On the twelfth day of Christmas......all the decorations have to be taken down, so that was how I spent Friday afternoon. Everything was stowed away in an old suitcase which has since been transferred to the attic.
But what has been left behind are these, Euphorbia pulcherrima, more commonly known as Poinsettia. To the average Englishman - me, anyway - they were nothing to do with Christmas but, gradually, over the last couple of decades they've crept into the picture through the efforts of garden centres and Christmas card designers. My feelings towards them were further damaged by their tendency to drop dead almost as soon as I got them home.
How wrong can you be? First of all the name - apparently named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, one time United States Minister to Mexico, who first introduced the plant to the USA. He went on to become Minister of War during the presidency of Martin Van Buren. There can't be too many Ministers of War with flowers named after them!
The Christmas connection - In the plants native Mexico it's called Noche Buena, meaning "Christmas Eve". It's said to owe it's name to a 16th century legend of a young girl who was too poor to celebrate the birth of Jesus but was inspired by an angel to gather roadside weeds and take them to the church. However the adoption of the plant as a symbol of Christmas in the US seems to have required an intensive publicity effort by one Paul Ecke, Jr. who just happened to own the company who grew and sold the plants!
What I've also found out this year is that the huge flowers are not flowers at all but coloured leaves which change colour in order to attract insects to pollinate the true flowers which are insignificant little things in the centre of the red leaves. If you want a Poinsettia to flower for a long time then it's these tiny true flowers that you need to look at; the smaller they are when you buy them the longer your display will last. They tend not to mention that at the garden centre.
Oh, and while I was lifting the decorations into the loft I noticed this sticker on the old suitcase containing them. A reminder of times past.....
....when my Granny went sailing off across the Atlantic in 1965, courtesy of Cunard Lines, to see her daughters and their families, some of whom, by the wonders of our modern world, are followers of this blog.
Re poinsettia - the secret of keeping one a long time is to keep it in a light place but not in direct light and to only water it when it begins to droop and tell you it is thirsty. I have one every year and often throw it out in July when I am heartily sick of it! Happy New Year to you.
I see I've beaten "Granny Sue" to your blog today, John. When we lived in Los Angeles many years ago, I took of picture of my wife with our then 6-month-old son in front of a tall plant. The tall plant turned out to be a Poinsettia that, planted outdoors in a mild climate, had grown to some 16 ft. tall. I did not immediately recognize it for what it was, having previously seen only potted versions that usually got thrown out after Christmas. Jim
I have also seen a couple of 'trees' of Poinsettias, they were growing behind a Police station in Albufeira, Portugal. They were magnificient specimens and as Wayfarin' Stranger commented I also did not recognise them for what they were. Sadly when the area was 'modernised' they took the plants/trees down!
I knew the flower was the tiny flower in amongst the leaves but will take note to look for small flowers on next Christmas's Poinsettia plant, thanks for the useful information John. Lovely images and a lovely story of the suitcase with it's luggage label, great family memories for you.
I didn't know John that Christmas decorations traditionally came down on the twelfth day of Christmas but that's exactly the day I took mine down - and I think that's long enough ! Interesting about the pointsettia plants they certainly add a touch of red for the festive season then a few weeks later turn brown and end up in the bin.
You photographed the poinsettias nicely, even if you are ambivalent about them. If you buy them in December and toss them out in January, they can give you a nice show when you need them.
I treasure a luggage label that is on an old trunk in which my parents moved their belongings from Calgary to Edmonton when they were first married, almost 90 years ago. The trunk still sits at the bottom of our bed, filled with blankets. Thanks for all that interesting info about poinsettias, John. I have never been good at saving them, but have a son who is a whiz at making them thrive.
Yup they're a big Christmas thing her too John, I quite like one to sit on the table, but have to admit I don't give it the love and attention I do the rest of my garden because I know it's only a 'short term relationship' haha!
Took mine down yesterday. Don't know why but I always have problems fitting all the decorations back into the boxes they came out of. It's like they expand or something each year.
I enjoyed this interesting, informative post about Poinsettia, John. Poinsettia is the most popular Christmas plant in Japan – Poinsettia industry is so big. I remember having added only green poinsettias year by year failing to change the color to red. We take down Christmas decorations and put them away right after the Christmas is over and we display completely different ornaments for the New Year, though red berries and evergreen foliage seem to be common.
I love the story about the sticker! By the way, some churches in Charleston are decorated with seemingly hundreds of Poinsettias at Christmas. Visually, it makes quite an impact.
Love the info on poinsettas--I never have much luck with them either, but always give it a good try! The label on the suitcase is fascinating. I remember Granny's visit well. We always enjoyed her stay so much and cried when she left. Good memories.
That label is sooo cool!!! Haven't been here in awhile and I have a-lot of catching up to do. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and a better New Year!!!!
Thanks for taking the time to comment. I'll try to answer any questions via a comment or e-mail within the next day or two (no hard questions, please!).
luv the colorful close up shot of the leaf
ReplyDeleteI just love that luggage label John.
ReplyDeleteRe poinsettia - the secret of keeping one a long time is to keep it in a light place but not in direct light and to only water it when it begins to droop and tell you it is thirsty. I have one every year and often throw it out in July when I am heartily sick of it! Happy New Year to you.
I see I've beaten "Granny Sue" to your blog today, John. When we lived in Los Angeles many years ago, I took of picture of my wife with our then 6-month-old son in front of a tall plant. The tall plant turned out to be a Poinsettia that, planted outdoors in a mild climate, had grown to some 16 ft. tall. I did not immediately recognize it for what it was, having previously seen only potted versions that usually got thrown out after Christmas. Jim
ReplyDeleteI have also seen a couple of 'trees' of Poinsettias, they were growing behind a Police station in Albufeira, Portugal. They were magnificient specimens and as Wayfarin' Stranger commented I also did not recognise them for what they were. Sadly when the area was 'modernised' they took the plants/trees down!
ReplyDeleteI knew the flower was the tiny flower in amongst the leaves but will take note to look for small flowers on next Christmas's Poinsettia plant, thanks for the useful information John.
Lovely images and a lovely story of the suitcase with it's luggage label, great family memories for you.
I didn't know John that Christmas decorations traditionally came down on the twelfth day of Christmas but that's exactly the day I took mine down - and I think that's long enough !
ReplyDeleteInteresting about the pointsettia plants they certainly add a touch of red for the festive season then a few weeks later turn brown and end up in the bin.
Poinsettias have never, I'm afraid, done anything whatever for me. The luggage label is fantastic though:)
ReplyDeleteYou photographed the poinsettias nicely, even if you are ambivalent about them. If you buy them in December and toss them out in January, they can give you a nice show when you need them.
ReplyDeleteI treasure a luggage label that is on an old trunk in which my parents moved their belongings from Calgary to Edmonton when they were first married, almost 90 years ago. The trunk still sits at the bottom of our bed, filled with blankets. Thanks for all that interesting info about poinsettias, John. I have never been good at saving them, but have a son who is a whiz at making them thrive.
ReplyDeleteThis post includes lots of information about Poinsettias, trivias!
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Yup they're a big Christmas thing her too John, I quite like one to sit on the table, but have to admit I don't give it the love and attention I do the rest of my garden because I know it's only a 'short term relationship' haha!
ReplyDeleteTook mine down yesterday. Don't know why but I always have problems fitting all the decorations back into the boxes they came out of. It's like they expand or something each year.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this interesting, informative post about Poinsettia, John. Poinsettia is the most popular Christmas plant in Japan – Poinsettia industry is so big. I remember having added only green poinsettias year by year failing to change the color to red. We take down Christmas decorations and put them away right after the Christmas is over and we display completely different ornaments for the New Year, though red berries and evergreen foliage seem to be common.
ReplyDeleteI love the story about the sticker! By the way, some churches in Charleston are decorated with seemingly hundreds of Poinsettias at Christmas. Visually, it makes quite an impact.
ReplyDeleteLove the info on poinsettas--I never have much luck with them either, but always give it a good try! The label on the suitcase is fascinating. I remember Granny's visit well. We always enjoyed her stay so much and cried when she left. Good memories.
ReplyDeleteCool sticker and connection to your past-and your blog : )
ReplyDeletePoinsettias are very popular here for the holidays-fascinting history you shared.
That label is sooo cool!!! Haven't been here in awhile and I have a-lot of catching up to do. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and a better New Year!!!!
ReplyDelete