alternating nodes

What are alternating nodes and what does this mean?

The nodes of the plant start growing directly across from one another. In flower they will start being offset. this is really hard to explain verbally but pictures take care of it quickly.. let me see what I can find...

Here is a picture of nodes growing directly across from one another:

when the plant is veging, branches will grow in pairs. two branches will sprout at a 180 degree angle from one another from the same point on the main stem. as she matures, you may notice one of the branches sprouts a little higher than the other one, until eventually only one will sprout at a time, in more of a staircase pattern.

i've always taken this to mean that i should start flowering.

o ok thanks i understand now