Nature Travel with Timeshare Vacation Tips

If you want to experience beautiful nature like never before then you might want to shy away from a timeshare vacation. Timeshare vacations are usually packed full of luxurious amenities and can potentially leave you with nothing but manmade structures to enjoy. So if you are interested in the beauty of nature and other organic scenery you will probably not enjoy your timeshare too much.

Especially if you happen to have purchased a timeshare and are now an owner of a timeshare unit. While timeshare ownership makes perfect sense for some people, it is not the best vacation option for everyone. For those who have no problem accommodating the financial costs of ownership, a timeshare can mean absolute paradise. But if you are not prepared for fee increases and unpredictable special assessments then ownership may not work out so well for you. And with the current economic state you will most likely be unable to easily sell timeshare weeks.

The beautiful beach of Menton in France during my latest vacation. It is such a beauty of nature! I love this place.

And if you are already stuck in a timeshare that you want to get out of then you should see what a timeshare relief company can do for you. Services like those found at Transfer America can provide timeshare exit solutions with a written guarantee so that you can rest easy knowing you are no longer responsible for your financial timeshare obligations. If you need to cancel your timeshare contract then you need to give Transfer America a call today.

Europe Garden and Plant Shows to Visit in 2011

Nature lovers who are traveling in Europe in 2011 will find garden and plant shows to visit all year long throughout Europe.

1) International Violet Meeting, Toulouse, France

Toulouse is known as the world capital of violets. The “pink city” is hosting the International Violet Meeting on February 5 and February 6. Botanists, scientists and violet growers from all over the world will come to the city to share their knowledge. People who have no professional connection to the world of violets will still get a lot from this show. There will be exhibitions and other attractions centered around flowers. Admission to the show is free. If you don’t want to stop there, you should pair the International Violet Meeting with a trip to Paris. Simply book a cheap hotel in Paris (central) and a sightseeing tour of Paris and you’ll feel like you’ve seen natural and man-made beauty in your visit to France.

2) Holland Flowers Festival, Zwaagdijk-Oost, The Netherlands

Flower lovers can see many more types of flowers if they travel to the Netherlands for the Holland Flower Festival from February 23 to February 27. The show’s venue will be filled with hundreds of kinds of tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, narcissi, irises and crocuses. Early bird tickets and group discounts are available for this show

3) Wicklow Gardens Festival, County Wicklow, Ireland

Travelers who want to see gardens in Ireland have a great opportunity to do so during the Wicklow Gardens Festival from April to September. The gardens that can be visited during the festival are not usually open to the public. Ireland’s Heritage Properties are also on display during the festival. Houses and gardens all over County Wicklow can be visited during the festival. Visitors can see Mount Usher Gardens in Ashford and then travel north to see the Powerscourt House and Gardens in Enniskerry. Travelers who go west from Enniskerry will come to Russborough House and its gardens.

4) Malvern Autumn Garden & Country Show, Malvern, Worcestershire, England

This show in September marks the end of the gardening year and the approach of autumn. Representatives from more than 100 nurseries will have displays here.

5) Floralies Internationales, Geneva, Switzerland

There are still garden and plant shows to visit in Europe as winter approaches. The Floralies Internationales from November 14 to November 23 is held inside the Palexpo Exhibition Centre. The temperatures outside will be between 30 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit but the floral arrangements by exhibitors from all over the world will make it seem like spring inside the Exhibition Centre.

Nature lovers will likely find a plant or garden show to visit in most European countries no matter what time of year they travel to Europe.

Smell The Flowers: Two Eco Friendly Travel Ideas

Eco friendly travel, also known as ecotourism, is becoming a popular way to see the world. Eco friendly travel allows those on holiday to not only see a beautiful part of the world but also do so in a way that is green and good for the environment. Here are two of the most fantastic places in Europe to spend an eco holiday!

1) COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

Denmark is Scandinavia’s smallest country but it is making a huge splash environmentally. Copenhagen has been dubbed as one of the most eco friendly cities in all of Europe. This place gets 9% of its electricity from wind power and as a whole around 60% of the country's waste is recycled.

You will find that nearly all of Copenhagen is outlined by bike trails. There is almost nowhere to go that a bike can't take you. There is estimated to be a bike for every one of Copenhagen’s 1.9 million citizens and there are a few thousand rental bikes for tourists. The bikes can easily be rented during the day and returned to any rack at night for a nominal fee.

While staying in Denmark you can spend your time at one of the many inexpensive bed and breakfasts, usually in the form of a small eco friendly company, which are often located on working farms. You can also spend your time camping in one of several national parks or preserves that dot the land.

2) THE CAMPING PODS OF GREAT LANGDALE, WASDALE AND LOW WRAY, ENGLAND

So you want to be close to nature without getting rained on while you sleep, right? Well the National Trust has made that quite the possibility with the introduction of eco friendly camping pods. These small wooden pods have practically no ecological footprint and have been placed along some of the most beautiful walking trails and scenic areas of the national trust. The average pod sleeps a small family of 2 adults and 1 children and newer family pods sleep up to 2 adults and 3 children.

These pods allow visitors to be closer to nature without having to put up a tent or worry about rain. They are a warm, safe way to enjoy nature from a very close perspective.

Photo by: Denmark, Alanwoo

Europe: Where Native Flowers Grow

Tourists can't miss the wonder of the floral beauty when touring European countries. In the British Isles, there are fields of purple heather, the heady scent of lavender topped off each fall by golden flowers of gorse.

Travel eastward to Spain where the flower of the pomegranate is the official flower there. Spain's national flower is the Andalusian red carnation, a symbol of love and romance. Blue bells, gazania, Valencia Rose and lantana are also native to this country.

The flowers of France fall into two categories, the national flower which is the French Emblem of the iris and the official flower, the lily.

Onward To Eastern Europe

The further eastward a tourist travels in Europe, the more climate affects the types of flowers native to Eastern European countries like Poland where crocuses, pink amarylis and Alanya bloom under Polish skies. As winter ends in Hungary, tiny white snowdrops poke their heads from under the blankets of snow.

Flowers of Middle Europe

No one who has ever witnessed the grand display of tulips in the Netherlands ever forgets the sight of thousands upon thousands of this country's native flower in an array of colors that make the rainbow blush. The bright red poppy is the national flower of Belgium, but this is a country where azaleas, freesias and begonias are also considered part of the floral decor. Italy, the country of romance, crowns the rose its own national native flower.

Although Italians also love violets, the Pasque flower and white lilies. It may be amazing that 6,000 floral species grow in Greece. Among these are anemone or Grecian windflowers, narcissus, primroses and peonies. Dogwood flowers, also called the Judas tree thrives in abundance in Greece.

Further east in Switzerland native flowers include stock and flannel flowers which are similar to daisies. In Austria, eidelweiss, a tiny delicate white flower grows wild on the Alps and was made famous in song. Forget-me-nots can be found in Germany and create a lovely carpet of blue with tinges of gold at the rims of each floret.

Photo by: RB

Five Wild Flowers of the Himalayas

Spanning an area of 612,021 square km, the Himalaya Mountain Range is home to an incredibly diverse ecology with flora and fauna that has survived in some of the harshest conditions. Walking the Himalayas, you may come across five of these stunning wild flowers which you’ll find growing along the mountain tracks and valleys:

CYANANTHUS INCANUS

This lovely flower is a member of the Bell flower family that grows in the Himalayas. This short plant stands no more than 10cm tall and has small leaves. Greek for “blue flowers ”, these flowers reveal the bright blue-violet petals that they were named for in August and September. The flowers are 2.5cm in diameter and are funnel or bell-shaped.

GENTIANA SINO-ORNATA

The Showy Chinese Gentian is found throughout the Himalayas. Low growing, the Sino-ornata forms a trailing mat of grass-like foliage over rocky soil with large upright trumpet shaped blossoms. Known for producing incredible shades of blue flowers in late summer and early fall, the Sino-ornata has also been used medicinally in teas and remedies.

PALASH TREE

The Palash, or Butea monosperma, is a flowering tree found in the lower altitudes of the Uttarakhand. It is said that the Palash tree is a form of Agnidev, the God of Fire. As punishment for disturbing Lord Shiva and herself, the goddess Parvati changed him into a tree. The Palash blossoms are about 2.5cm long, and are a vibrant red-orange. The blossoms are used to prepare a traditional colour powder for Holi, a spring festival.

BURAN

Burans, or rhododendron, also blooms in early spring along the valleys of the Uttarakhand. These hardy blossoms spread their colour at an altitude above 2,450m making a striking sight against the snow and blue sky panorama. Medicinally, the Buran is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties.

MARSH MARIGOLDS

Marsh Marigolds, or Caltha palustris, cover the Valley of Flowers. A “U” shaped valley formed by glaciers, the floor of the valley has become covered in flowers and plants that have learned to survive in the harsh conditions. The Marsh Marigold, a cousin to the buttercup, can grow up to 80cm with small yellow flowers 2-5cm in diameter. All parts of the plant are poisonous and excessive handling can cause contact dermatitis or skin rashes.

Photo by: Himalaya, Redlinx

Design Inspiration: Five Ideas For Your Garden

1) Fauna and Flora

With the simple addition of adding fauna and flora to your garden, you can completely change the look of your garden into something spectacular. Going for a lush look? If you have a shady garden to begin with, adding some ferns or ornamental grasses is a wonderful way to beautify your garden. With just the right colors of flowers in full bloom you can have an eye catching array of flora. Keep in mind leaves of plants can always add a bit of zeal to a listless garden depending on type when flowers are not in bloom.

2) Sculpture

Adding a piece of sculpture here and there in your garden is a great way to accent a plain area into something more. Garden gnomes aside, there are many stone masons who craft beautiful and long lasting images, they can range from modern and contemporary garden ornament pieces to more traditional and Neo-classical designs of varying sizes.

3) Water Features

Water fountains, either simple or elaborate can bring lusciousness to your garden. In conjunction with fauna in a secluded part of garden you can have a peaceful area that is calming to look at. Even the simple feature of adding a bird bath can give many moments of enjoyment by watching birds flock to it to bathe.

4) Tiered gardens

Bringing levels to your garden adds a complexity and can draw the eye to many different focal points. Planter and gardening boxes can be hung or arranged strategically throughout and is perfect if you would like to have more mobility in designing the grounds.

5) Inspired Moments from Traveling

If you're an avid traveler or had a grand experience visiting part of the world, why not have your garden reflect the sights of what you've seen? Perhaps bring a bit of a specific culture into your backyard as a means to remember fond moments in your travels? Gerniums reminiscent of Italy, a Buda from Asia, even if you haven't traveled there, you can capture the feelings and images that are very familiar of that part of the world.

Photo by: RB