Palm Trees and Poinsettias

I was born in Colorado, the land of pine and columbines. Winter memories there include icicles, snow-laden evergreens, and bone-chilling cold. One December day I even got my tongue stuck to our metal butane tank which sat in the middle of our backyard. There was nothing slightly romantic about needing to shovel the sidewalks and driveway before normal life could continue after a snowstorm.

When we got up yesterday, the temperature was 39 degrees as we drove to Banning to meet some dear friends for breakfast and were treated to a glorious view of the San Jacinto Mountains lightly dusted with snow.  The cold wind tried to separate my hair from my head as we headed into the restaurant.

 In contrast, as we began our leisurely drive home, the outside temperature inched slowly upward as we approached the coast and the Pacific came into view.  I reveled anew in the view of palm trees lining walks or growing solitarily on the beach, and in flowerbeds overflowing with poinsettias for Christmas. This is what has become more familiar to me, and I especially enjoy seeing the trunks and fronds of the palms glowing brightly with colorful lights or twinkling white ones.

 Our county has been called, “The Flower Capital,” at least of the States, and maybe the world. A poinsettia I was given last year has proven that assessment, because it’s the first time, ever, that I’ve planted a Christmas poinsettia and got to watch it grow! It is lush, green with turning-red-tips and seems to say;

 “Merry Christmas!”

I do love my heavenly-smelling evergreen Christmas tree inside our home…that will never change!