With Valentine's Day coming on fast, the need for flowers, as well as flower arrangement and floral design skyrockets. But it's not just Valentine's Day that keeps these artists busy. Weddings, funerals and year round romance all create a market for flowers. Why not pursue a professional career in flower arranging?

I believe many flower shops only hire certified floral designers. And I recently heard on NPR a story about how in Louisianna, prospective disigners have to pass a statewide test -- given by and judged by floral designers already in the business. How's that for foxes guarding the henhouse?

There are many certification programs at local community colleges, but you can also do the same thing without leaving your home (or garden) by taking an online program in flower arranging. Maybe not in Louisianna. But I don't know. You'll probably want to check with possible employers first. Unless you plan on opening your own flowershop, of course. For more information, you may want to look at the American Institute of Floral Designers.

Check out Thomson Education Direct, which has courses in Floral Design, Interior Decoration, Professional Bridal Consultant, Web Page Designer, Internet Multimedia and Design, AutoCad, Computer Graphics Artist, Graphic Design Technology.