They are SO beautiful! The first time I saw them was when I worked at the first (big evil law firm) Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue. They got them every day for their "arrangement" at the front desk to greet visitors. I had never seen a flower like this (and I worked for the managing partner) Wow. The money they spent on poseys for their fron desk would have helped out the tsumani people. Seriously. Birds of Paradise are hella expensive here in the east (blue state -- yeah!)