Q: Bird of paradise seeds take up to a year to germinate, and young plants may not flower for seven years. It's much easier to buy a bird of paradise plant or cutting rather than to start the plant from seed, but if you have patience it can be done. Look for bird of paradise seeds or plants in your local garden nursery. If you live in an area where the climate is conducive to growing bird of paradise outside, you may be able to find seeds and cuttings in more than one variety. If you live in a place with cold winters, where bird of paradise won't survive outside, you're more likely to find a mature bird of paradise that has already been potted as a houseplant. If you prefer to plant seeds, get fresh seeds, soak them in water for three days (changing the water daily), and plant them while they're still fresh. Bird of paradise requires a steady temperature between 50-72 degrees Fahrenheit (10-20 degrees Celsius). If the temperature dips below freezing or gets very hot where you live, bird of paradise will die if planted in the garden. Luckily, it grows very well in a pot indoors, so you can enjoy bird of paradise no matter where you live. Bird of paradise grows best in rich, moist soil that has been amended with plenty of compost so that it drains well. Good drainage is key to the health of bird of paradise. The plant will die if its roots stay wet and waterlogged. If you're planting bird of paradise outdoors, till the soil in your planting bed to a depth of 12 inches (30.5 cm). Work in 4 inches (10.2 cm) of rich compost or other organic material in order to enrich the soil and promote good drainage. If you're planting bird of paradise in a pot, fill up a large clay pot (equipped with drainage holes) with rich, loamy potting soil. You can mix in a tablespoon of bone meal to make the soil even richer. Bird of paradise requires full sun, so look for a spot that gets at least five hours of sunlight per day. It can survive in partial shade, but it flourishes in sun. If you're growing bird of paradise inside, it's important to keep it in the brightest room in your house. When the temperature outside is right, you also have the choice to place the plant in a sunny spot outdoors; just make sure to bring it in when the air gets too hot or cold. Depending on the variety you have and the level of care you give it, bird of paradise can grow to be 5 ft (1.5 m ) tall. It's a large plant that takes up quite a bit of space, so space your plants about 6 ft (1.8 m) apart if you're planting outdoors.
A: Purchase bird of paradise seeds or an adult plant. Decide whether to grow it inside our outside. Prepare your planting bed or a large pot. Make sure it has adequate sunlight. Leave room for the plant to grow.

Q: When you're handling a rabbit, the first rule to remember is that you should never pick one up by the ears. A rabbit's ears are fragile and sensitive, and this could cause permanent damage. Instead, place one hand under his rear area and the other between his front legs. Bring the rabbit close to your chest and hold him there securely. When you're ready to put him down, crouch down and gently rest him on the floor. Do not drop your rabbit or let him jump to the floor from your arms. The impact could hurt his legs. Do not lift your rabbit from the scruff of his neck. Rabbits don't have extra skin there as cats do. Mini lops are pretty sturdy as far as rabbits go, but they don't like being handled roughly. Pat your mini lop gently on the head, back and sides. Never toss him, push him or pull him by the legs, ears or tail. If your bunny is afraid, don't force him to play. Rabbits naturally love to hop around, and they need to be able to do so for a few hours every day to stay healthy. Take your bunny out of his cage and play with him every day. If you have an enclosed outdoor area, you can let the bunny play by himself, but don't let him out of your sight for too long. It is extremely dangerous to walk a rabbit on a lead! If a rabbit is scared, the lead can get wrapped around their neck. Rabbits can be scared to death as well. A lead is uncomfortable, scary and dangerous for your rabbit! Never let your bunny play outside the cage completely unattended. Keep cats, dogs, and other predators away. Don't let your bunny get bored in his cage. He needs interesting items to explore and chew on. Put a few cardboard boxes or old phone books in the cage for him to chew on. You can also play with your bunny using a soft cat toy or ball. Bunnies love to play together, and your mini lop will be happier with a friend. Be sure to get a second mini lop, and not another type of rabbit. And make sure both bunnies are spayed or neutered so you don't end up with a litter of babies on your hands.
A: Pick up the mini lop gently. Pet your mini lop carefully. Give your mini lop plenty of exercise. Offer enriching toys. Consider getting two.

Q: More than in any other form of writing, diction and word choice matter in poetry. Try using descriptive words that paint a more elaborate picture. For example, you could say that it was a dark, shadowy night instead of just that the night was dark. This is much more descriptive and gives the reader a more accurate picture of what you mean. Metaphors directly compare two things based on similarities by equating them as the same. In his play As You Like It, William Shakespeare famously says, All the world's a stage, / And all the men and women merely players: / They have their exits and their entrances. This is a metaphor that compares the action of real life with the action of a theatrical play. Shakespeare says that world is a stage and all the people are actors, not merely that they are like actors. Analogies are comparisons between two things that intend to help the reader understand a situation or event. Usually, authors compare a known thing with a lesser known thing to help the reader understand the lesser known thing. Unlike metaphors that compare a thing by saying it is another thing, analogies say that something is like something else. For example, saying she was as quiet as a mouse is an analogy that lets the reader know something about the subject, she, by relating a fact about her to a fact everyone knows (that mice are quiet).
A:
Pay attention to your word choice. Implement metaphors. Use analogies.