Poinsettias

When I was growing up in Borneo, we had Christmas cards with red Poinsettias. We used to draw them. Once my mum grew them, but the leaves never became red.

Here in New Zealand, plant centres and shopping malls have them, and they are very attractive.

We moved to this new house. There was a stump where all the branches were chopped to the ground. As new shoots grew, I could see the Poinsettias leaves coming out. I thought of poor mum trying to grow her Poinsettias, and here, some one had chopped it off. As the bush grew, about 2 weeks ago, hidden at the base of the plant, I could see little red leaflets to confirm to me that it is a Poinsettia plant.

I monitored its growth, and here is the best I can show you. A shaggy Poinsettia flower, not the manicured ones you get from the garden centre. But it is precious to me. It reminds me of the last Christmas I spent with my mum. That Christmas in 1986 in Australia. Then Mum spent the rest of her Christmases in heaven. I miss you Mum.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphorbia_pulcherrima

Euphorbia pulcherrima, or noche buena, is a species of flowering plant indhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifigenous to Mexico and Central America. It is commonly known as poinsettia (play /pɔɪnˈsɛti.ə/),[1] after Joel Roberts Poinsett,[2] the first United States Minister to Mexico,[3] who introduced the plant into the US in 1825. It is also called the Atatürk flower in Turkey.

The plant's association with Christmas began in 16th century Mexico, where legend tells of a young girl who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday. The tale goes that the child was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson "blossoms" sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias.[7] From the 17th century, Franciscan friars in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations.[8] The star-shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and the red color represents the blood sacrifice through the crucifixion of Jesus.[9]

Poinsettias are popular Christmas decorations[2] in homes, churches, offices, and elsewhere across North America. They are available in large numbers from grocery, drug, and hardware stores. In the United States, December 12 is National Poinsettia Day.



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