flower council of holland flower and plant bank

As homeowners become more aware of its importance and appreciate the practicality of green buildings, property developers, designers and architects are beginning to integrate an increasing number of green elements into their home construction projects. Amid the major advances in technology in construction methods and materials, homeowners are given a broad range of options in building their dream house without having to sacrifice aesthetic appeal.

In spite of it being a hot topic in the home building scene, many homeowners are still confused about the "green" aspect of home properties. What does going green really mean? Is there really a reason for us to grin when we take into account the financials of going green? What are the beneficial effects to your family's health if you were to invest?

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Valentine's Day Flowers

Nothing is more associated with love than Valentine's Day flowers. We usually give roses, of course, along with other traditional gifts such as chocolate, heart-shaped candies or cards, etc. Almost all of these items and symbols come from antiquity with a lot of interesting mythology and historical background to them.

Valentine's Day started sometime in the Christian Roman times. Most cultures have had a day similar to Valentine's, but the timing and (often) the symbolism varied. Our modern, Western day and tradition comes from a mixture of the ancient Roman worship of Juno, Queen of the Gods and later, Christian traditions. Juno was celebrated on February 14 and people feasted on February 15. This feast was the rite of passage for young men of the time, who would draw names of available young girls and take them as a companion for a year.

Shortly before the Romans adopted Christianity, Claudius II, in an effort to bolster the Legions, outlawed marriage for young men. This was meant to make them fiercer warriors, since they would have no home, family, or wives to pine over while they were in the field. A Christian priest named Valentine saw this as unjust and secretly performed marriages in spite of the law.

flower girl dresses for weddings

Are you planning on having Flower Girls in your wedding? Or do you have children in the family who you would love to include on your most special day? Whether you are blending two families together, have darling nieces or have a friend who has a sweet daughter who you want to be a part of the festivities, there are many ways to include children in your wedding.

Three Roles for "Flower Girls"

The most popular position for children is "Flower Girl". However, there are really three distinct roles for little girls in your wedding - which one(s) appeal to you most?

Flower Girl - a child attendant wearing a child-like dress in either Tea or Formal length who usually carries a basket of petals the she may sprinkle on the aisle or path announcing the arrival of the Bride.

Miniature (or Junior) Bride - a child dressed like a bride. This role comes from medieval times as a decoy to lure evil spirits away from the Bride to avoid a curse on the marriage. She may wear a miniaturized version of the Bride's gown (perhaps the Bride's gown manufacturer or custom dressmaker can accommodate) or a wedding-style gown complete with train and flowing headpiece. She carries a bouquet.