For those of us with a love of butterflies and garden decor, the perfect time of year is approaching! The imminent arrival of spring energizes the air with happy thoughts of shedding our jackets and starting the spring rituals: opening the windows to feel the fresh air and the planning special events, anticipating the warmth and sunshine, invoking the desire for all things lovely and fresh.

Spring is the perfect time of year to plan bridal showers and receptions, and, of course, celebrations for the graduate in your life. Whether you are planning to have these celebrations indoors or outdoors, a garden theme or

celebration of spring is in order. Using butterflies in your decor will bring these to life. How perfect for the butterfly lover in us all!

For bridal showers and receptions, you can make beautiful centerpieces and attach bejeweled nylon butterflies to the side of a vase. You can also make a nice water feature by filling vases or bowls with water, adding colorful marbles on the bottom, and a beautiful butterfly landing onto the edge of the bowl. Any attendee will love receiving one of these gorgeous signs of spring as part of a door prize arrangement or as a gift for the many games we play.

Any arches or flower decor can instantly achieve another level of elegance and fantasy by slipping in an occasional butterfly in among the petals or wired to the arch. Butterfly decor touches the imagination and allows the mind to achieve sublime enjoyment of your festivities. There are many ways to implement butterflies into your wall decor, from wall stickers to flowered displays, where butterflies are float from one delicate bloom to another.

Your high school or college graduate will be delighted to see her favorite butterfly theme added to her graduation celebration. For an outdoor celebration, attach some clear or sparkled wiring (at a safe height) between trees and allow beautiful, magical butterflies to enhance your garden celebrations. Even in evening, the lighted array of colors sparkling through the night will delight your guests.