valentines flowers ideas 2012 - Valentine's dinner and dance will take you to Cloud 9

PANAMA CITY BEACH — Whether your taste runs to big band and swing, or Motown and oldies, a romantic and fun evening will have you rocking on Cloud 9 this Valentine’s Day.

Cloud 9 Orchestra will entertain at the Bay Banquet Hall on Feb. 14, playing love songs to set the feet tapping and heart pitter-patting.

“It is going to be a wonderful time, and there’s a rumor that the PC Bop and Lindy dance group may also be there,” said band founder and manager Scooter Ward. “They did an outstanding job at our last concert — tearing up the dance floor.”

But he added, “It’s OK if you don’t want to dance: I have two left feet.”

Cloud 9 Orchestra is a 10-piece, “Little Big” Band based in Panama City, comprised of professional musicians playing both secular and religious venues. The repertoire ranges from big band standards to Motown/Oldies, Disney tunes, rock ’n’ roll and more.

Ward said those unfamiliar with Bay Banquet Hall should come take a look. The former location of Hickory Lanes bowling was completely renovated in 2009-2010.

“When I walked in and saw it, I envisioned having the band there and seeing the dancers,” Ward said.

Ward wants the band to “give folks a Cloud 9 experience” whether in concert, at a wedding reception, corporate events, retreat centers or conferences. “Everyone can find joy and encouragement from the music,” he said, adding that he hopes to inspire future musicians and motivate other musicians who may have left their instruments collecting dust in the closet.

“We’re pulling out all the stops to celebrate this valentinesflowers ideas 2012 in style,” Ward said. “Bring that special someone in your life. … This is a great evening to come out and be in a nice setting.”

Attire for the evening is anything from business casual to semi-formal. Professional photographer Jan Bus of Jan Bus Designs Photography will be on hand to capture those “Cloud 9” experiences (“Like at prom,” Ward joked) and pictures can be ordered directly from her at the event.

Tickets are available as a combo ($30), which includes dinner and dance, or dance only ($18). There are also premium tickets (combo ticket plus a dozen roses), gold tickets (combo ticket with a half-dozen roses), and silver tickets (combo ticket with three roses). All flowers come fully arranged in a vase ($65 more for dozen; $37 more for half dozen; $20 for three roses), with Huey and Anna Morrison of One Stop Flowers in Callaway supplying a discounted rate for the event.

In addition, the new Comfort Suites of Callaway, which is about two minutes of drive time from the venue, has partnered with Cloud 9 to reduce the nightly rate on Feb. 14 from $89.99 to $74.99. (Call 215-5551 to make a reservation, and say you want the “Cloud 9 Orchestra rate.”)

Dance-only tickets will be available at the door but will cost at least $2 more per ticket. Dinner combo tickets must be purchased by Feb. 7 so the caterer (Catering by Bob) has an accurate head-count, and floral add-ons (platinum/gold/silver tickets) by Feb. 10. To purchase tickets, visit ValentinesOnCloud9.eventbrite.com.



MORE UPCOMING SNOWBIRD EVENTS

WINTER RESIDENT DANCES: Every Wednesday and Sunday through February at Boardwalk Beach Resort with DJ Jim Lawson. Admission is $5 at the door and includes free popcorn, raffles for door prizes, drink specials; enjoy interactive games, the Electric Slide and the Macarena. Details: BoardwalkBeachResort.com

NOAH'S ARK COMMUNITY GATHERING: 5:30 p.m. every Wednesday with readings, music and light meal. Free admission. Details: 234-6062 or NoahsArkPCB.com.

SHAGGIN’ AT SHARKY’S: 5-6 p.m. today at Sharky’s, 15201 Front Beach Road, Panama City Beach. Details: 235-2420 or SharkysBeach.com. Cut a rug on the dance floor during Snowbird dance and karaoke.

WINTER RESIDENT APPRECIATION DAYS: 9-11 a.m. Feb. 3 and 10, the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau will have an Open House at the Visitors Center. Winter residents are treated to complimentary coffee, donuts and giveaways. Receive a free “Real.Fun.Beach” Club card for discounts throughout the area for value-added programs, travel deals and discounts at participating restaurants, hotels and other attractions and events.

ST. GEORGE ISLAND SNOWBIRD APPRECIATION DAY: Feb. 7 in St. George Island. Participants may register ($9) at any of the island’s vacation rental companies beginning Feb 3. Activities begin at 10 a.m. and include a raffle run, nature tours at the State Park, a bridge walk, two museums, a reduced rate to climb the lighthouse, Happy Hour and dinner and bingo. Details: 888-927-7744 or SGISnowbirds.com.

SENIOR PROM: 6-9 p.m., Feb. 10, at Edgewater Beach Resort. Admission $5; heavy hors d’oeuvres, live music, cash bar, dancing, socializing and crowning the King and Queen. Tickets can be purchased at the Convention & Visitors Bureau or at the door. Semi-formal dress required. The nominees (age 50 or older) for King and Queen will be chosen by ballot, and the royal couple selected will receive a prize package that includes two airline tickets for friends and families to visit them in Panama City Beach, a $500 gift card, limousine transportation, keys to the city and decorated crowns.

‘ALMOST MAINE’: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10-11, 17-18, 24-25, and 2 p.m. Feb. 12, 19 and 26, at the Kaleidoscope Theatre. Admission $17. A comedy by John Cariani set in a small town in northern Maine that doesn't quite exist. Things become surreal as the northern lights hover above and the residents find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and often hilarious ways. Details: KT-Online.org.

CANADA DAY CELEBRATION: 4:30-9:30 p.m. Feb. 19 at Boardwalk Beach Resort. Admission $20, includes food, music and dancing, entertainment and door prizes. For tickets, contact Dave or Jill Price 850-249-9945; for general information, contact Bill or Llaina Finigan 850-236-2469. More info: BoardwalkBeachresort.com.

SWEETS BAKE OFF: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 14, at the Panama City Beach Senior Center. Entry forms can be picked up at Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Senior Center; deadline for entry is Feb. 7. No fee to enter. Desserts must be homemade; each contestant must have a minimum of 3 dozen cookies or cupcakes or brownies, or 1 of the following: cake/pie/tart/sweet bread. Desserts must be brought to the event already made. Contestants are exempt from voting. Visa gift cards for the top three contestants: first place $250, second place $150, and third place $100.

SOUP DU DOUR COOK OFF: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 24, at the Panama City Beach Senior Center. Entry forms can be picked up at Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Senior Center; deadline for entry Feb. 17. No fee to enter. Soups must be homemade; only 1 standard crock pot/slow cooker per contestant; soups must be brought to the event already prepared; contestants are exempt from voting. Visa gift cards for the top three contestants: first place $250, second place $150, and third place $100.

Valentines Flowers Ideas 2012 - Gift Is The Most Simple And Happy Way To Express Feelings

February 14, this month is in itself enough to know what so special. February 14 to celebrate the day, "Valentine's Day", when lovers express my love. This special day is also known as "Valentine's Day" in the world.

In the United States, Miss Esther Howland sent the first Valentine's Day card, which is why this day is also known as Ho Lanhuolidi credit. People in this day of lovers to meet a large number of gifts and hospitality. This special gift is a chocolate, heart-shaped highlights, pigeons, and Cupid's arrow strikes, are a symbol of love and love can be defined as what it is. Many people have parties together to celebrate this day of memories. valentines flowers ideas 2012 This day bring happiness in your face and smile every day is an opportunity to express their love and who love every moment of the day infected person's special love and be loved.

Gift is the most simple and happy, loved ones express their feelings. This will cost you nothing, but love in return. Valentine's Day gift, you can show your friends how much you care about these types. Some people hold a surprise party for the fans and give them roses and chocolates. Red roses of this special day, a major nature, as they say red rose is a symbol of love. Pigeons and Cupid's arrow can be equipped with the one you love and love is love's greatest gift, and for those who are in love. He also said that in this day of chocolate gifts that you want your love is sweet chocolate and contributions have been increased to show what you want, blooming every day.

Start a new day New Year new plan, and a resolution of one day. New Year everyone is waiting to celebrate Chinese New Year and the best same day. One of the most enjoyable days, can the Chinese people's tradition. The day is also known as the Lunar New Year, the Chinese mainland and Taiwan people. valentines flowers ideas 2012

This day falls on the first day of the month, 15 ends, which is called the Lantern Festival. China's New Year's Eve called "Chux", which means "before, take years." For Buddhists, the first day is the anniversary of Buddha Maitreya. Chinese New Year celebration is the longest and largest lunar calendar. "High concept" is a new rice cake, glutinous rice flour top of the New Year in high school, "is to highlight." "Advanced" In high school "is a better new year.

valentines flowers ideas 2012 - Valentine's Day Activities in NYC

Anyone who is in or has been in a relationship probably knows that Valentine’s Day is one of the biggest days of the year for most couples. valentines flowers ideas 2012 is the opportunity to make special memories with your significant other. If you live in the New York City area, you know that there is no better place in the country to make these special memories than in the Big Apple. With all the things to see and do in the city of New York, there is no end to the list of perfect Valentine’s Day activities that you and that special someone can take part in. However, if you are struggling to find the perfect Valentine’s Day activity in NYC this year, here are some of the most popular Valentine’s Day hot spots and activities

City Tours:

There is no limit to the beautiful sights to see in the city of New York. A romantic city tour for two is a great way to spend quality time together while enjoying the sights and sounds of the Big Apple. If you are looking for a true tour of the city, you can rent a limousine and partake in a guided limousine tours where you and your significant other can be shown around the city in a private limo. If you are looking for an even more romantic way to enjoy New York on Valentine’s Day, why not try a horse and carriage ride? These carriage rides will take you and your loved one on a tour of beautiful Central Park, it is truly the ultimate Valentine’s experience. If you are really looking to impress you can always try one of the many NYC helicopter tours available.

Dinner Destinations:

A romantic dinner often serves as the cornerstone of most valentines flowers ideas 2012 activities, which is why picking the perfect romantic dinner spot is so important. Here are some of the most renowned romantic dinner destinations in NYC:

Al Flori: This fifth avenue restaurant is located in the Steal hotel and offers a mix of Italian and French cuisine.

Fish Tag: Enjoy a five course meal build around this restaurant’s unique drink menu.

Kin Shop: Former Top Chef winner Harold Dieterle’s West Village restaurant is the perfect romantic destination for those looking to try Thai-inspired dishes.

Savoy: The rustic roaring fire place sets the mood in this romantic Prince Street hot spot.

Need more romantic dinner spot ideas? Then, check out our New York City Restaurants guide.

valentines flowers ideas 2012 - Sweetheart Deals

With a bit of love and attention, your valentines flowers ideas 2012 promos can boost biz beyond February. Take these ideas to heart!
If you want more new clients by February 14, and want to show existing ones the love, too, start marketing now, at least four weeks in advance. It doesn’t matter if you are snail mailing or posting on Facebook, you need to build awareness and direct clients to specific offers.

Identify your “sweetheart” services you want to focus on. Many clients will want to come in before February 14 for fresh cuts, color, smoothing and manicures. And of course, they’ll buy gift certificates. For the big day itself, get creative! Think beyond the typical spa couples’ package and other pampering services. Consider leveraging the current popularity of blow-dry specialty salons by setting up a special blow-out area within your salon. Staff it with your assistants or junior stylists. Let current clients know they can book pre-evening styling. E-mail an offer to your top spenders first!

Lots to Love Hopefully, you’ve already asked your distributor about gifts with purchases, bath and body care sets, and seasonal red, pink and white nail polishes. But what about special edition appliances and tools (a red-hot flat iron, for instance, makes a great gift or gift-card companion).

Check your cosmetics, too; there’s no better time for a Kiss and Make-Up promotion that kicks off with a complimentary make-up application.

Other check-list musts: order extra gift certificates, bags and red tissue paper; gather ideas from your staff; plan your window displays and set up your system to track results.

Put extra effort into events and promotions that will achieve higher response rate or pay off more in the long run. Many salons report great success with promo messages that include or focus on before-and-after hair color makeovers. Consider an idea like this: promoting the fact that “Red is the New Blonde” or some other color trend twist. Easiest place to do it? Your Facebook page or Twitter. Tie in current celebrity makeover mentions, and leverage the merchandising and info your color product partners provide. Promote temporary color changes, too—especially red and pink—right before V-Day.

More Engaging Ideas Ten percent of marriage proposals in America happen on valentines flowers ideas 2012. Clients anticipating that big event might like special occasion hair to match. Promote your updo specialist as well as your blow-out pros.

Other ideas that have been highly successful: Teach couples to give one another a scalp massage at your back bar. Tie-in hair treatments for the full effect. Before the clients leave, suggest a buyfour- get-one-free treatment package.

Beauty packages and full-fledged events are also big, especially for singles. Think “Be Your Own Valentine” parties. Show current clients they’re your Valentine by letting them draw red envelopes, which each include a special offer for the future. Give more and add value, as opposed to discounting, and they’ll remember who loves them most.

valentines flowers ideas 2012 - Top gardening trends for 2012

Plants that do more and cost less. Water-saving strategies. Black and amber foliage. Small-space landscaping. Metal décor. Growing up (vertical gardening). And a bigger focus on front yards over back yards.

These are just a few of the hot gardening trends for valentines flowers ideas 2012 that have been identified by various experts around North America and beyond.

But arguably the most significant trend is the emergence of what are being called “urban knights” – a growing army of new do-gooder green thumbs who are creating food and flower gardens wherever space will allow – on abandoned building sites, rooftops, balconies, alley ways, and in the limited space of their own front yards.

According to Susan McCoy, of the U.S.-based trend-spotting Garden Media Group, this new generation of gardeners is composed of environmentally-conscious Gen Xs and Ys who believe in the power of plants and regard plants as “no longer a luxury, but a necessity for our lives.”

This new horticultural ground force knows that “plants can live without us, but we can’t live without plants.”

And the primary goal of this emerging gardening movement is to change the world for the better by recycling, conserving and re-purposing in order to “protect the earth’s resources.”

In the process, McCoy says the urban knights believe they can find balance and purpose, as well as cultivate a “new good life” by establishing community gardens, especially for growing fruit and vegetables, and by renewing urban spaces in a way that has a positive impact not only on the environment, but on the economy, health and wellness.

Apparently, signs of this trend – what McCoy calls “the urban grit influence to protect the earth’s resources” – were highly visible at last year’s Chelsea Flower Show, where all sorts of resourceful eco-friendly ideas were prominently showcased, including wind turbines, reclaimed materials, water-saving plants, vertical green walls, rainwater harvesting systems and backyard chicken coops.

Hand in hand with the urban-knight movement is the Occupy Local trend that involves more people supporting local farmers markets – the natural outlets for organically, homegrown products.

“Farmers markets are our new backyard veggie gardens and are becoming our local grocery store,” says McCoy.

According to the Anthony Tesselaar Group, one of the world’s top plant marketing companies, none of the doom-and-gloom predictions for the year will affect gardening.

“From the garden world’s perspective, life will continue to be good with gardeners saving themselves water, hassles and misspent money,” Tesselaar says.

Here’s a look at other key trends for valentines flowers ideas 2012:

Small space landscaping

With more and more people living in less and less space, there is a greater need to make smart decisions about what to grow and how to grow it. Dwarf conifers are expected to make a big comeback for people who want an easy-care, structural plant that requires minimal watering.

Water conservation

It’s on the minds of many gardeners who will be searching for more drought-tolerant plants that aren’t water hogs, as well as innovative ways to collect and recycle water and monitor its use.

Black and amber

Black and amber, according to the Tesselaar group, will continue to be the hot colour trend in North America, with amber heucheras and Flower Carpet roses leading the way. The Garden Media Group sees colour trends being much more complex with rich gem colours catching a lot of attention as well as deep purples, soothing greens and striking shades of tropical colours.

Low-risk, high-value plants

Gardeners want more bang for their buck and are looking for plants that give more reward for less money. They want to invest in tried-and-true winners; plants that have a high disease resistance, long blooming period, and enduring structural and foliage interest. This trend goes hand in hand with a deepening respect for name-brand plants, such as Proven Winners.

Smaller water features

According to Sharon Coates of Zaretsky and Associates — one of the biggest landscape firms in the U.S. — people are moving away from large ponds and toward smaller water features. “Now people prefer a cut piece of stone, a boulder or beautiful glazed urn with water bubbling out of the top. People either have to be really into ponds and all the maintenance they take or they have to hire someone to do it for them.”

Heavy metal

Fountains and decorative features made of natural stone or metal are going to be hot sellers. Copper and other metals are becoming popular materials for garden statuary and other key decorative features.

More front gardens

Apparently, the back yard is slowly being replaced by more intense focus on front yards. Statistics show that people like their handiwork to be more visible, which in the U.S. has meant a steady increase in the number of front gardens over the last two years, according to Garden Trends Research Report’s spring 2011 survey.

Vertical gardening

This is partly linked to the small-space gardening trend, as people look for more effective ways to grow plants in restricted spaces. It means more trellises, arbours, wall-gardens and climbing plants that flourish in small containers.

Bring back birds

This trend was first spotted in a major way at the garden show at Chicago’s Navy Pier, where there was a wave of interest in ways to bring birds back into the garden, using everything from nesting boxes, bird baths, feeders and birdhouses. But this trend also connects up with the desire to add more plants to the garden that attract birds and butterflies as well as serve the needs of bees.

Mindful consumption

This is really an extension of the gardener’s basic mantra of “do no harm.” Where possible, gardeners want to put their money where it will do the most good, buying plants that support local gardening enterprises and products that spread the wealth. This is consistent with the 2010 Cone Survey that found 83 per cent of consumers want to see more brands, products and companies that support worthy causes.

valentines flowers ideas 2012 - Best roses for 2012

If your idea of the perfect rose is a long-stemmed beauty with stately, overlapping petals, then this year’s introductions may come as a surprise.
Of the 15 new roses that are sure to be the most widely available in valentines flowers ideas 2012, there’s only one classic hybrid tea rose. Instead, most are shrub roses in one form or another, designed to be planted throughout the landscape, rather than isolated in a formal rose garden.
As for the ever-important flowers — rather than formal and elegant, these newcomers trend toward clusters of loose, frilly petals, with some of the concoctions scarcely looking like roses. Two specimens making their debut are the first-ever of their kind. Several others combine crazy colors, including one called Ketchup & Mustard. Thankfully there are a handful of demure pastels as well.
Regardless of the style, breeders continue to emphasize disease resistance. Indeed, the valentines flowers ideas 2012
Hybrid Tea
These traditional roses bear long-stemmed flowers and grow upright, typically reaching 3 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide.
The lone hybrid tea rose making its debut this year is a vigorous rebloomer called Sugar Moon. Its white, long-stemmed flowers produce a strong, sweet, citrus and rose scent. Pointed buds open to reveal 5-inch full, classic flowers composed of 35 petals apiece. Disease resistance is ranked as very good, and the dark, glossy green leaves are a nice contrast to the bright white of the flowers.
Floribunda
These shrub roses bear clusters of flowers above lush, full leaves, and generally grow 3 to 4 feet tall and wide.
Two new floribundas, bearing distinctive red eyes, represent an entirely new look. While most modern roses are offspring of China roses (Rosa chinensis), these new shrubs are hybrids of Hulthemia persica, which is a thorny, sprawling bush that blooms once a year and is native to dry, windswept lands in Iran and Afghanistan.
What has captivated rose breeders is the red blotch at the base of each petal, which, surrounding the center of the flower, gives the look of a red eye. Breeders have spent decades attempting to conquer the rambling habit of the species, introduce repeat blooming and produce a consistent, visible eye.
This year’s two Eyeconic hybrids are the first hulthemias to become commercially available.
Eyeconic Lemonade bears 4-inch flowers that are bright yellow with a medium-red inner ring. Each flower is composed of 10 to 12 petals, and there are three to five flowers per stem. The bushes are dark green and grow 41⁄2 feet tall and wide.
Eyeconic Pink Lemonade bears 31⁄2-inch flowers that open in a pale shade of melon orange with a red ring, then mature to shell pink with a purple ring. The flowers are composed of 8 to 10 petals, with five flowers per stem. It grows only 3 feet tall and wide.
Both Eyeconics are said to bloom continuously, rather than in waves. They are self-cleaning, so don’t require dead-heading. It will be interesting to learn, given their geographic origin, whether they are drought-tolerant as well.
Equally distinctive, but in an entirely different way, is Ketchup & Mustard. Its two-toned petals are yellow on their back sides and red within. It’s love-it or hate-it combination when the pointed buds open and the petals curl back, revealing that bright red and deep yellow reverse. The 31⁄2-inch formal, spiraled flowers bear about 25 petals. They bloom above apple-green leaves. The shrub is round, bushy and offers good disease resistance.
Koko Loko is a classic-looking rose in terms of its fully double flowers, which are composed of 30 to 35 petals apiece. But its coloring is most unusual, with light chocolate flowers aging to a pinkish lavender. It forms a full, bushy shrub with deep green leaves and has above-average disease resistance.
Orchid Romance bears pretty, frilly, old-rose flowers that open pink, then fade to a lighter shade with a hint of lavender. Each fragrant, cuplike flower bears an amazing 75 petals, with three to five flowers per stem. The bushes are upright, growing 41⁄2 feet tall and 3 feet wide, and are very resistant to black spot, powdery mildew and rust.
Tangerine Streams also bears cup-shaped flowers, but in a sunny combination of orange, yellow and apricot. Each 3-inch flower is composed of 25 petals, with one to five flowers per stem. The shrubs resist mildew and rust, and grow 31⁄2 to 4 feet tall.
Tequila Supreme is multi-colored as well, but in darker copper and bronze tones. The cuplike flowers are similar in shape, size and petal count to Tangerine Streams. But the flowers are one to three per stem and the shrubs grow taller, reaching 4 to 41⁄2 feet.
Thrive! presents a wild rose look, with only 7 to 8 petals on each 3-inch, fire engine-red flower. Five to 10 flowers bloom on each stem, all at about the same height. The vigorous, bushy shrubs grow 41⁄2 feet tall and 3 feet wide, and have very good disease resistance to black spot, and excellent resistance to rust and mildew.
Grandiflora
Basically floribundas on steroids, these shrub roses can reach 5 to 10 feet tall. They bloom prolifically and produce clusters of flowers on short or long stems, depending on the hybrid.
The new Sunshine Daydream bears rounded, cup-shaped, pastel yellow flowers above dark-green, glossy foliage. The 2012 All-America Rose Selections winner was tested in 21 gardens across the country under the group’s “no spray” rule and offers excellent disease resistance. A vigorous bloomer, it bears 25 petals on each 31⁄2-inch flower, produces one to eight flowers per stem and grows 5 to 51⁄2 feet tall and 4 feet wide.
English
David Austin English shrub roses combine the shapes and fragrances of old roses with the colors and repeat blooming of modern roses. Both newbies for 2012 are smaller than many older David Austins, and are good choices for the fronts of planting beds or even containers.
Princess Anne bears deep-pink, ruffly flowers that stand up much like a water lily. The clusters of plump, double flowers mature to purple-lilac, providing a multi-colored effect over a compact, bushy shrub that reaches only 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide.
Skylark bears semi-double, apple and clove-scented flowers that open deep pink, then relax to reveal a small, white center while aging to lilac-pink. Skylark grows 3 feet tall and 2 feet wide as well. But its habit is lighter and the flowers feel somewhat airy, perched on taller stems.
Miniature
These petite versions of full-sized roses feature diminutive flowers and foliage.
All a’Twitter bears pure orange flowers above clean, green foliage. The small, 11⁄2-inch double flowers bear a light fragrance, are composed of 15 to 20 petals apiece and retain their sparkling color as they age. I tested one in a pot on my patio last year and it was the perfect foreground plant to a Satsuma tangerine underplanted with white sweet alyssum.
Itty Bitty Pink bears scads of tiny, 3⁄4-inch bubblegum pink flowers on bushy plants that reach only 11⁄2 feet tall and wide. The cuplike flowers retain their coloring as well. Itty Bitty Pink offers very good disease resistance and is a great, long-blooming edging plant along a walkway or patio.
Climbing
These roses produce lateral branches to train on a fence, trellis or arbor.
The new Stormy Weather looks a lot like a wild, rambling rose, bearing clusters of smoky purple, open-faced flowers with yellow centers. The 4-inch flowers are composed of 15 to 20 petals apiece and carry a moderate spice scent. It is a mid-sized climber, producing canes that grow 6 to 8 feet long.
Seeds of Wisdom
The new year kicks off bare-root season. Roses are dormant, which makes them easy to transport without soil attached to their roots. They’re also easy to plant. In January and February, you’ll find the biggest selection and the best prices.

valentines flowers ideas 2012 - Happy New Year gardeners - Some NEW shrubs for 2012

Sunday January 1 - Forsythia Show Off™ Starlet

Starlet is a bright ball of yellow flowers in spring. It has the same fabulous flower display you get with Show Off forsythia, but in a smaller package. This new dwarf forsythia is a mass of bright yellow spring flowers from base to tip. Height and spread will range from 24" to 36". Truly a great forsythia for areas where you don't want a large plant. Full sun is best - Hardy from zone 5 to zone 8.valentines flowers ideas 2012

Monday January 2 - Copper Delight™ Juniper

 Dense, slightly mounded evergreen provides color interest year round. Attractive, light green foliage in summer transitions to coppery-bronze in fall, particularly on new tip growth. Can be used as a groundcover or for foundation plantings. Drought tolerant. Use to pollinate Blueberry Delight. Low growing, 12" to 15"high and 4' to 5' wide makes this a wonderful ground cover in full sun. Very Hardy - Zone 2 - 7,

Tuesday January 3 - Symphoricarpos First Editions® Candy Coralberry

For gardeners who are on the lookout for shrubs that provide winter interest after most flowers and leaves are gone, Snow Berries rate high on the list. Plump, candy-pink berries ripen in early fall, as the last of summers' small pink flowers swell into pearls. As the leaves fall, each arching stem is adorned with decorative berries which remain on slender branches through winter. The perfect plant for the winter garden, these compact forms are suitable for a more prominent place in the front border. Snow Berries are especially beautiful with a light dusting of snow. A compact arching plant growing 24" to 36" tall andwide -Hardy from zone 4 through zone 9.

Wednesday January 4th - Hydrangea macrophylla 'Pistachio'

A wide assortment of colors within a single Hydrangea -- meet 'Next Generation Pistachio'! An exciting new color combo for Hydrangea! This reblooming variety features beautiful flowers which make the perfect accent in the landscape or for container gardening. Thrilling combination of scarlet red tinged with green, just like the nut it is named after…tasty! valentines flowers ideas 2012!

The large 5" mophead blooms are comprised of individual double flowers and bloom from Spring til frost.The plant grows in a wide rounded shape 2-3' tall and 3-5' wide. Ideal for containers, beds, borders, and landscapes. Pistachio blooms in northern areas where many other hydrangeas typically do not perform well. More impressive is this variety's ability to rebloom and bloom on both old and new wood and Zone 5 hardiness!

Thursday January 5 - Physocarpus opulifolius 'Little Devil'

 A great compact Ninebark, Little Devil™ has a dense, rounded habit and deep, wine-colored leaves that create a big impact in small spaces. In spring, clusters of small pinkish white flowers offer a bright contrast against the dark foliage. Plants grow just 3-4ft tall and wide at maturity, which make them a good choice for tucking in mixed borders and foundation plantings. A handsome little shrub for average soil and full sun. Physocarpus is a small genus (about 10 species) of shrubs in the Rose family that is gaining attention as new selections with striking foliage arrive on the market. The Spirea-like clusters of small flowers in early summer are an attractive feature as is the peeling bark that develops with age. Average, slightly acid, well-drained soil is best.

Friday January 6 - Hypericum "Lion Series"

The “Lion” series of Hypericum were developed in the Netherlands for cutting. All form a bushy, semi-evergreen mound studded shrub with small yellow flowers in early summer. These gradually develop into showy berries that are held in clusters for months on end. Excellent in cut bouquets. Beautiful autumn effect. Cut back to 8 inches in spring if desired. Hardy to zone 5, growth is 2-3' tall by 2-3' wide.

Hypericum 'Chocolate Lion'    

Hypericum 'Red Lion'

Hypericum ' Sweet Lion'





Saturday January 7 - Viburnum x burkwoodii 'American Spice'

A compact selection growing 4-6" a year.  Oringinal plant was 4' high and 5' wide after 14 years.  Deep green, glossy foliage remains crinkled all summer long.  Bloom clusters are smaller but much more profuse than the species. Coral pink buds mature to sparkling white flowers with V. carlesi fragrance.   Plants in Michigan still had fall coloration on November 17th that was a kaleidoscope of orange, scarlet, yellow, and green.  Zone 4 Simply put a more compact form

valentines flowers ideas 2012 - YEAR IN REVIEW: Air cargo dreams fly away with Pan Am executive’s arrest

It sounded too good to be true, and maybe it was.

In 2010 a company that would soon call itself Pan American Airways Inc. moved into the original 1930s Pan American Western Division headquarters building at the Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport.

Bob Hedrick, the new PAA’s former chief executive officer — now jailed and awaiting trial on child pornography charges — talked a big game. In 2011, for instance, PAA would begin 70 cargo flights a month between Brownsville and various Latin Ameri-can destinations, he said.

“We will be announcing the reopening of Pan American Airways,” Hedrick told The Herald in November 2010. “We will also be announcing the reopening of the gateway to Latin America, started by Pan American back in 1929. Then they’re going to rededicate this building at the same time.”

A rededication ceremony did in fact take place the same month, complete with mariachi band, vintage aircraft flyovers, box lunches, and local luminaries taking turns at the microphone to praise PAA and Hedrick’s vision.

Hedrick had identified the South American floral industry, which ships billions of dollars worth of valentines flowers ideas 2012 a year into the United States, as a natural market for a Brownsville-based air cargo operation. He reasoned that flowers and other perishables arriving by air could be trucked to central U.S. buyers from Brownsville faster than from Miami.

In 2011 Hedrick expanded his plans. He envisioned Brownsville as the future gateway for air cargo flowing into Latin America from China via Lambert-St. Louis International Airport in Missouri. Lambert officials had spent years attempting to nail down a deal with China Cargo Airlines to make the airport the U.S. hub for Chinese cargo flights.

Hedrick, with Brownsville officials in tow, traveled to St. Louis to meet with Lambert authorities and discuss a potential St. Louis-to-Brownsville link. He spoke of St. Louis-Brownsville as if it were practically a done deal, though Lambert officials stressed that everything was preliminary. St. Louis actually did get a China Cargo flight from Shanghai in September. It was supposedly the first of many to come, though China Cargo has canceled every scheduled weekly flight since then.

This is likely due in part to the Missouri Legislature killing a tax credit bill — dubbed “Aerotropolis” — that would have made the route financially competitive. A smaller volume of air cargo coming from China is another probable factor.

Hedrick said PAA wasn’t intended as a passenger service but that it probably would fly passengers at some point. He identified Monterrey and Mexico City as possible destinations. When Hedrick found out that then-Mayor Pat M. Ahumada Jr. and some city commissioners were pushing financial incentives to lure another carrier for passenger air service to Mexico — dubbed “Fly Fron-tera” — Hedrick cried foul, insisting PAA and other carriers be allowed to submit proposals for Mexico air service, rather than sneaking Fly Frontera in the back door.

He submitted his own proposal and went so far as to register the name “Fly Frontera” to prevent the firms behind it, Public Char-ter Inc. and Charter Air Transport, from using it. Apparently the principals hadn’t thought to register the name themselves. The city commission, meanwhile, voted to slow down and take a closer look at the Fly Frontera deal. In April, a less than glowing due diligence report by the Brownsville Economic Development Council caused crucial political support to evaporate, which prompted Fly Frontera’s principals to withdraw their proposal.

Hedrick appeared to enjoy his public battles with former commissioner Charlie Atkinson, a vocal Fly Frontera proponent openly contemptuous of PAA’s capacity for flying anything anywhere. Hedrick’s response was that big things were in the offing for Brownsville, and Atkinson would see.

In May, Hedrick received a boost to his credibility when the governor’s office bestowed upon PAA and Hedrick’s other Brownsville-based firm, World-Wide Consolidated Logistics Inc., the coveted Texas Enterprise Zone project designation. The des-ignation was awarded on the strength of Hedrick’s plan to make Brownsville the air cargo gateway to Latin America and connect with St. Louis for Chinese cargo.

It meant Hedrick would be eligible to apply for $2,500 per qualified job he created, based on PAA’s projections of 426 jobs created and $95.5 million in capital investment over five years. The Brownsville Economic Development Council had gone to bat in a big way helping PAA apply for the TEZ designation.

And then it was over: Federal agents arrested Hedrick at his Brownsville home on July 18. The arrest was on a federal complaint alleging that he shared multiple child pornography images over a three-month period with undercover investigators from Louisiana and Wisconsin. Hedrick is still in custody awaiting trial.

For BEDC officials and others who dared to believe Brownsville was actually on the verge of launching its own air cargo indus-try, under the venerable Pan American name no less, Hedrick’s unmasking and downfall must have seemed close to a betrayal. The city’s recent history is marked by more than one episode in which officials have thrown their support behind business ventures only to be left holding the bag. Taylorcraft and Titan Tire come to mind. The PAA debacle provided a new twist to Brownsville’s catalog of disappointments.

That said, 2011 was a good year for economic development in other ways. Among the highlights, according to BEDC: the North Brownsville Industrial Park christening; CK Technologies’ $20 million investment in its Brownsville truck part plant; AeroMexico’s inauguration of Brownsville-Monterrey passenger air service; and groundbreaking on new road projects and the West Rail Bridge, which will provide infrastructure for future commercial and industrial growth.

Also, Brownsville was designated a “Competitive Ready” city by the site selection/economic develop firm CR Group; and the Port of Brownsville advanced to third place — only behind Houston and New Orleans — in steel importing and exporting.

Salinas said the recession gave the BEDC time to step back, assess its goals and work toward them, with the result that 2012 should bring more good news.

“Our pipeline is full right now with projects from South America and Asia,” he said. “We’re very hopeful we’re going to be mak-ing an announcement in the next few weeks. 2012 is going to be banner year for Brownsville. I usually don’t like to say such a thing, but I think all the work we’ve done in 2010 and 2011 is going to pay off in 2012.”

As for PAA, Salinas said BEDC has heard little from Richard Alaniz (formerly Hedrick’s number two and now head of PAA), though he believes Alaniz is trying to secure Latin American cargo contracts. Hedrick was eager for media attention when he was running PAA. The same can’t be said for Alaniz, who has ignored multiple requests from The Herald for comment concerning the company’s future.

Salinas said that whatever happens to PAA, Hedrick’s observation that Brownsville is ideally situated geographically to take ad-vantage of the U.S.-Latin American cargo market holds true valentines flowers ideas 2012.

“He figured out that if Pan American Airways had its Latin American headquarters in Brownsville 50 years ago, it was for a rea-son,” Salinas said. “Now that we’ve been made aware of that, we’re going to do everything we can as a business community to pick up where he left off. We should have been doing this 30 or 40 years ago. Why were we not doing what Miami was doing? We’re really playing catch up with that one. Hopefully (PAA) will continue with the plan they had set in place. If not, there’s an opportunity for somebody else to do exactly that.”

valentines flowers ideas 2012 - Orange County Celebrity Interior Designer Predicts Top 2012 Interior Design Trends

(1888PressRelease) Celebrity interior designer Kelli Ellis as seen on HGTV, TLC and Bravo offers her predictions for the top interior design trends of valentines flowers ideas 2012. The trends include greater use of color, changes in lighting schemes, use of texture and more for the new year.

According to celebrity interior designer Kelli Ellis, it's going to be a very happy new year for many people who are redesigning their homes or updating rooms and spaces. In her predictions for the top interior design trends for 2012, Ellis focuses on both fun and function.

Even better, she says that most of next year's trends are cost-conscious and budget-friendly with a focus on the basics as well as a few emerging products that can create the "wow" factor.

In particular, Ellis predicts:

The basics get bolder: "Over the last year, we've seen wood finishes getting lighter, rougher and unfinished. As a result, upholstered furniture is fighting back from beige!" she said. "We are seeing a slow trend towards bright, colorful and bold patterned sofas and chairs." Ellis adds that it's not "grandma's floral," but rather rich velvets, silks and chintz with bold patterns and contrast. For clients on a budget, she suggests reupholstering a favorite accent chair or changing one or two pieces of furniture to keep rooms fresh.

Let there be light: Aside from paint, Ellis encourages clients to update their lighting for a simple way to update a room. "What I change my clients' lighting, I almost always increase the size - think bigger for a big impact," she added. "The trend is to blend styles. Iron and crystal combinations, drum pendants and blown-glass, and colored crystal and organic shapes will instantly add some 'wow.'"

Fun function and form: A huge fan of texture, Ellis suggests the use of dimension to freshen a room's look and feel: "I L-O-V-E texture. I cannot get enough of tile and seemingly solid glass tiles add a subtle shine and shimmer to any room." In addition, Ellis recommends dimensional wallpaper and wall vases with fresh flowers as fun focal points.

Based in Orange County, Ellis' valentines flowers ideas 2012 About Kelli Ellis

Award-winning celebrity interior designer and design psychology expert Kelli Ellis is owner and lead designer of Kelli Ellis Interiors, Inc. Ellis has a bachelor's degree in Communications from Cal State Fullerton, a law school background and a certification from the Interior Design Institute. She has appeared on TLC's "Clean Sweep," HGTV's "Takeover My Makeover" and Bravo's "Real Housewives of Orange County," where she helped fan-favorite Jeana Keough turn her house in her dream haven. She is also spokesperson for the Society of American Florists. For more information, please visit www.kellisellis.com

valentines flowers ideas 2012-We've got some big things planned for 2012

With the Christmas holiday behind us, it's time to look ahead to 2012. Aside from my own personal goal of being organized, and getting family and friends' birthday cards out on time (I have an excellent plan for this, by the way), we've been busy setting goals for projects across the Bakersfield.com Network of sites.

Our new online registration system will be appearing soon. Developers and designers are now untangling the wires on the staging server so we can test it and try our best to break it before making it live.

That will kick off a series of changes, including redesigned and enhanced news, sports and entertainment sections.

In my own cubicle here on the third floor at The Californian , I'm making copious notes and bookmarking dozens of sites as I look ahead to revamping and enhancing BakersfieldMom.com in 2012. I'll be asking for your input over the next month or so, but if you have the time now, email your ideas for what you'd like to see on the site -- content, community ... it's all open right now.

I'm also hoping to offer more contests and incentives for our Facebook fans and Twitter followers in the coming year.

We've got lots of great ideas and a lot of irons in the fire, but first we've got to get the online registration launched.

Cross your fingers for a smooth test and launch, and keep an eye here and on bakersfield.com/blogs for details as we roll out the changes.

Ready or not 2012, here we come!

Battle for ads

Back in the days of MySpace, users used to download and install custom themes to their profiles.

Pages would be adorned with sports logos, flowers, glitter and any number of things. Many of these page took forever to load, too.

When Facebook came along, that option wasn't available. While I thought I'd miss being able to customize my profile page, I really haven't.

Today, several companies are banking on people still wanting to add a little bling to their profiles.

But a recent story in The Wall Street Journal notes that Facebook has started legal action against some of those companies, including Sambreel Holdings LLC valentines flowers ideas 2012

When you download and install the software in question, you'll get extras such as a profile page that displays more about you and enhanced Web searches. But you're also agreeing to see more advertising on the page. These new ads push the Facebook ads further down the page and overlay Google ads that appear with search results.

The legal ground is described as murky and it looks like it's headed to court.

Last week Facebook employees were posting links to a page built to explain that Facebook makes money through ads (facebook.com/about/ads/).

Related? Not sure, but my guess is yes.

Podcast

Be sure to check out the Dec. 21 podcast of "Californian Radio." In the second half of the hourlong show, I talked with Debra Jackson, a professor of critical thinking and philosophy at California State University, Bakersfield.

Jackson talked about the most effective and ineffective ways to argue in an online forum.

She said a common mistake seen in a lot of online forum -- and BakersfieldTalks.com is no exception -- is that people misunderstand a person's point and end up arguing something completely different. Her recommendation: Make sure you're clear on the person's intended argument before firing back.

It was an excellent conversation, and you can download the podcast at www.bakersfield.com/CalifornianRadio.

Along these same lines, I've also posted an excellent piece on online comments on my Facebook page (facebook.com/jamiebutow2). The article appeared in The Guardian last summer and looks at the "pack mentality" that online comments and forums propagate, and highlights why deleting and blocking users isn't as cut-and-dried as you may think.

Best of Kern

Make sure you nominate your favorite business for our annual Best of Kern contest at www.bestofkern.com. The contest dates are new this year and nominations are due by 5 p.m. Jan. 2.

I repeat, nominations are due by 5 p.m. Jan. 2 and must be made online at www.bestofkern.com.

Voting on finalists in dozens of categories will begin mid-January.


Facebook affects your credit?

Well, this is kinda scary.

An article in PC World noted how online banks -- growing in popularity -- are increasingly requiring access to social media sites from applicants. Not only do they want to see your friends list (so they can drum up business), but they want access to your account (i.e. your log-in information) as well valentines flowers ideas 2012.

Huh?

In its FAQ section online, Hong Kong-based lender Lenddo notes: "As long as you don't fall behind on any Lenddo loan installments, you have complete control over your privacy settings and your information will only be shared with your permission. IF YOU FAIL TO REPAY, Lenddo MAINTAINS THE RIGHT TO NOTIFY YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY."

Can you just see the Facebook comments on that post?

Be careful what you agree to.

Valentines Flowers Ideas 2012 - Tickled pink with Deutzia offer

This week’s online offer is a Deutzia Strawberry Fields for just £2.49 – that’s half price.

It’s a compact Deutzia with deep crimson buds opening to a beautiful white flushed pink.

It will grow to two metres, but can be pruned to half that to make it suitable for containers. valentines flowers ideas 2012 appear between May and July.

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Mirrorgarden.co.uk has more than 1,200 plants and bulbs available to order online, all at great prices. So why not browse our newly updated range?

And remember to look out for plenty of great money-saving deals in the special offers section.

Order any items from www.mirrorgarden.co.uk and get eight Giant Oriental Lilies worth £9.99. Orders over £40 will also receive a free collection of three Hemerocallis, worth £9.98. A charge of £3.99 P&P will be added to all orders.

Edible Garden Show offer

Looking for the ­perfect ­festive gift for green-fingered family and friends? Then why not serve up a couple of tickets to the UK’s biggest grow-your-own show?

It’s the season of goodwill and ­organisers of The Edible Garden Show at Stoneleigh Park in ­Warwickshire have slashed ticket prices to next year’s event by a third – from £15 to £10 – to give Christmas shoppers an inspired gift option for loved ones with a passion to become more self-sufficient.

After its hugely successful debut in March 2011, The Edible Garden Show – recently named as the Most Popular Garden Event of the Year in a Horticultural Channel poll – returns in 2012. ­Scheduled for the start of the ­growing ­season, the show is crammed full of ­money-saving ideas.

And it also includes a mix of ­celebrity ­gardeners, chefs, ­livestock experts, growers, unique products, cookery ­demonstrations and fun-filled ­interactive events for the whole of the ­family.

Tickets to the valentines flowers ideas 2012 show will give the gardener in your life the ultimate grow-your-own experience.

But time is of the essence as this special offer, for adult tickets only, is for a limited period.

Bookings can be made today until ­midnight by quoting the code XMAS05 via the ticket ­hotline 0844 3388 001 or online at www.theediblegardenshow.co.uk

● SEE WEBSITE FOR TERMS AND CONDITIONS.