Another treat for the Bloody Mary. While they are in season ask your favorite cook to pickle some, or find them jarred at the specialty/gourmet shop.

Ripe yellow cross sections of bananas make a colorful and stylish garnish. Before peeling and adding fresh banana to a blended drink, cut a 1/2-3/4 inch cross section from the middle. Then cut from the center through the peel. This should make it fit nicely onto the rim of the glass.

There is no greater attention gripper in cocktail garnishes than a gummy worm, or a stick of brightly colored rock candy. Seriously think of all the choices (kisses, Swedish fish, chocolate covered nuts and fruit, pocky treats, jelly fruit, pop rocks, candy canes, cotton candy, mini candy bars. Get creative and see the reactions you get.

Always wash celery thoroughly. Cut off the base as well as the tips of the leaves so that there is no discoloration, just healthy, light green celery. When making a drink calling for celery as a garnish, make sure you leave room to accommodate it. Keep celery in ice water, in a refrigerator until needed.

Maraschino cherries are essential for adult drinks, as well as children's drinks. Be sure to refrigerate after opening jar.

Ground and stick cinnamon are used in many recipes. It is easy to overpower a drink with cinnamon. Use sparingly. In drinks calling for cinnamon sticks, leave whole unless otherwise specified. Long sticks make excellent stirrers.

Shrimp make delicious exotic garnish for drinks such as the Bloody Mary or a Red Snapper. Cook them as if they were for a shrimp cocktail, removing the black vein in the back. If shrimp, after cooking and waiting to be used become slimy, throw them away.

A traditional garnish for Sambuca drinks. Three beans represent Health, Wealth and Happiness.

Cut into spears or wheels, cucumbers are a great garnish instead of, or in addition to, celery for a Virgin Mary and other drinks of that nature. Wash thoroughly. Peeling is optional.

There are about a hundred flowers blossoms that are edible. If you want to make a special event drink even more special, how about finding a nice cocktail/flower match?

Suggestions: Garlic Blossoms - Bloody Mary, Angelica - Roman Coffee, Marigold - Campari and Soda, Hibiscus - Poinsettia, Johnnie jump ups - Peppermint Stinger, Rose Petals.

Most people may only use these in Bloody Marys, but I don't see why they wouldn't be delicious in a bone dry Martini.

Wedges. Cut off the ends of a lemon, then cut down the middle from flat end to flat end making two halves. Make a 1/4 inch incision in the center of the halves against the grain, then cut 3 or 4 equal sized wedges from the half. The tiny incision was made so your wedge will fit snugly on rim of glass.

Twists. Cut off the ends of a lemon, then make 4 long lenthwise cuts into the rind (Be careful not to cut into the meat of the lemon). Soak lemon in hot tap water for 5 minutes. Seperate the rind from the meat, and cut the rind into long 1/4 inch strips. When a twist is called for a drink, it should be twisted over the drink, then rubbed around the lip of the glass.

Wedges. Cut off the ends of a lime, then cut down the middle from flat end to flat end making two halves. Make a 1/4 inch incision in the center of the halves against the grain. Cut 3 or 4 equal sized wedges from the half. The tiny incision was made so your wedge will fit snugly on the rim of a glass.

Wheels. Cut off the ends. Cut 1/6th inch cross sections. Cut the rind to allow a place to sit on the glass.

Mojitos are more popular than ever, and they can't be made without fresh mint. Plunk a 3 or 4 leaf sprig in your Mojito or Julep as if it is growing up out of your drink.

Green Spanish Olives (pitted and empty, or stuffed with blue cheese, gorgonzola, feta, provolone, anchovies, jalapenos, garlic, or almonds) are essential for true martinis. Refrigerate after opening a fresh container. Stuff them yourself or purchase pre-assembled. Try soaking overnight in Dry Vermouth.

Cocktail onions are the distinguishing difference between a Martini and a Gibson. They can be found in most grocery stores. Refrigerate after opening.

Cut the ends off an orange. Cut down the middle from flat end to flat end. Cut half wheels across the grain approximately 1/6th inch thick. A slight pull on the ends will allow you to sit it on the rim of the glass.

The 3" mildly hot peppers add a nice tang to a martini. They take up liquid space, so people often just rest one on top of the dirty martini ice if called for.

Cornichon or tiny pickled gherkin cucumbers for martinis, offer them up as a suggestion. Many high end establishments offer them. Large pickle spears for Bloody Marys or any drinks with a tomato base.

Sticks. Cut off the top, bottom and sides, making a solid block of pineapple meat. Cut this into equal sized sticks.

Wedges. Cut off the top and bottom, then quarter the pineapple the long way. Cut off the pointed inner part of quarter. Slice straight down the new flat smooth edge about a 1/4 inch deep. Then cut into 1/2 inch wedges.

Long green stems of Rosemary add a wonderful scent to a savory cocktail. Try it in your next Bloody Caesar, or balance a stem across a snifter of Strega.

A fresh stem of Thyme sitting in the bottom of a Dry Gin Martini will certainly get you a look, but if someone is game for it, I am going to guess they will love the subtle nuances it stirs.

(Kosher): Salt is primarily used to rim glasses by moistening the glass with either water or fruit juice from a cut piece of fruit (lemon, lime, orange) and dipping the glass into the salt (which should be laid out in a dish or any contained flat surface).

Commonly found in a cook's arsenal, they make a very appealing decoration for drinks with traces of Almond Liqueurs (Amaretto, Creme de Nouyax). Sprinkle them whipped cream or float them on a creamy drink's surface.

A favorite at fancy establishments is freshly shaved dark chocolate. Just buy a block of chocolate and introduce it to your friendly cheese grater, and you are in business.

Pleasant to the eye as well as the palate, they do justice to hot coffee drinks and many frozen concoctions. They are available at most convenience stores.

Fresh ripe strawberries enhance any drink containing or strawberry liqueur. Wash berries thoroughly. Cut large ones in two; leave small ones whole. Simply push a berry onto the rim of a glass until it fits snugly.

Just like the salt you want to moisten the rim of the glass with water or fruit juice from a cut piece of fruit like a lemon, lime, or orange. Dip the glass into the sugar on a flat surface like a plate or any contained flat surface. Also people tend to coat a lemon wedge with sugar and take a shot (known as the "Chocolate Cake Shot".

You can use either fresh or canned. Whipped Cream is expected to top many hot drinks. If fresh whipped cream is used, you may want to add 1/2 tsp of sugar to your drink due to the fact processed whipped cream is sweetened.