PRIMETIME of your life FREE | VOLUME 4 • ISSUE NO. 9 | SEPTEMBER 2015 Interesting features for our 50+ audience
Rafe Botts
Swinging into history By Lucinda Sue Crosby For PrimeTime of Your Life
J
ackie Robinson. Charlie Sifford. Althea Gibson. Jack Johnson. Sports lovers know these names, shimmering in an aura of Civil Rights, the equality of all people, the pursuit of excellence and America’s obsession with the proven mighty. Sports trivia is heavily sprinkled with First, Biggest and Most, whether horse or human, giant concrete arena, tended grasslands or dirt track. It’s a field on which measurable merit is the great equalizer.
SIGNS YOUR SUFFERING FROM ALLERGIES - PAGE 4
I’d like to introduce you to such a trailblazer, Rafe Richard Botts, the second African American to earn a spot on the PGA tour. Born in D.C. in 1937 to parents Gladys and Horace Botts, Sr., Rafe was the sixth of 11 children. At 10, he realized that having a little “walking around” money meant earning it himself. He tried the bowling alley. “Not too appealing,” Rafe said, “and so loud.” There was, however, a nine-hole, segregated golf course in Washington, named after John Mercer Langston, first dean of Howard University Law and Virginia’s first African American Congressman. Rafe showed up knowing zilch about the game and since the bags were bigger than he, he was set to shagging range balls, earning a quarter for 30 minute’s work. Pretty good,
Rafe Richard Botts, the second African American to earn a spot on the PGA tour considering his father only made $30 a week. Soon enough, this eager youngster worked up to caddy, commanding the princely sum of 50 cents per round. In 1950, one of his regular players gave him a “beat up old club.” He then rescued errant balls from the weeds and began eagle-eyeing some of the better players, hoping to reproduce what he saw. By 1953, he was shooting par regularly. During this period, boxing great Joe Louis and United Golf Association (UGA) pro Ted Rhodes played the Langston course a few times. When Ted offered Rafe a five dollar tip,
Rafe took notice. Struck by the way Rhodes carried himself, how he dressed, how he spoke, not to mention the five dollar tip, Rafe decided to become a professional golfer.
PEACH MELBA SUNDAE RECIPE - PAGE 6
He might as well have been reaching for the moon … First he had to finish high school, like he promised momma, but all the while he was playing in any local tournaments that would have him, achieving some success. He also continued caddying at Langston for leading members of WashContinued on page 8
GROWING A WATER CONSERVATIVE GARDEN PAGE 13
TOPIC OF DISCUSSION PrimeTime of Your Life provides local editorial and advertising content for our active adults (50+). We strive to educate and inform through lifestyle features and human interest profiles. PrimeTime is distributed throughout the Coachella Valley.
Deb Geissler - Publisher
dgeissler@desertentertainer.com
Jose De La Cruz – Editor
news@desertentertainer.com
Kimberly Brucks - Senior Marketing Specialist kbrucks@desertentertainer.com
Judy Telander - Marketing Specialist jtelander@desertentertainer.com
Sandy Cloyd - Marketing Specialist scloyd@desertentertainer.com
Agustin Alejandre - Sr. Graphic Artist
ads@dmhnews.com | ads@desertentertainer.com (760) 776-5181 | 41-995 Boardwalk, Suite L2 Palm Desert CA 92211 A Product of the Desert Mobile Home News. Titles registered and all contents copyright 2015 by Hi-Desert Publishing Co. All Rights reserved.
2
|
PRIMETIME
|
Target announces no signs with “boy” and “girl” qualifiers in some departments. What is your opinion? Here’s some of what’s been reported
Target announced on its blog, A Bullseye View, that it will no longer have signs with “boy” and “girl” qualifiers in certain departments, like toys and bedding.
Others celebrated the retailer. Co-founder of the empowerment and anti-bullying group Girls Leadership, said it was “a huge deal that Target is going gender-neutral.”
“ We know that shopping preferences and needs change and, as guests have pointed out, in some departments like Toys, Home or Entertainment, suggesting products by gender is unnecessary,” Target noted.
“Target is a trendsetter,” said the co-founder of Girls Leadership. “They’re opening up a whole world of possibility for these kids.”
Critics took to Twitter against Target’s upcoming “androgynous signs,” arguing that the changes will make it harder for shoppers to find what they’re looking for. Some said they will no longer shop at Target.
The move comes two months after an Ohio mom called out Target for a particularly questionable signs in one of its store that read building sets, girl’s building sets. “I hope that Target and other retailers will pay attention to
this conversation and consider removing gender from the way they market their toys,” said Bechtel. “I think that the overwhelming response to my tweet is a good indication that there are a lot of consumers who would welcome that change.” A spokeswoman for Target said that most shoppers seem to be on board with the new policy. “We recognize by coming out and making these couple of changes that people are going to have a wide variety or opinions,” said a representative of Target. “We expected and respect that. The response from the guests has been overwhelmingly positive.”
Feel free to send us your thoughts on this subject by emailing news@desertentertainer.com. We will publish a few reader responses in the next issue of PrimeTime.
SEPTEMBER 2015
Surprising signs you’re suffering from allergies and tips to manage them • You can’t concentrate: You wake up with a runny nose and can’t stop sneezing but still head into work and struggle through the day. This situation often leads to a present but unproductive employee -- something known as “presenteeism” -- and unfortunately it’s very common for allergy sufferers.
(StatePoint) When you think of seasonal allergies, sneezing may come to mind first. But there’s a lot more to allergies than “achoo,” say experts. According to allergist Dr. Myron Zitt, there are many ways allergies can manifest. Here are a few less obvious signs that you may be suffering from allergies:
4
|
PRIMETIME
Do any of the above sound familiar? For those that are suffering from allergies, Dr. Zitt recommends the following allergy survival tips to better manage symptoms. • Know your triggers: Document your symptoms to get a better sense of your individual allergies. Visit your health care provider, preferably an allergist, to get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.
• Your nose is extra sensitive: Allergy sufferers may experience a heightened response to non-allergic conditions, such as wind, air pollution and dry weather. This occurs when the nasal passages and throat are inflamed from existing allergies, making them more sensitive.
• Avoid allergens: Avoid outdoor activities in the morning or plan ahead by wearing a hat and sunglasses to keep pollen away from your face.
• You feel tired: Allergy symptoms can disrupt sleep, especially for people whose symptoms make it difficult to breathe through the nose. But even a full night’s rest may not ease that feeling of tiredness for some allergy sufferers.
• Kick pollen to the curb: Pollen can stick to clothing and shoes. Invest in a good doormat and wipe down your shoes each time you enter. It’s also helpful to shower and change into fresh clothes to completely rid yourself of outdoor pollen.
• You’re grumpy: The discomfort of allergy symptoms can interfere with people’s daily lives and lead to irritability.
• Beware of bouquets: If you’re bringing flowers or plants into your home, choose them carefully. For
|
SEPTEMBER 2015
example, sunflowers and chrysanthemums might offer a sweet floral aroma, but they’re known to bother people with ragweed allergies. • Don’t carpool with pollen: Keep car windows rolled up. Instead of opening windows turn on the air conditioning, or set your ventilation to “re-circulate” to avoid outdoor allergens and irritants. Additionally, over-the-counter antihistamines can offer relief from symptoms like itchy and watery eyes and a runny nose. One option is Allegra Allergy 24-Hour -- now available in gelcap form. It can offer adults fast, non-drowsy relief starting in one hour and staying strong for 24. More information can be found at www.allegra.com. Think beyond the runny nose. Allergies can take a toll on your entire quality of life. Take care of yourself by avoiding your triggers when possible and seeking relief when necessary.
? KNOW DID YOU
A
stronauts on the International Space Station ate food they grew themselves in space for the first time on August 10, 2015.
D
espite their impressive size, grizzly bears are quite fast and have been clocked at 30 miles an hour.
W
ile E. Coyote catches Roadrunner only once on the 31st anniversary episode of the series. He then hold up a sign that reads “okay wise guys, you always wanted me to catch him. Now what do I do?”
T
here’s a Spotted Lake in Canada where most of the water evaporates in the summer and leaves behind puddles of colorful mineral deposits.
6
|
PRIMETIME
dae, without the swan or spun sugar, is an easy version of the original. For simple variations, nectarines or apricots can be used instead of peaches and other flavors of ice cream can replace vanilla. The sundaes will still taste wonderful.
B
en & Jerry’s Ice Cream actually has a graveyard where they burry all of its discontinued flavors including Makin’ Whoopie Pie, Oh Pear, Economic Crunch, Tuskeegee Chunk and Bovinity Divinity.
Peach Melba Sundaes
J
.R.R. Tolkien began work on “The Hobbit” one day early in the 1930s, when he was marking school papers. He found a blank page. Suddenly inspired, he wrote the words, “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.”
S
ome airports have comfort dogs for stressed passengers. About 20 airports across the USA and Canada - including Miami International, San Francisco International, San Jose International and Edmonton International - have therapy dogs.
|
SEPTEMBER 2015
• 1/2 cup raspberry jam Here’s a takeoff on Peach Melba, the ice cream dessert that Auguste Escoffier, chef at the Savoy Hotel in London, created for the Australian soprano, Dame Nellie Melba. Inspired by a scene in the opera “Lohengrin,” where the prince arrives in a boat pulled by a swan, Escoffier’s dessert was vanilla ice cream and peaches served with an ice swan and decorated with spun sugar. This sun-
• 2 medium peaches, cut into small pieces (about 2 cups) • 2 cups vanilla ice cream 1. In a bowl whisk jam until smooth. 2. Divide peaches among four serving bowls. Top with ice cream and jam. Serves four.
have at least $3,500 in up-front money. “To guarantee you could afford to play at least 15 tournaments with or without prize money,” Rafe explained, “you needed a letter of credit from a bank … and what bank was going to back me?” In stepped his long-time supporter, Dr. Frank Jones, who’d never paid Rafe more than the strict 50 cents-a-round caddy fee at Langston. Jones was the president of a bank and agreed to supply both the money and the letter. Within weeks, Rafe was on the road, traveling from event to event “never knowing which places discriminated and which ones didn’t until I walked through the door.” At times, he and his fellow black pros would have Dr. Kenneth Brown call ahead to make hotel reservations on their behalf because, Rafe said, “he sounded white and educated.”
Rafe still enjoys golfing two or three times a week at the age of 79 Continued from page 1 ington’s black community like Drs. Kenneth Brown, Frank Jones and John Lawla. In order to support himself, he worked for a time as a clerk typist for the Department of Defense but realized he needed to be around golf and golfers if he were ever going to play with the best. So he became a shop attendant at Burning Tree Country Club in Connecticut, where he encountered President Dwight Eisenhower and his Veep, Richard Nixon, among numerous other political luminaries. “Nixon was often the last to leave the club at the end of the day,” Rafe said, “and he usually offered me a ride back into town in his nine-passenger limo.” By 1960, Rafe’s game was hitting its stride. He strung together a series of wins on the UGA tour, and at age 23, won the all black UGA National Championships. In short order, he also came second in the Miami North and South. The moment to join the PGA tour had arrived. However, to keep certain “elements” out of their sport, the PGA required that any rookie player who made it through a qualifying event
8
|
PRIMETIME
|
SEPTEMBER 2015
In 1961, Rafe qualified for the US Open and continued his rise up the ranks but was drafted into the Army later that year. After his hitch, he went back on the tour and qualified for the US Open again in 1971, the PGA in 1974 and the British Open in 1981, among scads of other tournaments. He also played the Senior PGA Tour from 1988-1998 and kept his hand in the pro game, playing and teaching long past his “official” retirement. To say there’s a lot more to the story is a gross understatement. He should write a book! Rafe still enjoys golf two or three times a week. He is close to his son, Jeremy and daughter Jessica. He attends Desert Chapel Christian Church regularly and is keen for all sports on TV … except golf. “Did you know the PGA with all its billions, only pays a pension up till age 75?” Rafe asked me. I didn’t know. What a shame that this 79-year-old man, embedded in our sports and Civil Rights history, has seen so little return from the outfit he revered throughout his life. For lessons or more amazing TRUE stories, contact Rafe Botts at (760) 409-4301.
CROSSWORD SCAM ALERT! This home improvement deal is really a scam
Summer is unfortunately the season for home improvement scams and fly-by-night contractors. BBB has received reports of contractors luring victims with a great deal on driveway paving only to stick them with a stiff bill.
HOW THE SCAM WORKS You answer the door, and it’s a construction contractor. He says that he’s just completed a job down the street, and he has a truck of leftover asphalt. Rather than take a loss on the supplies, he claims that he’s offering driveway repaving at a cheap price. He quotes you a rate, and it’s far below what the job typically costs.
“SIZING THINGS UP” Across 1 Whinny 6 Palindromic pop group 10 Shot 14 Person with a mike 15 Actor Rudd 16 Fire fanatic 17 Not much of a sacrifice 20 Convert to leather 21 Summer cooler 22 “___ And Maude” 23 “Absolutely!” 24 Pepsi rival 25 “To be or not to be” speaker 28 Spectrum color 29 Boxer Muhammad 32 Neptune’s realm 33 Hive dwellers 34 Cinematographer Nykvist 35 T-bone with a warm, red center 38 Carolina college 39 Sty cry 40 Short-winded 41 Anatomical pouch 42 On-line auction site 43 Ran out
10
|
44 Score after deuce, in tennis 45 Rolaids rival 46 Chef Lagasse 49 Craft 50 Blotter letters 53 Digestive-system parts 56 Molokai meal 57 Cubs or Colts 58 Three English rivers 59 Alternatively 60 The good olde days 61 Arc lamp gas
Down 1 2 3 4 5
Branch headquarters? Actress Watson Volunteer’s words Come together Program guide location? 6 Culinary cover-up 7 Get-out-of-jail money 8 Tampa Bay NFLer 9 Place for a pint 10 Fern-to-be 11 Proof goof 12 Asia’s shrinking __ Sea 13 ‘80s pitcher nicknamed “Oil Can” 18 Verse writer 19 “___ a chill pill!” 23 Actor Delon
PRIMETIME
|
24 Office worker 25 Development developments 26 Amtrak express train 27 Red Bordeaux 28 Cecil’s cartoon friend 29 States 30 Rent 31 Signed 33 Beach Boy Wilson 34 Way up 36 Potential to get around 37 Hated 1765 Colonial burden 42 Chanteuse Adams 43 Author Jorge __ Borges 44 Reason 45 Motif 46 Fashion magazine 47 Stake driver 48 Ages 49 Antares, for one 50 Ever’s partner 51 Bingo relative 52 Part of Nasdaq: Abbr. 54 “The Matrix” role 55 “___ got an idea”
ANSWERS ON PAGE 14
SEPTEMBER 2015
This sounds like a great deal, but don’t fall for it. Once they start working, these scammers will “find” an issue that causes them to significantly raise the price. If you object, the con artists may threaten to walk away from the job, leaving you with a half-finished driveway. In another version, the scammer accepts an up front payment and then never returns to complete the job. Driveway paving is far from the only version of this scam. Homeowners have also been taken in by similar techniques involving roofing, painting and other scams.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE SCAM Follow these tips when hiring someone to work on your home. • Work with local businesses: Make sure the contractor has appropriate identification that tells you it’s a legitimate company. Check out businesses at www.BBB.org.
Scammers will “find” issues that increase what you pay • Check references: Get references from several past customers. Get both older references (at least a year old) so you can check on the quality of the work and newer references so you can make sure current employees are up to the task. • Make sure it’s legal: Confirm that any business being considered for hire is licensed and registered to do work in your area. Also, if in doubt, request proof of a current insurance certificate from a contractor’s insurance company. • Get it in writing: Always be sure to get a written contract with the price, materials and timeline. The more detail, the better. • Watch for “red flags”: Say no to cash-only deals, high-pressure sales tactics, and on-site inspections. To find out more about other scams, check out BBB Scam Stopper (www.bbb.org/scam). For more information on other consumer topics, check out our blog at www.bbb.org/blog.
September is National Honey Month, and what better time to celebrate one of nature’s simplest pleasures – honey! With some tidbits of information.
tain life, including enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and water. It’s also the only food that contains pinocembrin, an antioxidant associated with improved brain functioning.
Honey is a Hebrew word meaning enchant. Initially it was a culinary sweeter, and now is recognized worldwide as a healing ingredient in medicinal treatment.
Many years ago, honey was regularly prescribed for health treatments. Today, honey is used for diaper rashes, stomach ulcers and burns. Honey also helps with seasonal allergies, although the honey you are eating must be from the same area that you live to be useful. Honey has long been known to help relieve sore throats when mixed with lemon juice.
Honey is 80% sugars and 20% water. Honey stored in air tight containers never spoils. Sealed honey vats found in King Tut’s tomb still contained edible honey, despite over 2,000 years beneath the desert sands.
BRAIN GAMES TO TRAIN YOUR MIND
Honey was so in demand in the eleventh century that it was a stipulation for German peasants to offer their feudal lords payment in honey and beeswax. Honey is the only food that includes all the substances necessary to sus-
Depending on what flowers a bee gathers pollen will decide the flavor your honey will have. Honey made from pollen gathered from clover will taste different from honey made with the pollen of wild flowers. It will also affect its color.
Be comfortable behind the wheel Vehicles get us where we want to go, but driving can take a toll on your body. Poor driving posture can bring on back pain, a stiff neck and foot cramps. To reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury and help alleviate pain: 1. Remove items from your pockets, including wallet and cell phone. Pressure from these items can reduce circulation of press on soft tissues or nerves. 2. Modify the lumbar support so there are no gaps or pressure points in the back support area. If the vehicle does not have adjustable lumbar support, a lumbar billow or rolled up towel can be used. 3. Tilt the seat back slightly, so it is at a 100 to 110 degree angle. Don’t tilt the seat too far back - this can cause a driver to bend the head and
12
|
PRIMETIME
neck forward and could bring on muscle fatigue and neck or shoulder pain. 4. Check the eat cushion length by sliding your bottom as close to the seat back as possible. When in this position, you should be able to place two to three fingers between the back of your knee and the front of the seat. 5. Move the seat forward until you can push the gas and brake pedals with your entire foot, not just your toes. 6. Adjust mirrors after you get the seat positioned so you don’t have to strain your neck to see what’s behind you. 7. When on a long trip, alternate driving longer and shorter distances. Take rest breaks hourly, or more often if necessary.
|
SEPTEMBER 2015
the grass, the sidewalk or the neighbor’s yard. Make certain the water gets to the roots of your plants via a drip-irrigation system like Raindrip. Raindrip irrigation uses 70 percent less water than underground sprinklers and frees the user from constantly hauling around hoses because the system stays in your garden all summer long.
Growing a water conservative garden (BPT) - Families can decorate their homes with colorful flowers and bring healthy, home-grown foods to the table with gardens. Gardening, however, can use quite a bit of water, and in states struck by drought it’s important to conserve as much water as possible. If you’re living in an area of the country under drought advisement, you can still have a garden this year if you carefully plan what you plant, how you plant it, and how you give it the water it needs. Here are some water-conservation
tips for growing a garden and using the least amount of water possible: • Choose plants that thrive in drier conditions. Vegetables like corn, spinach, mustard greens and some beans are drought-tolerant, and desert rose and snake plant are beautiful landscaping plants that need less water. • Water only where it’s needed so it doesn’t go to waste. When you use a lawn sprinkler to water your garden, much of the spray misses your flowers and vegetables and ends up on
The Raindrip kit, found at raindrip. com/drip-kits automates the entire process, saving you time and water. Just turn the kit on - without needing to get out the hose - and if you really want to conserve water, set the timer to let the water run for a specific amount of time each day. On rainy days, simply set the timer ahead to the next day so water is not wasted. • Water at night or in the early morning when the sun is least likely to evaporate the moisture. This allows as much of the water to penetrate to your plant’s roots instead of evaporating. • Build beds that encourage soil to stay damp as long as possible. Some ways to do this include digging the bed deeper to help loosen the soil prior to planting. This gives roots
SEPTEMBER 2015
the chance to go reach deeper and gain access to where water might be more available. Also, once planted, cover the bed with a good layer of mulch or compost. This will help keep the soil good and moist. • Raise vegetable crops during the rainy season. Many areas of the country have a cooler rainy season. Peas, leafy greens, radishes and other vegetables with short growing seasons are great for planting early in the spring and sometimes again late in the fall. Because temperatures are cooler and the early and late seasons tend to produce more rainfall, you can grow vegetables using less water. Drought affects all areas of the country during different years, so even if you aren’t living in a drought situation now, you could experience one next year or several years down the road. It’s important to know what steps you can take to be more water conservative when it comes to your garden. Apply these tips to your vegetables and flowers this year to see how successful you can be at reducing the amount of water needed to grow your plants.
|
PRIMETIME
13
History This Month in
September 1, 1939 - At 5:30 a.m., Hitler’s armies invaded Poland starting World War II in Europe.
September 2, 1945 - President Harry Truman declared V-J Day (Victory over Japan Day) commemorating the formal Japanese surrender to the Allies aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. September 2, 1963 - Alabama Governor George Wallace forcibly halted public school integration by encircling Tuskegee High School with state troopers. September 3, 1838 - Anti-slavery leader Frederick Douglass began his escape from slavery by boarding a train in Baltimore dressed as a sailor. September 5-6, 1972 - Eleven members of the Israeli Olympic Team were killed during an attack on the Olympic Village in Munich by members of the Black September faction of the Palestinian Liberation Army. September 5, 1975 - The first of two September assassination attempts on President Gerald Ford occurred as a woman pointed a gun at the President in Sacramento. September 5, 1997 - Mother Teresa died in Calcutta at age 87.
CROSSWORD ANSWER
September 8, 1900 - A hurricane with winds of 120 mph struck Galveston, Texas, killing over 8,000 persons, making it the worst natural disaster in U.S. history. September 8, 1974 - A month after resigning the presidency in disgrace as a result of the Watergate scandal, Richard Nixon was granted a full pardon by President Gerald R. Ford for all offenses committed while in office. September 9, 1976 - Longtime leader of Communist China, Chairman Mao Zedong, died. September 11, 2001 - The worst terrorist attack in U.S. history occurred as four large passenger jets were hijacked then crashed, killing nearly 3,000 persons. Two jets, Flight 11 and 175 were diverted by the hijackers to New York City where they were piloted into the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Flight 77 was piloted into the Pentagon building and Flight 93 was diverted towards Washington, D.C., but crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. September 12, 1953 - John F. Kennedy, 36, married Jacqueline Bouvier, 24, in a ceremony before 750 invited guests at St. Mary’s Church in Newport, Rhode Island. September 14, 1901 - President William McKinley died from wounds suffered during an assassination attempt in Buffalo, New York. He was succeeded by Theodore Roosevelt.
14
|
PRIMETIME
|
SEPTEMBER 2015
September 14, 1982 - Princess Grace of Monaco died following an accident in which her car plunged off a mountain road in Monte Carlo. September 16, 1976 - The Episcopalian Church in the U.S. approved the ordination of women priests and bishops. September 20, 1973 - The muchhyped “Battle of the Sexes” took place in the Houston Astrodome as tennis player and women’s rights activist, Billie Jean King, defeated self-styled male chauvinist Bobby Riggs in three straight sets. September 24, 1957 - President Dwight Eisenhower ordered the National Guard to enforce racial integration of schools in Little Rock, Arkansas. September 26, 1960 - The firstever televised presidential debate occurred between presidential candidates John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon. September 27, 1964 - After a 10-month investigation, the Warren Commission Report was issued stating a lone gunman had been responsible for the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas on November 22, 1963. September 28, 1978 - Pope John Paul I died after 33 days in office. He was succeeded by September 30, 1955 - Actor James Dean was killed in a car crash in California at age 24.
Paper Dahlia Flower Supplies: 10 Sheets of 8.5″ x 11″ astrobrights paper per flower (Four layers on each flower. The biggest layer takes four sheets, the next layer takes three, then two and then the center takes one sheets.) Scissors Pen Low Temp Glue Gun Paper Trimmer Cardboard
Directions: 1. Cut a 6.5″ circle out of cardboard. Use a bowl and pen to trace a circle on the cardstock and then cut it out with scissors. 2. Use paper trimmer to cut colorful paper into rectangles. Cut all pieces of paper into 4.25″ x 5.5″, which is basically an 8.5x11 into fourths. 3. Roll pieces of paper into cone shape with a point in the center of one end and use a small dot of glue to hold in place using a low temperature glue gun. 4. Start gluing the first layer of cones all the way around the edge of the cardboard circle. The next layer glue the cones around a little inside of the outer layer, without cutting or trimming them. For the third layer, trim off about 2-3″ off the cone before gluing them on. For the center, cut off the tips of the cones and glued them into the center of the flower.