WHO DOESN'T LOVE A BEAUTIFUL bouquet of flowers? It is hard to think of any occasion when flowers do not add a special touch. Even in the heart of winter, in the coldest regions of the world, the zesty crisp smell, stunning array of bright colors, and eclectic shapes and sizes of freshly cut flowers grouped in an imaginative arrangement perk up everyone's day and seem to warm the frosty air and melt the snow away. Florists and flower growers spend their days amid nature's wonders and have the good fortune of being able to pass these horticultural treasures on to others. Flowers have a language of their own. Without words they can convey a variety of feelings and emotions, from love to good wishes. Floral delights have become favored gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, and various holidays. These attractive arrays of eye-popping petals, supported by flowing stems, are sent to congratulate people on job promotions, graduations, great performances, marvelous successes, and just about anything else where nothing but flowers can enhance the moment. Adding to the thrill is the element of surprise, as many a bouquet arrives unexpectedly from a well-wisher in a far-off place, or simply around the corner. At proms, weddings, awards ceremonies, and retirement dinners, inspiring and breathtaking floral designs - precisely placed in decorative vases, perfectly positioned throughout a room - give a well-worn banquet hall new life and make it look different for every special event. Working tirelessly behind the scenes are floral designers and flower growers. What starts out as a single seed can end up as a botanical spectacle, the likes of which people will not soon forget. Hours of painstaking work are put into these floral masterpieces. They spring from the efforts of people throughout the floral industry, whether they are in the field growing and harvesting flowers, in a studio planning and designing floral arrangements, or in a retail shop, helping customers select the ideal flowers for that once-in-a-lifetime moment. This is a career that takes patience and talent. It also requires business savvy and marketing expertise. A retail flower shop can become a community stalwart, where you can build a reputation with your designs and creativity. You work with more than just flowers, as you incorporate balloons, bows, ribbons, stuffed animals, even fruit and other plant life into your creations. You know which colors work well together and can play off various themes in crafting floral arrangements that are both charming and distinctive. As a flower grower, you can become known for the quality and variety of the flowers you produce. Working in both greenhouses and in the field, you use only the best seeds and soil, as well as the latest equipment to produce the finest flowers possible in this very competitive field. You are more than a flower grower, as you hone your skills, both in sales and distribution, to support your flower production efforts. The best part of being in the floral industry are the smiles flowers bring to everyone's face.