Shopping for Locally Grown Poinsettias
This post is a part of A Greener Christmas Guide, a series of posts dedicated to celebrating the holidays with a lighter impact on the earth. For more of this series, please visit A Greener Christmas Guide.
Remember last week when we were talking about shopping locally this Christmas and I asked just how far your Christmas poinsettia was traveling? Turns out the answer at our house is… two miles. That’s right! Only two little miles away from my parents’ house in the United States is an enormous greenhouse covered in about five inches of snow. It reminds me of that beautiful Christmas greenhouse on Frosty the Snowman.
Inside, it’s a paradise with over 3,000 poinsettias of all colors and sizes that have been nestled in this greenhouse, growing their little hearts out since September. (In a couple of months, the nursery will start preparing for spring flowers that thrive in the local area, so see if your local nurseries do the same.) Take a look:
We picked out two 16-inch plants - one pink and one red - to come home with us for less than $30. And best of all? The proceeds went to support four local families including that of a girl I grew up with. How’s that for spreading a little green cheer?
(Images by Katie for Making This Home)
Related posts:
- Your Guide to Local Holiday Shopping
- The Greenest Wrapping Paper You Can Make (for free!)
- Sending Paperless Thank You Notes
December 4th, 2008 at 12:16 am
That’s just wonderful! When I saw the title of your article, saw the beautiful poinsettias and read that they were grown only two miles away; I too thought of Frosty the Snowman and the greenhouse covered in snow! I love poinsettias!
December 4th, 2008 at 12:50 am
Oh, what lovely poinsettias
Last year I bought a little red one.. it was very neat, but unfortunately, it died just after the holidays were gone.. I was quite sad, is that the life cycle of a poinsettia? This year I want to try again..
In Romania, the poinsettias are not so popular (or they didn’t use to be a while ago, because I remember I was just admire them in some magazines or tv). Although, we have a winter holiday plant, and the common name for it is “Christmas Lady”, because it blooms for the Christmas. (actually I found right now on wiki that it has another common name Christmas Cactus, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Cactus ).
Oh, you are so lucky with that snow over there
In Berlin, after an all day long of snow, all of it melted 
. Could you send us some? Please?
December 4th, 2008 at 1:54 am
Those are beautiful! Just a warning for your readers that cats are allergic to poinsettias… the reason we don’t have them (’cause we just can’t get our cats to not eat plants!).
December 4th, 2008 at 1:56 am
How beautiful!
December 4th, 2008 at 2:51 am
Those pictures are just gorgeous! And green too! Ah perfect!
December 5th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Will they let you tack them into another country?
December 5th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Those are very lovely.
December 7th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
Vica,
Poinsettias seem to be a very American Christmas tradition. The plant is originally from Mexico. The sad thing is that after Christmas when their red pedals/leaves fall, only very good gardeners can offer the plants the type of care necessary to grow the red again. That’s why Americans are encouraged to just toss the plants after the holiday. Strange, huh?
I tried to keep a poinsettia once in high school. It remained green and leafy, which was nice. But it was never as beautiful as when we bought it at Christmas.
The Christmas Cactus are slowly gaining popularity here, as are a different type called an Easter Cactus.
I’ll do my best to will some snow in Berlin. I loved watching everyone pull their sleds to the parks the day we did get snow there!
Katie
December 9th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
I love all those Poinsettias! So very colorful! Thanks for sharing!
~Ann
December 9th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
the pointsettas are very pretty <I have not went out and bought mine yet.We have a small feed store and Nursery abotthree miles fro our home tha I will go buy mine from.The lady there is a great gardener and she grows beautiful plants and helps with all the tips you need to grow wonderful plants.
December 9th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Welcome to Bloomin’ Tuesday! Your poinsetta photos are amazing! I wouldn’t be able to pick just 2! Great post! Jean
December 9th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
What a feast for the eyes!
December 9th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Very pretty. I saw ugly…..blue……food……..colored poinsettias at Lowes. When you water them blue food coloring goes everywhere. The store clerk was actually trying to talk people out of buying them.
December 10th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
That is just awesome and the photos are wonderful too!
December 10th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
I love poinsettias. But I hardly ever buy them for myself. I really don’t know why. Your photos are great.