Our neighbors give us a bright red poinsettia every year for Christmas. It’s festive and beautiful and cheery! But through no fault of its own, there comes a day (usually in late January) when I look at it and the magic is gone. The festive presence has turned into a nagging one: “Have you watered me lately?” “Maybe you should try to keep me going until next Christmas.” “Some of my leaves are drying up and falling off – you have not been paying attention.” “Why did you take me out of a place of prominence and stick me on the kitchen table? Don’t you love me anymore?” And so on.
In years past, I’ve allowed this state of affairs to go on for months, but this year, I picked it up by the scruff of its neck as soon as the nagging started and placed it lovingly and carefully in the compost heap in the back yard. And voila! It’s festive and beautiful and cheery! It brings joy to my heart to see those gorgeous red leaves out there in the drab colorless landscape of winter. It will wilt and die, but it will do so with a serene beauty that honors its Maker. This is the way.
I’ll probably delete this transitory post in the morning. This is the way.
Lynniebeemuseoday 
I can imagine how beautiful the red petals/ leaves look out your window in the garden. I know things look quite drab in ours. But with the way the weather looks right now wecwill be mowing grass and seeing trees bud and crocus bloom before we know it. I know better than to go there though. This IS MN! Barbie
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Yes, Minnesotans know better than to count on an early spring…but at this rate, it could happen! 😎
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Last year our poinsettia didn’t make it to the compost (I am a little concerned about
the toxicity of the plant), but I did stick it outside on a shelf under the deck.
Inspite of the drought (perhaps it did get some of the snow we had
initially), the poinsettia continued to bloom throughout the Summer! Occasionally
(seldom), I emptied the dogs water dish into it, but I really forgot about it.
Then in the early days of Fall when we were really feeling the dryness about us,
I saw that the once bright red leaves were now dried up and gone, replaced with
green, dried up leaves. A delivery truck took it away for us! Same story, different verse!
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I have a friend that takes great care to nurse her poinsettia through the hard times so that it will bloom again. I guess I’m just not that motivated. I’ll have to look into the toxicity issue – news to me! Thanks.
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I’m with you. I recently brought my mother in law’s two gorgeous
poinsettias to my sister in law (different families), since my S.I.L.
has the patience and the space with which to care for hers after the
Summer is over. It may be that the toxicity has little impact on the
compost pile in the big picture; I don’t know. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
(Oh, my goodness! Do you remember that cheer?) 🙂
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We hate to beat you, but we must, we must!! 😂😂. I guess I do remember it!
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