Poinsettia Day
The day many of you have waited for all year is finally here. Yep. Today is National Poinsettia Day
If you think I might be kidding you, please think again, because if you can find your Mouse Person (mine was asleep in a basket of tangerines) you can ask him to fly you over to the link above and read all about it. No kidding.
How does a plant get it's very own day?
In the case of the Poinsettia, the date marks the death of Joel Roberts Poinsett, an American botanist, physician and Minister to Mexico who in 1828 sent cuttings of the plant he'd discovered in Southern Mexico to his home in Charleston, South Carolina.
So ---- someone who discovered a plant, had to then die; but a new holiday has begun.
Actually.....
In July of 2002, the House of Representatives created Poinsettia Day, passing a Resolution to honor Paul Ecke Jr. who is considered the father of the poinsettia industry. It was Paul Ecke's discovery of a technique which causes seedlings to branch that allowed the Poinsettia industry to flourish. It may come as a surprise to hear that every year, Poinsettias contribute upwards of $250,000,000 to the U.S. economy-at the wholesale level! Poinsettias are the best selling potted plant in the U.S. and Canada. The Ecke's technique remained a secret until the 1990s when a university researcher discovered and published the formula. Both Paul Ecke Sr. and Paul Ecke Jr. worked tirelessly to promote the plant and its association with Christmas. Today their ranch, situated in Encinitas, California is run by Paul Ecke lll.
So in actuality, to make Poinsettia Day, someone who discovered the plant, sent it packing to South Carolina, then died, whereupon, someone else decided to create an entire new industry which then turned into an ANNUAL EVENT: The famous "let's go buy a Poinsettia and see if we can possibly keep it alive in our home for more than two weeks" event.
HA.
Actually, as plants go, the Poinsettia is quite interesting.
Here is a wonderful portrait of the plant, which appeared in 1873 in The Floral Magazine.
Actually, ask your Mouse Person to take you to Illinois where The University of Illinois has created it's Poinsettia Pages. There you will be able to discover many intersting facts and learn the truth about things you may have been told that weren't exactly true.
For example. Mom said we must never eat a Poinsettia because it is poison. Actually the plant itself is not poison, but Poinsettia sap can irritate the skin and cause an upset stomach if consumed in large enough quantities.
Now I ask you.
WHY would anyone want to consume large quantities of Poinsettia Sap?
I say stick to your kibble whenever possible. But wait ---- get this! A study at Ohio State University showed that a 50 pound child who ate 500 bracts might have a slight tummy ache.
You see --- this is the stuff I DO NOT understand about two-legs. How much money was spent on that study, and WHY would they do it? Did they really find a 50-pound child and feed it 500 Poinsettia leaves? Oh my. I need to find a new day job.
Anyway ----- Happy Poinsettia Day. May all of you have success this year in trying to keep that Poinsettia Plant that Uncle Charlie and Aunt Rose sent you, alive for more than a few days.
HA.
Love and Licks,
Bob
Boy Bloginator and Reporter of Little Known Facts
Oh.... and just so you know....... today marks the end of National HandWashing Awareness Week.
Just in case you missed it - watch for it next year.
If you think I might be kidding you, please think again, because if you can find your Mouse Person (mine was asleep in a basket of tangerines) you can ask him to fly you over to the link above and read all about it. No kidding.
How does a plant get it's very own day?
In the case of the Poinsettia, the date marks the death of Joel Roberts Poinsett, an American botanist, physician and Minister to Mexico who in 1828 sent cuttings of the plant he'd discovered in Southern Mexico to his home in Charleston, South Carolina.
So ---- someone who discovered a plant, had to then die; but a new holiday has begun.
Actually.....
In July of 2002, the House of Representatives created Poinsettia Day, passing a Resolution to honor Paul Ecke Jr. who is considered the father of the poinsettia industry. It was Paul Ecke's discovery of a technique which causes seedlings to branch that allowed the Poinsettia industry to flourish. It may come as a surprise to hear that every year, Poinsettias contribute upwards of $250,000,000 to the U.S. economy-at the wholesale level! Poinsettias are the best selling potted plant in the U.S. and Canada. The Ecke's technique remained a secret until the 1990s when a university researcher discovered and published the formula. Both Paul Ecke Sr. and Paul Ecke Jr. worked tirelessly to promote the plant and its association with Christmas. Today their ranch, situated in Encinitas, California is run by Paul Ecke lll.
So in actuality, to make Poinsettia Day, someone who discovered the plant, sent it packing to South Carolina, then died, whereupon, someone else decided to create an entire new industry which then turned into an ANNUAL EVENT: The famous "let's go buy a Poinsettia and see if we can possibly keep it alive in our home for more than two weeks" event.
HA.
Actually, as plants go, the Poinsettia is quite interesting.
Here is a wonderful portrait of the plant, which appeared in 1873 in The Floral Magazine.
Actually, ask your Mouse Person to take you to Illinois where The University of Illinois has created it's Poinsettia Pages. There you will be able to discover many intersting facts and learn the truth about things you may have been told that weren't exactly true.
For example. Mom said we must never eat a Poinsettia because it is poison. Actually the plant itself is not poison, but Poinsettia sap can irritate the skin and cause an upset stomach if consumed in large enough quantities.
Now I ask you.
WHY would anyone want to consume large quantities of Poinsettia Sap?
I say stick to your kibble whenever possible. But wait ---- get this! A study at Ohio State University showed that a 50 pound child who ate 500 bracts might have a slight tummy ache.
You see --- this is the stuff I DO NOT understand about two-legs. How much money was spent on that study, and WHY would they do it? Did they really find a 50-pound child and feed it 500 Poinsettia leaves? Oh my. I need to find a new day job.
Anyway ----- Happy Poinsettia Day. May all of you have success this year in trying to keep that Poinsettia Plant that Uncle Charlie and Aunt Rose sent you, alive for more than a few days.
HA.
Love and Licks,
Bob
Boy Bloginator and Reporter of Little Known Facts
Oh.... and just so you know....... today marks the end of National HandWashing Awareness Week.
Just in case you missed it - watch for it next year.
Posted by Daisy and Bob's Blog at 12/12/2011 8:00 AM 
Categories: The Holidays, Just for Fun
Tags: Poinsettia Day blogging pitbull American Pit Bull Terrier Everything and The Dog
Categories: The Holidays, Just for Fun
Tags: Poinsettia Day blogging pitbull American Pit Bull Terrier Everything and The Dog
What inquiring minds want to know is:
How do you pronounce Poinsettia? Tia or Ta?
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My Mom says "ta", but I think it might be light "tomato".
Bob
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