Our bbrooks member, Hidden Garden, in Los Angeles, CA got creative with poinsettias this year!

Featured here is a lush display of this popular holiday plant, adorned with birch logs, pine cones, moss and winter berries, designed to float in the recipient’s pool.  Fun in the Sun for the Holidays!  Merry Christmas everyone!

As seen on Flirty Fleurs.

Our bbrooks member, Paeonia Designs in Framingham, MA features a clean and elegant design in white and green hydrangea, fringed tulips, decorative kale, and cedar.

Red amaryllis, ilex, pine cones and evergreens in simple white ceramic by bbrooks member, Robin Wood Flowers, OH.

Today is Friday the 13th, known by many as the unluckiest day of the year.

There next occurrence will be June 2014.  It will be the sole occurrence for that year.  In the Gregorian calendar, Friday the 13th always occurs at least once a year and can appear up to three times in any one year.

While many will laugh off the superstitious day, others will remain in bed paralyzed by fear by the phobia known as friggatriskaidekaphobia. (!)  The word comes from Frigga, the name of the Norse goddess for whom Friday is named, and triskaidekaphobia, or fear of the number thirteen. It is also sometimes called paraskevidekatriaphobia, from the Greek Paraskevi for Friday, Dekatreis for thirteen and phobia for fear.

To read more see www.ibtimes.com.

Select nontoxic leaves, such as bay leaves.

Melt approximately 2-oz. vanilla candy coating in a saucepan over low heat until melted (about 3 minutes). Stir until smooth. Cool slightly. Working on parchment paper, spoon a 1/8-inch-thick layer of candy coating over backs of leaves, spreading to edges.

Transfer leaves gently, by their stems, to a clean sheet of parchment paper, resting them candy coating sides up; let stand until candy coating is firm (about 10 minutes). Gently grasp each leaf at stem end, and carefully peel the leaf away from the candy coating. Store candy leaves in a cold, dry place, such as an airtight container in the freezer, up to 1 week.

As seen in  December 2013, Southern Living.