Southern Breeze 2007 Holiday Issue

home OUR BACKYARD Feliz Navidad Poinsettias, one of our most cherished American Christmas traditions, came from south of the border! story and photography by NORMAN WINTER T Prestige Scarlet and Diamond Frost (right), Visions of Grandeur (far right), and painted poinsettias (below). Norman is a frequent garden lecturer and author of Mississippi Gardener’s Guide, Paradise Found: Growing Tropicals in Your Own Backyard and the highly acclaimed Tough-asNails Flowers for the South. he poinsettia is at the top of every coastal resident’s Christmas list when the holidays roll around. Long ago they were called Flores de Noche Buena (Flowers of the Holy Night), but today we know poinsettias as the most popular of all Christmas plants…after the Christmas tree. Christmas is loaded with legends and stories like the Little Drummer Boy, and the origin of the poinsettia is not without its lore. Legend has it that a little girl in Mexico, named Pepita, and her cousin, Pedro, were on their way to church in honor of the Christ Child. Pepita was poor and had no money for gifts. On the way to church she picked a bouquet of wild flowers and as she laid them lovingly on the altar, they turned into beautiful poinsettias, hence the name Flores de Noche Buena. The first Ambassador to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett, is credited for introducing the plant to the United States in 1825. The colorful parts of a poinsettia are actually modified leaves known as bracts. The true flowers are the small, yellow buttons in the centers of the bracts. The traditional color may be red, but hold on to your Santa hat because there is a new wind blowing. One of the most sensational new varieties is Visions of Grandeur. This combination of soft pink, cream, and rose makes it so stunning you’ll wish it could be part of your home’s décor year round. Enduring Pink was new last year and is a bright, almost hot pink variety that is sure to be a hit. Look also for the new Punch series that comes in five different colors. My favorite is the Cranberry Punch. If you are a traditionalist then Prestige Scarlet, which also came out last year, is sure to put the festive spirit in your holiday decorations. Now I want to stretch your comfort zone. How about combination plantings using the poinsettia? One of the hottest landscape plants, Diamond Frost Euphorbia, is actually a poinsettia relative and its ability to tolerate full sun and 98 degree temperatures makes it an incredible holiday companion for the poinsettia. For instance, Diamond Frost and Prestige Scarlet poinsettias grown together give the impression of the red poinsettia sitting on a bed of new-fallen snow. The Diamond Frost combination is well suited to every color of poinsettia on the market, including the new painted poinsettias. Yikes! What did I say? Painted poinsettias? How about decorating in your school’s colors? Yes, you could have poinsettias in Florida Gator, LSU Tiger, or any other school’s. But more importantly, now you can have poinsettias in shades guaranteed to perfectly fit your home’s color scheme. Shopping for poinsettias this year will be more fun than ever. You’ll want to get several for the various rooms in your home and as gifts for your friends and family. 24 s o u t h e r n b re e z e . c o m http://southernbreeze.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Southern Breeze 2007 Holiday Issue

Editor's Letter Contributor Gumbo Words & Notes Coastal Calendar Storefronts Sweet Dreams Art of Living Fixtures Our Backyard Make Yourself at Home Beach Bam! A Big Easy Christmas Upwardly Mobile Can't Drive Old Dixie Down Rock On! The Play's the Thing Cheers Dish Chef's Table Let's Eat Reader Services Last Bite

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