed by creativity, it appeals to all. Floral decorations are used for every occasion. It could be a wedding, party, birthday, of funeral. The art of floral designing is unique since not everyone is equipped to make different flowers look presentable in combinations. The combination of flowers and other decorations needs planning and concentration. The art of arranging flowers is very old and has its roots in the ancient Egyptian period.

The most popular floral designs are referred to as Ikebana, the Oriental style. There are many floral designers who create these designs by combining dried herbs and flowers. Floral designing is an art that also includes the making of wreaths, flower bows and garlands.

There are various schools that encourage floral designing as a career option. The school prospectus, details on the duration of the course, the location of the schools, the fee structure and the admission procedure, is made available online.

The educational qualification required to get admission in a floral design school is a high school certification. A formal training is given to the students to excel in the art. The floral design training schools teach the candidates how to trim flowers and arrange bouquets, wreaths, gardens and hand- sprays. The students also learn how to arrange and cut dried, fresh and artificial flowers and shape them, according to the customer's order.

The customers choose the time, place, day, price and the flowers. Floral design schools train the aspiring designers to take orders from customers and deliver the order to the specified place. The duties carried out by the floral designers are numerous. The floral design schools are like finishing schools that provide detailed information involved in the option and train the candidates in a way that they are benefited.

Design Schools provides detailed information on Design Schools, Fashion Design Schools, Interior Design Schools, Graphic Design Schools and more. Design Schools is affiliated with Top Photography Schools.

Funeral Flowers-A Guide to Sending Sympathy Floral Arrangements

The death of my father was probably the most painful experiences I ever had. Despite death being a natural part of life, most people, like me, still have difficulties getting thru this experience.

So how exactly do we alleviate the sorrow that the bereaved is experiencing?

It is traditional to have flowers sent to the church or funeral parlor by relatives and friends. But giving the florist a call, ordering some flowers, and getting them delivered is not quite enough. Some decorum needs to be followed regarding this tradition.

Sending the Flowers to the Proper Places

The recovery process of the mourning family is made faster because of the different ceremonies organized during the grieving process. Visitations and viewings are held to welcome everyone who wants to pay their respects to the family. Funeral flowers may be delivered to the home, parlor, or place of worship where such ceremonies are held. If no such services are held, flowers may be delivered directly to the residence of the deceased.

Prior to the initial visit to the parlor or church, funeral flower planning should be organized by a close family member. Funeral directors often allow flowers to be delivered a day before the wake. But most people choose to send them on the morning of the ceremony. However, if the delivery can not be made in time, the florals can be sent to the home of the deceased.

What Kind of Sympathy Flower Arrangement to Send

The spouse of the departed usually chooses a Bleeding Heart, while other types of floral sympathy sprays may be delivered by relatives and associates.

The immediate family of the deceased can order the sympathy casket wreaths or casket covers.

But different floral arrangements like crosses, wreaths, and sprays may be requested by anybody who would like to extend their condolences to the family of the deceased.

Numerous arrangements of funeral flowers that are even more personalized are now offered for these occasions.

• Normally comprised of roses or sometimes calla lilies, casket arrangements are top choices of friends and relatives.
• For a beautiful display at the wake, funeral flower baskets are the ones usually ordered.
• Sympathy sprays are popular with groups where the deceased is a member of.
• An organization of the family of the deceased can send floral wreaths.
• One may also choose to send vase arrangements to the family or close friends of the deceased.

Note, however, that often after the funeral service the grieving family needs the most comforting. Sending flowers, a gift basket, or a simple note of "Know that I will be here if you need me" even weeks after the death is a beautiful act of compassion.

Sending flowers for the loss of a friend or relative's loved one is never easy. Often times, people are confused by which funeral flowers would be appropriate to send. In order to alleviate some of the stress of this decision for you, here are some traditional sympathy flowers, plants, and messages for sympathy cards to help you out.

Aurelia Fleur is an aspiring writer who recently experienced the death of her father and had a wonderful buying experience with http://www.Order-Flowers-Delivery.com

The Amazing Cape Floral Kingdom

South Africa's seventh World Heritage site, is the amazing Cape Floral Kingdom- the richest area of floral biodiversity on earth.

Science Fact
When the remarkable species of Fynbos found themselves on Planet Earth, the majority sought prime biodiversity hotspots to colonise, 80% of which fell on the Southern half of the African continent.

Here, as long as 80 million years ago, the pioneering Proteaceae species laid down their roots in and around Table Mountain and very soon were joined by the other two members of the Fynbos family, Ericas and Restios. Today, their wealthy kingdom stretches all the way along the Garden Route up to Port Elizabeth with a greater variety of plants than tropical rainforests.

Science Fiction?
The highly successful perpetuation of this species can be attributed to an almost unbelievable principle known in academic circles as ?adaptive radiation?. The process basically refers to the organism?s unique ability to genetically adapt to its surroundings. In order to demonstrate the outstanding value ?adaptive radiation? has to science in an extreme hypothesis, think of this genetic mutation that stems from ?survival of the fittest? as the human equivalent to growing gills with the advent of global warming, in order to out-perform competing organisms. Adaptive radiation is undoubtedly failsafe, powerful and effective since the Proteaceae family have enjoyed the sea and surf of Southern Africa?s coastline from as far back as the Late Cretaceous period.

To burn or not to burn?
Fynbos is also dependant on a fascinating process known as Serotiny. Much like the Phoenix, in a 14 year cycle, the heat of the fires melt the resins that protect the seeds in the cones allowing them to germinate and sprout triumphantly from the ashes.

Experience this miracle of nature from any one of the following Protea hotels, beginning in Cape Town with the Victoria Junction, Sea Point and North Wharf, to the Outeniqua, King George and Knysna Quays along the Garden Route or Keurbooms River, The Sands @St Francis and the Protea Hotel Edward in Port Elizabeth.

For tailor-made travel advice to South Africa and to witness the miracle of the Cape Floral Kingdom, use CityGuideSA.com

Online Florists: Nationwide Floral Gift Delivery Service

Nothing says, ?I Love You? like flowers, and online florists can deliver anywhere. Most even offer same day delivery. As much as your loved ones mean to you, and as much as you think of them, it has happened to us all. A loved one crosses your mind, and suddenly you realize you have forgotten an important gift. Beautiful floral arrangements, ordered online, are a perfect solution for the gift that slipped your mind. They are also a great way to let someone know, in a special way, you are thinking of them.

When loved ones live far away, or you need a gift for someone who seems to have everything, shopping can be difficult, but a gift card can seem too impersonal. A floral arrangement from an online florist, can be carefully chosen for the individual, and when sent with an attached card saying, ?Please enjoy the gift card I sent you, by treating yourself to something special!? (Though you might need to make arrangements a little earlier, if you plan to arrange for the gift card and the arrangement to arrive at the same time) a beautiful arrangement from online florists can be the personal touch that changes an impersonal gift into one that is quite personal and thoughtful, while being very convenient as well.

Sending flowers from online florists is extremely convenient, and there are a multitude of sites from which to choose. Most online sites are reputable, and offer a money back guarantee. Just exercise a little caution and follow these tips, to be certain you get the best deal from a florist you can rely on.

Consider overnight flowers shippers to economize, if you don't need same day delivery, and know the recipient will enjoy arranging the flowers. Pick a company with experience, credentials, secure ordering, and guaranteed satisfaction. Stick to the medium and larger providers, who have the best ongoing relationships with their growers, shippers, and carriers. Just in case any question or problem should arise, avoid using any shopping site that doesn?t clearly display a phone number for your use.

Mrs. Party... Gail Leino is the internet's leading authority on selecting the best possible party supplies (http://partysupplieshut.com), using proper etiquette and manners while also teaching organizational skills and fun facts. The Party Supplies Hut has a huge selection of free party games, coloring pages, word find, word scramble, printable baby and bridal shower activities. Huge selection of grower direct Flowers Delivered right to your door by local florists or by the flower grower.