Sunday, December 7, 2008

Poinsettia 'Ice Punch'....New Variety

There's something about seeing a greenhouse full of plants in artificial light and with our short days, this is the time to do it. Behnke's greenhouses full of poinsettias are spectacular under the soft illumination of artificial light.

Another great greenhouse after dark is the United States Botanic Garden; both their regular plantings and their holiday displays make the trip downtown worth it this month. Low key and relaxing is a good thing in December

Every year Behnke's Nurseries grows a number of new and or unusual varieties of Poinsettias. Every year we buy one or another of them. I rarely like any of them as much as the standard red, but this year is different; this is a beautiful plant. Repeated attempts at photographing it left me unable to convey the softness of the variegation. It has a warm warm feel, as though the plant were lit by firelight. I know this isn't true of the picture where the variegation looks harsher and more sever than it does in person but trust me!

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