Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center

From the Education Desk

It’s December again and the flower of the month is the Poinsettia. It has a special day all its own and a very interesting history. By an Act of Congress, December 12 was set aside as National Poinsettia Day. This is the traditional day to give the plant to someone you love in your family so they can enjoy the beauty of the flower for the holiday season. The date marks the death of Joel Roberts Poinsett in 1851, who is credited with introducing the native Mexican plant to the United States in 1825. He was the first United States ambassador to Mexico.
The flower came in red originally, but now comes in a variety of colors like white, salmon pink and lilac. Some even come with spots on the leaves. There are over 100 varieties of poinsettias available. The plant is indigenous to Mexico, and native to the Pacific coast of the United States.

In the language of the Aztecs, the plant’s name means “star flower”. The Aztecs used the flower to produce red dye and as a medication. In both Chile and Peru, the poinsettia became known as “Crown of the Andes”. Starting with the 17^th century, Franciscan monks in Mexico included the plants in all of their Christmas celebrations. The poinsettia has also been cultivated in Egypt since the 1860’s and is called “the consul’s daughter”, referring to Ambassador Poinsett. Today if you ask for a ‘Poinsettia Cocktail’ you would get a mixture of sparkling white wine, vodka and cranberry juice.

In nature, the poinsettia is a perennial flowering shrub that grows to ten feet tall. They represent over 85% of the potted plant sales during the holiday season, and 90% of all plants are exported from the United States, with California being the top producing state. The dollar amount of this plant sold during the holiday season is $220 million dollars!

As lovely as these flowers are they are poisonous to your pets. You will want to put them someplace where your animal family cannot get to them.

December is also Stress-Free Family Holidays month. Holidays are wonderful but can add stress for busy families. If you want the holiday to be warm, colorful, fun and not stressful, then remember to schedule some activities to nourish your spirit. Discuss with your family what makes you happy during this season and really listen to each other. Make your plans based on this discussion.

This joyous season is a special time for enjoying your family and friends and for celebrating traditions…..both old and new. Love is spelled ‘TIME’. Laugh, cuddle and play with your kids. Encourage peace and caring for others and carry it over to next year. Let family and friends know that the gift of time and helping each is as precious as the gifts you buy.

his has been a wonderful year for us at RMDRC and we want to thank all of you who made our events so successful by joining us here at the museum. We know 2010 will be terrific also. If you have an idea that you feel would make a good event, please let me know at 686-1820x110 or drop me an e-mail at: geri@rmdrc.com

I’m always very interested in hearing what you have to say. This is your museum to come and learn in, use and have fun and most of all ENJOY! Look on our website for our special events and come join us in 2010.

I wish you all heart-warming holidays.

Regards,
Geri LeBold
Education Director
geri@rmdrc.com