Poinsettia's First Christmas

This is how my hardy poinsettia appeared during her first Christmas season with me on December 23, 2012. I had just purchased her at a rock bottom sale price while at the same time saving her from being tossed into the trash bin. 
Ms. Poinsettia has since survived and thrived during a stressful move with me to Florida and back, once again, to Pennsylvania. I have to say I think she quite enjoyed her time in Florida (where a good many of her kinsman reside) as she treated me with bountiful ruby red blooms during the Holiday season when we were there.
So even though she is taking a rest and not showing off her finery this Christmas, I have this photo to remind me just how lovely and majestic she can be when she sets her mind to it.

There is an old Mexican legend about how Poinsettias and Christmas come together; it goes like this:


"There was once a poor Mexican girl called Pepita who had no present to give the the baby Jesus at the Christmas Eve Services. As Pepita walked to the chapel, sadly, her cousin Pedro tried to cheer her up.
'Pepita', he said "I'm sure that even the smallest gift, given by someone who loves him will make Jesus Happy."
Pepita didn't know what she could give, so she picked a small handful of weeds from the roadside and made them into a a small bouquet. She felt embarrassed because she could only give this small present to Jesus. As she walked through the chapel to the altar, she remembered what Pedro had said. She began to feel better, knelt down and put the bouquet at the bottom of the nativity scene. Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into bright red flowers, and everyone who saw them were sure they had seen a miracle. From that day on, the bright red flowers were known as the 'Flores de Noche Buena', or 'Flowers of the Holy Night'."