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Hidden House Mold Problems

We humans have a lot more in common with molds than we realize.

1. Molds enjoy the same indoor temperatures that humans enjoy

2. Like humans they thrive in home environments that provide protection from intense direct ultra violet sunlight.

3. They share our taste in building materials, we like drywall and wood because they are affordable and convenient building materials, mold likes them because they are a great food source when wet.

4. Both humans and molds love modern plumbing, we love it when it works and mold loves it when it fails and starts to leak.

One thing that sets humans and mold apart is the fact that humans have seven layers of skin, each with its own structure and function, this skin keeps us from drying out. Mold on the other never got around to developing anything like skin to keep it from drying out when water and humidity are low. Mold did develop something called spores; these tiny prologues (seed like structures) can endure dry conditions for at least 20 years inside a wall for example.

The Problem

Provide uncontrolled moisture or humidity above 60 to 65% indoors and the dormant spores will start to sprout and you have a very hardy pet. Because mold can and often does grow in concealed areas you may not know you have mold, and this is the problem.

Molds reproduce through tiny spores and these spores are invisible to naked eyes. They float through air indoors and find their way into every nook and cranny of your home, even inside walls, behind cabinets, under crawl spaces, and into attics. One of molds favourite hiding places is inside AC units and ducts. When you install wall paper they sit on the wall as you cover the microscopic spore, and stay dormant under the wall paper till moisture enters the picture.

Hidden mold is more of a concern than visible mold because hidden mold and the moisture problem that caused it often go unnoticed and uncorrected for long periods of time.

The health Effects

Persons with asthma or allergy experience runny nose, watery or itchy eyes, sneezing, coughing, breathing difficulties, rash on skin, and more. Sounds bad but not terrible you say? Give these symptoms a try day and night, night and day for a few years and tell me it is not terrible. Constant allergy is terrible all by itself, but allergy in turn will rob you of sleep, and may result in damaged mucus membranes that will in turn result in more colds and sinus infections, and in general make you miserable.

The solution

As hidden mold becomes worse and produces odor, or shows itself as visible mold spots, or results in increasing health problems, act immediately and call a mold testing company to send out a mold inspector. Also contact your doctor if illness is experienced.

Inspecting for hidden mold issues and finding the sometimes complex conditions that caused the mold takes a certified mold inspector about 2 classroom days to learn how to do it wrong, and it takes a trained and experienced mold investigator many years to learn how to do properly. Even for an experienced inspector it can be difficult or impossible to find all hidden mold. Detection of concealed problems is not only trickier than it sounds but it creates a risk of stirring up concealed mold spores. For example opening up drywall can expose a homeowner with asthma or allergy to heath problems related to a sudden exposure to high spore levels. Even when a non specialist does manage to find mold often much of it is still un discovered. If all the mold is discovered the task is still only

Selling A Home: Decorating Tips For Success

These days it takes more than advertising to sell a home. In many areas the market is flooded, and well cared for homes that are competitively priced and well decorated are the homes that are selling. A home must look appealing to potential buyers, and when it is cluttered or poorly decorated it will make a lasting impression, but it will not be positive impression. When selling a home, consider the following decorating tips for success, and turn your dream of selling your home into a reality.

Clear Away the Clutter

A cluttered unorganized home is a dwelling that appears unkempt and messy, and when a home is cluttered potential buyers wonder what other problems that are not obvious might exist. A home that is organized and free from clutter appears to be well cared for, and it also looks roomier and more adequate. Imagine opening a closet to find it stuffed with clothing and other odds and ends. It would appear that closet was not adequate, and if all closets are completely full the entire home will seem to be lacking storage space.

Begin by clearing away the clutter, and get rid of items you no longer want or need. If a stored item is in question, ask yourself this. Have I used this item in the past year or two? If the answer is no, chances are you really do not need it. Donate unused items to your favorite charity or hold a yard sale. Not only will you make your home appear neater and roomier, but you will also earn a little extra cash for your efforts.

Neutralize Color

Deep red walls in the kitchen or deep blue walls in a living room might be appealing to a homeowner that chose those hues, but dark or bold colors are not for everyone. When potential buyers enter a dwelling they want to find a home that requires very little work upon moving in, and although painting is the least expensive way to completely change the look of a home, it is not an easy task. Painting is time-consuming, and after the hard work and stress of packing and moving, repainting is not something anyone wants to tackle right away.

If you want your home to appeal to the greatest number of potential buyers, opt for neutral colors such as creamy beige or rich vanilla. It is true that you cannot please everyone, but if a homebuyer does not appreciate neutral walls, at least they can live with the color or lack thereof until they are ready to repaint. Bright, dark, or bold walls will have to painted as soon as possible to match furnishings, but neutral walls match almost every color and style.

Choose Tasteful Decor

Potential buyers want to envision themselves in your home, and if family photos and personal collections grace the walls, the imagination becomes foggy and the presence of personal items could turn some people away. When trying to sell your home, remove personal effects, and opt for classy items such as wrought iron wall hangings, wall mirrors, wall vases, or beautiful architectural pieces. Make your home look like a model home, and with personal effects removed and clutter cleared away, you will have the best chance of selling your home within a reasonable period of time.

Jessica Ackerman is the featured author at Wall Decor and Home Accents. Shop today for great deals on contemporary wall sculpture, architectural pieces, abstract metal wall art and more unique wall decor products.

Enhance Recipe Resources Using Software

Cooking and Nutrition have been incredibly hot topics over the past couple of years. Other hot topics such as anti aging and fitness exercise are discussed in correlation with cooking and nutrition on a regular basis. At the same time the rise in Cooking Television Shows has been exponential. This craze has resulted in a cooking channel! A channel devoted to a plethora of cooking shows! These television shows often have associated websites where their recipes are cataloged and made available.

Technology has allowed us access to these websites and recipes at a moments notice but in order to organize and keep your favorites on hand it may be necessary to create a file or use a software package. I have researched and will offer a review of a few software products that I recommend. These products will allow you to import, catalog and print your recipes in a variety of convenient formats.

1. MasterCook Deluxe 9.0 by ValuSoft

Product Features

Meal-planning software with 8,000+ recipes and 100s of international recipes

Thorough search capabilities; expert nutritional analysis

Professional tips, cooking for a crowd, and essential cooking techniques

Enjoy 400 savory baking recipes with step-by-step instructions

Print shopping lists for single recipes or entire menus, or download to PDA

2. Cook’n for Every Holiday by DVO Enterprises

This instructional computer software includes 582 recipes, recipe manager, menu planner, and more!

Product Features:

Search thousands of recipes in seconds–just tell it what you have on hand

Adjust recipe serving sizes automatically

Demonstrate preparation techniques with video clips

Display hundreds of full-color food photos

Organize your own recipes

Print your recipes on decorative 3×5 cards

Create weekly menus

Make grocery shopping lists

Analyze the nutritional value of your recipes

Recipe Manager:

Organizing your family recipe collection in the computer is easy with Cook’n. You already know how to put in your recipes, that’s because Cook’n’s recipe window looks just like a recipe card. And, “Quick-Fill” editing does much of the typing for you.

Cook’n has simple cookbook-like chapters and categories that make it easy to find your recipes fast.

Cook’n’s Recipe Manager makes entertaining a snap. Simply select the number of guests you will be serving and enter it into your favorite recipe. Cook’n calculates the new ingredient amounts for you.

Menu Planner:

Build your own weekly and monthly menus

Drag and drop meals to make your menus

Combine recipes and food items to make complete meals. Then, drag and drop meals to make your own weekly or monthly menus.

Grocery Shopping Assistant

Compiles your family’s shopping list automatically

Organizes shopping list items by aisle

Converts to package sizes (e.g., tablespoon tomato paste to 8 oz. cans)

Calculates your grocery cost

Personal Home Nutritionist

Analyze the nutritional elements of recipes and menus (even the ones you add!)

Choose between brands to satisfy dietary needs

Cook’n will analyze the nutritional value of any recipe or menu (even the ones you add!). Easy to read…Cook’n nutrition facts window looks just like the label on a can.

Cook’n has nutrition facts from the labels of 10,000 food products. You can choose between different brands to see what the nutritional effect is.

Now you can plan menus based on dietary needs and tastes. Prepare one delicious meal for the entire family.

Home Cookin: Recipe Software by Mountain Software

Product Features:

· Easy to Use Interface - Home Cooking uses a simple tabbed interface that is easy to operate while providing all the features you use most. You can create as many chapters as you wish. Home Cookin will keep everything sorted alphabetically so you can quickly browse through your collection, and find your favorites easily.

· Easy Recipe Entry

· Import and Export Capabilities - Thousands of free recipes can be found on web pages, newsgroups, and various mailing lists. You can easily add these to your collection by importing them into Home Cookin. Most standard formats are supported.

· Meal Planning - The meal calendar makes it easy to plan your upcoming meals. Locate your desired recipes, then add them to the calendar. Add personal notes if you plan on eating out, want to indicate a holiday, or to reference recipes in other cookbooks. When you are ready to prepare the meal, you can access the recipe quickly from the meal calendar.

· Grocery Management - The Home Cooking grocery manager will make quick work of preparing your grocery shopping lists. Start a new list, select the items you need, and print. A cost estimate is calculated as you select each item, so you’ll know ahead of time how much you’ll be spending on your groceries. The printed list is compact and sorted by store and location to make your shopping trip as easy as possible.

Websites provide us with recipes at a moments notice but in order to organize and keep them handy and get the most use of them it may be necessary to create a file or use a software package. I have provided a review of a few software products that I found to be of good quality. These products will allow you to import, analyze, catalog and print your recipes in a variety of convenient formats including a grocery list!

I have an extensive background in Finance and Fiscal Procedure. I also have a web business where I offer Computer Learning Software for Kids. I am very interested in the product itself as well as the subject matter that it involves. Please use the link above to visit us at The Software Spot! Thank you, Allison Merlino

The Thorny Side Of Things- Removing Thorns From Roses Properly

Who has not heard the saying: Every rose has its thorns? To many people the thorn on a rose has symbolism, whether it is spiritual or otherwise. The thorn seems to state that even the most beautiful things in life have a little bad to them. You could even say that the thorn is there to say “hey, you got to take the bad with the good.” No matter how you think of it there is some kind of meaning to it for most people.

In Roman mythology it is said that the thorns are there because Cupid was stung by a bee and started shooting arrows every where. Some arrows hit roses and because of the sting in the arrows the thorns took root and have been there ever since. Whether this is true or we will never know but if you are having trouble with thorns you should not be in despair. All you need is a little care and patience and you can remove these pesky daggers safely for a smooth stem.

When removing thorns from roses you have to be careful, the thorns are actually there to help the rose drink up the water. Therefore you have to be careful not to damage the stem when removing these sharp little daggers. It takes time and practice to know how to remove thorns without damaging the stem of the rose itself. If you accidentally peel or tear the skin you can hinder the amount water the rose gets.

You can take the thorns off the rose stems while they are still on the bush or you can wait until you have clipped them off. The best time to try and remove the thorns is when the roses are young and before they bloom if you are sure the roses will be cut sometime in the near future for what ever the reason. The proper method of dethorning roses takes time, practice and patience.

All you have to do is apply pressure to the side of the thorns and just simply push them off the stem. You can do this whether the rose is cut or still on the bush. Removing thorns from a rose can be a tedious task when doing it by hand. On some rose bushes the thorns can grow so close together that removing one is almost impossible without getting stabbed by another. This is where a dethorning tool can come in handy.

You can purchase a tool of the like called a thorn stripper, which will strip the stem of its leaves and thorns. You can also make your own by using some metal strapping that you can buy at your local hardware store. If you are going to make your own you should be sure to file the edges that will be closest to the stem of the rose, this will help not to excessively tear the stem up while dethorning the rose.

When using a dethorning tool all you have to do is hold the tool right below the flower and close the jaws and apply a little pressure and drag the tool down the stem. Be careful not to apply too much pressure or you could tear up the skin on the stem or you could even sever the stem. If you do this and heed the advice given, the thorns should pop right off. This may take a bit of practice but after a few tries you will know what pressure is needed to be applied.

You can also use a knife to remove the thorns from the stems of your roses. You can use a floral or a small paring knife to do this. When removing thorns and leaves from the rose stems you want to think about only removing the thorns and leaves that are going to be below the water level if you are going to put the flowers in a vase. Also you should only remove the thorns if the roses are going to be held or pinned on the body.

Remember that removing thorns from the stems can shorten the life of the roses. A good time to dethorn your roses is when you are making a plant litter pile to go into your compost pile. This will make it safer for you to work in your garden. After removing the dead and decaying roses from your bush or the vase in your home, remove the thorns and throw the remaining parts into your compost pile to help fertilize the ground.

Check out The Joy of Rose Gardening now at http://www.roseflowergarden.com, to find great articles, advice, tips and much more on rose gardening topics.

Top Roses To Choose If You Don’t Want Thorns

Most people can barely imagine having roses without having thorns. They are so beautiful that most people are willing to risk the pain of the thorns. However, today there are a variety of different options available. In fact, today there are various rose varieties that are actually thornless. So, let’s take a look at some of the top roses that don’t have the thorns anymore. You’ll be able to get rid of those gardening gloves and go on dealing with your roses without having to worry about thorns.

Rose #1 – The Banksias Rose – This is a rose that is just about thornless and it has been very popular with many gardeners. It was first introduced in Kew Gardens, just about 200 years ago. This Banksias Rose usually has many blooms on it during the flowering season of about two months. You’ll find that it blooms in the early fall, in September and October and there are beautiful yellow double bloom flowers that look amazing. While the flowers are not that big, with so many on one bush, they are totally spectacular.

This type of a rose is a rambling rose that grows freely. However, you’ll find that you can easily keep it in place by trimming it, since there are no thorns to worry about. It is important to note that this rose should not be pruned during the winter months, but it should be trimmed right after it finishes blooming. The flowers of this rose are produced in the wood from the growing season previous, so pruning during the winter months can be disastrous.

You’ll find that the Banksias Rose is admired around the world, especially since it is easy to care for and grow. It is just about totally disease resistant and you don’t have to worry about using fungicide sprays on a regular basis. Usually you won’t want to use commercial fertilizer on it often either, and it should be planted in a sunny area that is well drained.

Rose #2 – The Zephirine Drouhin – This is probably the most popular rose that is nearly thornless. It was named after the wife of a French man who was a rose enthusiast, and her name was Zephirine Drouhin. This is a lovely Bourbon rose that should be planted in an area that will allow you to enjoy the wonderful fragrance of the rose. You’ll find that it is a moderate climber that grows to about 10-12 fee high, even though some have reported that it can climb quite a bit higher. It is quite easy to train this rose to grow on an archway, up your porch rails, or even to grow on a trellis. Since it is just about thornless, you can easily handle it. The flowers on it are big and dark pink, and they bloom from about May to when the first frost is.

This rose bush is well known for the shade tolerance and it grows best in moist soil that is in the shade. You’ll need great air circulation for your Sephirine Drouhin in order to keep fungal disease under control. If you want to keep it flowering well and help it resist diseases, you’ll want to plant it in the full sun. You should prune it during the dormant season and you should destroy the dead leaves around it as well to keep disease away. The Zephirine Drouhin is quite susceptible to black spot, mildew, Rose rosette, and rust.

Rose #3 – The Smooth Buttercup Thornless – This is a variety of nearly thornless rose that has been praised by gardeners across the world and has won a variety of prizes as well. This is a compact floribunda that has clusters of blossoms that are golden in color. You’ll find that the Smooth Buttercup Thornless repeatedly blooms throughout the entire growing season and the blooms have a light fragrance as well.

Check out The Joy of Rose Gardening now at http://www.roseflowergarden.com, to find great articles, advice, tips and much more on rose gardening topics.

Home Improvement With Garden Designs

You may want garden designs, but you may not have any idea where to start. Well, help is here!

You can start small to see what you can do on your own, or you can always ask someone for help. You can find many contractors who work in home improvement stores who specialize in gardening. You can find them where you might suspect; in the garden section, working part time, or they may have left their business cards on a bulletin board there.

If someone is not there that can help you with the basics of garden designs, you can ask when someone might be in that knows what they are doing so you know when to go back. They may even have some gardening classes that you can attend, and these are normally free or low cost.

If you want to tackle garden designs without any outside help, but you are really coming up empty when thinking about what you want to do, you can always find ideas in many other places:

1) You can find some great ideas by doing an image search for gardens on the Internet

2) You can look through gardening library books and magazines for new ideas; use some of the ideas you find to make up your very own garden designs. You will have something that is all your own if you mix and match, and then add some things that are special to you.

3) After your first round, you may find you have enough info combined with ideas of your own, so you won’t need to go elsewhere. If not, ask relatives, neighbors and friends for advice and tips.

The bottom line is this, gardening is something that many do for a love of nature and for a chance to relax. Some do a little, and are happy with that, but others take it much more seriously. They may come up with amazing garden designs that would take your breath away. Those are always a lot of fun to view, and can be even more fun to grow. It might be compared to putting together a very complicated puzzle and hoping everything comes out just right.

If you want to put together your own garden designs for your home improvement projects, you should think a lot about your skill and knowledge of plants. You want to think about color and design, but you also have to think about caring for the various plants that you choose. Some are harder than others to care for, and that can be problematic for those who don’t have a lot of time to mess with hard to care for plants. If you are pretty sure you have the time and the talent, go ahead and see what you can do on your own.

Visit, subscribe to and bookmark: http://myhomeimprovementtips.com for your home improvement projects! And keep up with the latest home improvement tips for your home and family.

The Rose Garden’s Ten Most Wanted List

The following insects have made it to the Rose Garden’s Ten Most Wanted list. Read carefully so you can identify them and eradicate them from your garden.

1. Aphids

Aphids top this list because they are the most frequent rose pest. They love to nestle into the buds and shoots of rose bushes. While low to moderate levels of aphids will not do much harm to your roses, you need to keep an eye on how they spread. High numbers of aphids will produce a lot of honeydew. This substance encourages mold growth and will eventually cause your rose leaves to blacken. You may notice that your flowers shrink in size and the buds may even be killed. Lady beetles and syrphid flies are the natural enemies to aphids and will keep the population under control. You can also spray the plant with water or insecticidal soap. Aphids are usually a problem during spring and early summer. Unless you have a really heavy infestation, it is uncommon to have to use insecticides against them.

2. Spider Mites

If you notice your rose leaves are stippled or dried up and dropping to the ground, you may be infested with spider mites. These little insects are so tiny you may need a magnifying glass to see them. They like dry, dusty conditions. You can control spider mites by providing a little more water to your roses to cut down on dust.

3. Fuller Rose Beetles

Adult Fuller Rose beetles will eat at the flowers and leaves on your roses. Look for ragged edges on your foliage and blooms. They eat at night and hide all day on the underside of leaves. The best way to control them is to pick them by hand, since pesticides are not effective against them.

4. Thrips

Thrips leave brown streaks down the flower petals. When roses are planted close together thrips can become a big problem because it is easy for them to move from plant to plant. They like light colored or white roses best. Pesticides are only effective against thrips during their developmental stage. If you notice a thrip problem, clip and dispose of all infected blossoms.

5. Caterpillars

Some caterpillars do eat rose leaves. If you find any, remove the rolled up leaves and cut off any buds that have been damaged. Usually, caterpillars won’t harm the plant enough to make any permanent damage.

5. Rose Slug

The rose slug is actually the larva of a sawfly. They look like caterpillars since they have legs. Wash them off with a good spray of water or let one of their natural enemies do the dirty work for you.

7. Leafcutter Bees

Leafcutter bees cut semi-circular holes in rose leaves to take back to their nests. There is really no way to fight them other than killing them. It is recommended by many sources not to kill bees since they do all the pollinating, so you may just need to put up with this.

8. Rose Curculio

Yellow and white roses are the preferred targets of rose curculios. They are only about a quarter inch long, but that doesn’t stop them from punching holes in buds and flowers. The larvae eat developing buds, so the blossoms are killed before they even have an opportunity to open. You can get an insecticide against rose curculios at your local garden center.

9. Flat headed Borers

Flat headed borers will kill the canes. With enough damage, they can kill the entire plant. Remove any infested material and keep your roses healthy by not over pruning in the summer. Make sure your roses get enough water.

10. Scale Insects

Scale also poses a threat to your rose canes. Scale insects have armored scales. When you see them on a plant they look like gray round or oval bumps. They really don’t move since they have no legs, so once you see them, you know where they are. The best way to combat scale insects is to prune infected canes and put pesticide oil on the canes that are left.

Check out The Joy of Rose Gardening now at http://www.roseflowergarden.com, to find great articles, advice, tips and much more on rose gardening topics.

Indoor Fountains: Tips On Choosing The Right One For Your Home

Contrary to popular belief, fountains are not just for outdoor use. Indoor fountains are ideal for decorating the corner of a bedroom, a grand foyer, a sunroom, and even areas without a lot of extra space. The sound of the gently flowing water is soothing, and a beautiful fountain is a great conversation piece as well as a decorative asset that will bring a bit of nature indoors. Here you will find a number of tips that will help you choose the perfect indoor fountain for your home and enable you to transform an indoor area into a place of serene beauty.

Choosing a Location

An indoor fountain should be placed in an area that can be seen. After all, a beautiful fountain should be noticeable to all who enter your home for a lasting and impressive impact. If space permits, consider placing the fountain in the foyer. It will make a grand first impression unlike any other type of home decor.

If you are looking for serenity and tranquility, consider placing the fountain in a bedroom. The sounds of the trickling water will have a calming and soothing affect, but most of all, it will add a great deal of beauty to the space. You will feel as if you are resting alongside a tranquil waterfall, and the room will feel more luxurious than ever.

A sunroom is another fantastic location for an indoor fountain, and it is a great way to bring the beauty of the outdoors inside. Choose an open corner to display a model complete with a waterfall. It will compliment the natural landscape that can be viewed from indoors, and it will provide a serene oasis for family and friends.

Endless Options

If your home is lacking the adequate floor space to accommodate an indoor fountain, other options are available. Search for wall fountains or tabletop varieties. A tabletop fountain is ideal for decorating a small bathroom, and a wall fountain is perfect for a narrow entryway. Size really does not matter, and a small space can be just as impressive as a large space with the right decor and home furnishings.

A wall fountain can be transformed into an amazing focal point with the addition of attractive metal wall planters. Beautiful metal wall planters are available in a wide range of styles and sizes, and they are perfect for decorating around a wall fountain. Fill the planters with artificial trailing vines, and include beautiful faux flowers for a stunning display.

Decorating an Indoor Fountain

An indoor water display can be decorated much in the same way as outdoor varieties. When displayed in a sunny location, consider growing beautiful flowering water plants in the base of the fountain. If you do not have a green thumb, opt for artificial varieties, or choose a floating light to illuminate the display.

With proper aeration and depth, goldfish can be added to an indoor fountain. Fish add color to an indoor display, and they are really very easy to care for. Best of all they will be easy to care for and will not face the perils of fish housed in outdoor garden ponds or fountains.

Attractive stones can also be added to an indoor water display. Stones of various sizes and colors can be found in pet stores that sell aquarium supplies, and stones meant for aquariums are ideal for placing in an indoor fountain. You will find everything from natural stone imbedded with crystal to polished river rocks. You will also discover many other decorative aquatic items that can be used in a fountain display.

No matter what you choose to further embellish a decorative indoor fountain, you will add a great deal of beauty to your home. The fountain alone will bring lasting serenity, and you will love the aesthetic qualities and the visual beauty it provides. No matter the size of your home or your decorating style, indoor fountains are available to meet every preference and decorating budget.

Jessica Ackerman writes for Wall Decor and Home Accents, an online home decor store specializing in wrought iron wall decor, candle wall sconces, wall art and more supplies for your home decor.

Wedding Cake Suggestions….

Today, I am focusing on all those yummy, and don’t forget, beautiful Wedding cakes that I have tasted over the years.

I have taste tested so many wonderful cakes at Weddings over the years and I thought I’d share some ideas and suggestions with you when planning your Wedding and trying too find the most perfect cake. And wait a minute, not just trying to find the perfect cake, but trying to find the mot beautiful and season conscious cakes as well.

First, the yummy part. Cakes are very important at Weddings. People are always so excited for the cake part. Making sure that is taste yummy is equally important, as making sure that it look beautiful. Suggestions go out there, around the city and towns that you live and taste test! Its fun and is most certainly a must. Every baker has his or hers own way and style of baking. Some bakers I’ve noticed tastes a little more salty than others, etc. So taste testing is truly your best option! Not to mention, it’s a blast!!

Another important part of taste testing is that you make sure you get a variety of options. Now, just because you are a chocolate lover and want chocolate cake, with chocolate frosting drizzled in fudge, doesn’t mean everyone loves that too. What I’ve have seen done most at Weddings is the Bride and Groom will make the cake that they cut, just the way they like it, and then on the other tiers, make different flavors like vanilla, lemon, raspberry, strawberry, etc. So make sure that you have a few options, as everyone’s tastes are different.

Another suggestion, add a little funk to your cake! Instead of just having a cake with frosting, have your Baker put something in the middle. Isn’t it just the best when you are eating a doughnut and you bite into it only to discover that its jelly or pudding filled! Jack pot!! That’s the best. So do that with your cake. My most favorite cake I’ve ever had at a Wedding was of course, at my own Wedding. And the guests loved this cake. It was Vanilla cake, but in the center was sugared cream cheese and fresh strawberries. It was to die for! Yummy! And the guests were very pleasantly surprised.

Now to beautifying your cake! This part is very important as well. Photographs and Videos will be taken of this cake and of you and your new spouse cutting the cake and feeding it to each other. Just as you are picture perfect that day, so must your cake be also! Make sure that the colors on your cake coordinate with the colors of your Wedding and please make sure that nothing clashes!

Lastly, flowers. I know your thinking, “Wait! Flowers? Aren’t we talking about Wedding cakes?” Yes, we are. However, fresh flowers are a “must have” on your Wedding cake!! Cake make sure, in an organized way, you put fresh flowers, preferably flowers that match your bouquet. And did you know? There are suck things as eatable flowers?? Yes, its true! Eatable orchids are the yummiest, get the purple ones!

All in all, make sure your Wedding cake is yummy, beautiful and coordinates perfectly. Also, don’t forget to be weather conscious! Chocolate cakes with vanilla ice cream are good for winter, and lighter vanilla types cakes with sorbets are better for the Springs/Summers. Even an Ice Cream cake would be cool and really original!

Whatever you decide, make it wonderful!!

Wedding photography

The Five Best Hybrid Roses

Do you enjoy roses and their pure elegance? Do you like getting roses for a special occasion? Do you wish you could have a garden full of roses each year? Many people enjoy all of these things; however, some of us are not born with green thumbs, and some of us never seem to obtain that green thumb. If you are completely new with gardening or you seem to kill even the easiest to take care of indoor plants, don’t fret. With the vast variety of roses, there are many hearty roses that do not require a lot of work. Whether you’re a new gardener, you don’t have time to take care of a rose garden, or you don’t have a green thumb, a hybrid rose bush might be your best option.

1. One of the best roses around is the Betty Prior Rose. This bush blooms during growing season, and the blooms never seem to end! The roses that this plant produces are breathtaking. The buds start off pink and blossom into a beautiful white rose. These roses are perfect for a gift or to keep around the house! The bush is very compact and it usually never grows over 3 ft. The Betty Prior Rose is very hardy and it is a great choice for anyone who loves roses but does not always have the time or experience to take care of them.

2. Another great rose bush that does not require a lot of attention is the Knockout Rose. This bush produces lovely roses that come in all different shades of pink, from magenta to a light pastel pink. This hybrid rose bush is one of the most enjoyable. It is very disease resistant, so you never have to worry about purchasing fungicides or spending time checking the leaves of the bush every week. It is also known to minimally attract insects. The Knockout Rose bush is very hardy and can even last in cold weather. The bush needs only a few hours of sun to live, so you can plant it anywhere!

3. The Nearly Wild rose bush is the perfect bush that is tough yet beautiful. The bush is known for its wildness because it grows and grows. When it grows, the Nearly Wild produces a thick bushy shrub. It does not grow very tall, ranging from 2ft. to 3ft. and it spreads and spreads. The flowers also add to this bush’s greatness. The blooms are a beautiful pink that no one would want to pass up.

4. The Rugosa Magnifica hybrid rose bush is also one that requires minimal work. This rose has been around since 1905. The bush is able to live in all sorts of weather conditions, whether it is warm, cold, or a drought; the Rugosa Magnifica bush will still produce blossoms of color! This bush can be planted anywhere in the world, no matter where you live. From beachside to countryside, this hybrid rose bush is sure to provide you with the flowers you want. The roses are usually a crimson red, perfect to give to your significant other or an important friend. This bush can grow to be slightly taller than others, usually ranging from 5 ft. to 6 ft. The Rugosa Magnifica is a preferred bush because it is insect resistant and flowers more than once. The flowers keep on coming!

5. The Belle Poitevine Rugosa, which is related to the Rugosa Magnifica, is another hardy bush for any rose lover. This bush is so hardy that it can tolerate poor soil. If you have soil that is rocky or mixed with clay, this bush is perfect for you. The Belle Poitevine Rugosa can also live in the shade. The flowers are a lovely magenta color that is accented by dark green leaves. The blossoms are large and usually come more than once in the blooming season. The best part of this rose bush is that it provides a very strong scent. If you enjoy smelling the roses, this is the bush for you.

Check out The Joy of Rose Gardening now at http://www.roseflowergarden.com, to find great articles, advice, tips and much more on rose gardening topics.

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