We are slow to deck the halls around here. But that doesn't mean there isn't a hearty Fa La La -- La La Ha Ha! to follow.
The usual Christmas trimmings eventually get displayed; there is the tree and the stockings hung with care, some ornaments and a toy wooden train that is hauling four cars, each carrying the letters N-O-E-L. Sometimes I like to back the train up so that it reads L-E-O-N. [Leon the Christmas Lion, when he got loose on the beach, it was quite tragic because he got Sandy Claws. Ho ho ho!] How childish, how jolly. I have to laugh at my own jokes (nobody else does).
Of course part of Christmas' standard issue is the beautiful poinsettia in its showy red and green leaves. Several years ago I picked a beautiful poinsettia out and brought it home. But like Frosty, the red floral beauty does not last long after Christmas. Yet Sue has kept that old poinsettia in the breakfast nook for years. It gets some attention over the months and water enough to have maintained some anemic life in its stems and thin green leaves.
Sue's sister Sally is a professional flower nursery grower and expert on all of the plants in her care and many additional plants that are of interest to her. So, Sally says to Sue; "Ya know, we have warehouses for the nursery that are on automatic timers that control the amount of light that poinsettias are exposed to, and that is how the professionals force the holiday poinsettias to become showy red." Sister Sal goes on to say, "Ya know, you could do the same thing by putting a cardboard box over your poinsettia plant, starting in October; and you too could get your poinsettia to be forced into its elegant red outfit for Christmas."
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| Our long-suffering Christmas poinsettia. After several years in our house it is obvious that the old Christmas magic and beauty has fallen off of this potted plant. |
The problem is; one has to think about this way before Christmas - like in October. Another problem is that one has to be disciplined in placing and removing the box every day (like I mean every day) to keep the poinsettia properly exposed to the right amount of light. Not too little, and not too much for goodness sake. The reality is, these are insurmountable problems around here.
Problems, smroblems and disciplined horticulture can go to Halloween. A forced, bodacious red poinsettia is once again going to be attempted this year.
Starting in mid-November and if one can get up in the morning and remember to uncover the wan poinsettia from beneath its dark box; that is if one remembered to cover it last evening. Regulating the light, it is hit and miss. Undaunted, the effort to raise Christmas beauty at home continues.
I watch the effort.
I say nothing.
I can see with my own eyes, the few leaves are not getting any redder. There are only 27 growing days left til Christmas. It just aint going to happen.
I hate to see such intense desire and well-intentioned efforts go unrewarded.
I ask for a Christmas Miracle.
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| Proof of The Christmas Miracle. For a brief moment, the magic and the wonder was real. |
I chance to meet a Jolly ol' Elf and I ask for a Christmas Miracle. With a twinkle is his eye and a finger to his nose, the Jolly ol' Elf grants my wish and the switch is made as he chuckles "It's the perfect jest I suppose."
I remove the the old, tired and not very red (or green) poinsettia from its well-worn place. I substitute the new, professionally forced radiant red poinsettia bursting with holiday cheer. I cover the impostor with the old cardboard box. The ploy is simple and deceptive.
I wait.
I wait for a day.
Sue notices the box is covering her poinsettia, the one that has so much promise, if only given enough encouragement and time. She assumes she has again left the covering box over her plant project past morning light. It is now mid-day and she had forgotten to uncover it and provide the required amount of natural light.
She steps into the breakfast nook, lifts the box...
For a moment. Yes for a brief and gratifying moment... A Christmas Miracle was there to behold.
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