The plant we know today as the poinsettia has a long and interesting history. The fact is, that the lovely plant you place in your home during the holidays was once used as a fever medicine!

Native to Central America, the plant flourished in an area of Southern Mexico known as Taxco del Alarcon. The ancient Aztecs had a name for this plant found blooming in the tropical highlands during the short days of winter: cuetlaxochitl. Not merely decorative, the Aztecs put the plant to practical use. From its bracts they extracted a purplish dye for use in textiles and cosmetics. The milky white sap, today called latex, was made into a preparation to treat fevers.

The poinsettia may have remained a regional plant for many years to come had it not been for the efforts of Joel Roberts Poinsett (1779-1851). The son of a French physician, Poinsett was appointed as the first United States Ambassador to Mexico (1825-1829) by President Madison. Poinsett had attended medical school himself, but his real love in the scientific field was botany. (Mr. Poinsett later founded the institution which we know today as the Smithsonian Institution).

Poinsett maintained his own hothouses on his Greenville, South Carolina plantations, and while visiting the Taxco area in 1828, he became enchanted by the brilliant red blooms he saw there. He immediately sent some of the plant back to South Carolina, where he began propagating the plants and sending them to friends and botanical gardens. Among the recipients of Poinsett's work was John Bartram of Philadelphia, who in turn gave the plant to another friend, Robert Buist, a Pennsylvania nurseryman. Mr. Buist is thought to be the first person to have sold the plant under its botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima (literally, "the most beautiful Euphorbia"). Though it is thought to have become known by its more popular name of poinsettia around 1836, the origin of the name is certainly clear!

Christmas Cinnamon Ornaments

1 cup applesauce
1 oz. cinnamon
1 oz. ground cloves
1 oz. ground nutmeg
1 oz. ground ginger
cinnamon for cutting board

Poinsettia Care

• Choose plants with thoroughly colored and expanded bracts. (Bracts are the colored portions of the plant, while the actual flowers are the yellow centers). Avoid plants with too much green around the bract edges.

• Look for plants with dense, plentiful foliage all the way to the soil line. An abundance of rich green foliage is a vital sign of good plant health.

• Proper proportion of plant height and shape relative to container size is the key to an aesthetically pleasing poinsettia. Plants should appear balanced, full and attractive from all angles.

• A generally accepted standard is that the plant should be 21/2 times taller than the diameter of the container.

• Select plants with stiff stems, good bract retention and no signs of wilting, breaking or dropping.

• Be wary of plants displayed in paper, plastic or mesh sleeves or plants that are too closely crowded in a sales display. The longer a plant remains sleeved, the more the plant quality will deteriorate. Crowding can reduce air flow around the plants and cause premature bract loss or other problems.

• Examine the plant's soil; it's best to avoid waterlogged soil, particularly if the plant appears wilted. Such a condition could signify irreversible root rot.

• When transporting the plant, protect it from chilling winds and temperatures below 50°F. Re-inserting the poinsettia into a sleeve or a large, roomy shopping bag will usually provide adequate protection for transporting the plant home when it is cold and windy.

• Place your plant in indirect sunlight for a least 6 hours a day. If direct sun can't be avoided, diffuse the light with a shade or sheer curtain.

• Provide room termperatures between 68 & 70°F. Generally speaking, if you are comfortable, so is your poinsettia.

• Water your plant when the soil feels dry to the touch.

• Use a large, roomy shopping bag to protect your plant when transplanting it.

• Don't place plants near cold drafts or excessive heat. Avoid placing plants near appliances, fireplaces or ventilating ducts.

• Don't expose plants to temperatures below 50°F. Poinsettias are sensitive to cold, so avoid placing them outside during the winter months.

• Don't everwater your plant, or allow it to sit in standing water. Always remove a plant from any decorative container before water, and allow the water to drain completely.

• Don't expose your plant to chilling winds when transporting it.

• Don't fertilize your plant when it's in bloom.

The Legend of the Poinsettia

A charming story is told of Pepia, a poor Mexican girl who had no gift to present the Chirst Child at Christmas Eve services. As pepita walked slowly to the chapel with her cousin Pedro, her heart was filled with sadness rather than joy.

"I am sure, Pepita, that even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes," said Pedro consolingly.

Not knowing wat else to do, pepita knelt by the roadside and gathered a handful of common weeds, fashioning them into a small bouquet. Looking at the scraggly bunch of weeds, she felt more saddened and embarassed than ever by the humbleness of her offering. She fought back a tear as she entered the small village chapel.

As she approached the altar, she remembered Pedro's kind words: "Even the most humble gift, if given in love, will be acceptable in His eyes." She felt her spirit lift as she knelt to lay the bouquet at the foot of the nativity scene.

Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into blooms of brilliant red, and all who saw them were certain that they had witnessed a Christmas miracle right before their eyes.

From that day on , the bright red flowers were known as the Flores de noche Buena, or flowers of the Holy Night, for they bloomed each year during the Christmas season.

Today, the common name for this plant is the poinsettia!

Let Ashcombe help you decorate for Christmas naturally this year with a wide selection of fragrant, fresh Christmas greens. For those of you who like to 'do-it-yourself,' we offer an array of loose mix & match cedars, pines, firs, juniper and boxwood that you choose yourself and purchase by the pound in the exact quantities you need! For larger decorating projects, we offer economical bundles of pine, fir or balsam branches - perfect for windows, porches and mantle pieces.

For wreaths of all sizes and styles, check out Ashcombe's wonderful assortment. From balsam to boxwood, Douglas fir to white pine - choose plain or decorated wreaths to beautify your home or workplace. Be sure to look for Ashcombe country style wreaths - each one an original!

Fresh garland is a favorite Christmas decoration for doorways, lamp posts, railings and stairways. Ashcombe offers 10 types of garland for 1999. Choose from Douglas fir, mixed pine, princess pine, mixed firs and cedars, and the seasonal favorite -- white pine. Check out our heavy white pine roping, a super buy all season long at just 99¢ per yard!

For beautiful decorating that is fast and easy, choose from ready made door charms, decorator bunches, window swags, mail box decorations and much more!

As always, live mistletoe and top quality green, variegated and winterberry hollies will add that extra special touch to your holiday decorating.

Visit Ashcombe this season for the loveliest Christmas greens ever. Let us share the natural beauty of the holidays with you.

Holiday Open House
Saturday, November 13, 1999

The National Railway Historical Society
9:00am - 4:00pm
Come see a 14 foot by 10 foot historical train module created by the NRHS. Members will be available to share history and information.

The Station
9:00am - 4:00pm
Come see a model Christmas train and visit with staff from 'The Station' in New Cumberland.

Decorating, Gift & Food Ideas

Decorating with Nature's Beauty
9:00am-4:00pm
Kathy McAfee will demonstrate how natural materials such as fresh evergreens, cones, berries and twigs can be used to decorated your home for the holidays.

Bow Tying
9:00am - 4:00pm
Learn how to tie a bow for wreaths and packages with LuAnn Siegfried.

Herbs for the Holidays
Come get ideas for using herbs to enhance your home for the holidays.

Christmas Carol Collectibles
9:00am - 4:00pm
Visit with Carol Wright from the Salt Box in Mechanicsburg. She will bring her hand-sculpted snowmen and old world santas plus other hand crafted gifts.

Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments
Learn how to make cinnamon scented ornaments for decorating and gifts. Easy to follow recipes available.

Grandma's Cookie Jar
Cookies are a holiday tradition. Gather ideas and recipes for preparing your own delicious holiday cookies.

Food Sampling
Come get a taste of the holidays. Sample some of our gourmet foods you can prepare and serve at home. Recipe and idea sheets will be available.

The Festive Entry Way
Gather ideas to make your door and front porch warm and welcoming for the holidays.

The Holiday Table
Sharing meals with family and friends is one of the joys of the holidays. Give your table and setting a special touch for your holiday celebrations.

Holiday Mosaics
9:00am - 4:00pm
Kerri Laudig will demonstrate this unique and easy gift giving or decorating idea. Display and hand-outs.

Other Events & Displays

Rehabitat
9:00am - 3:00pm
This Dillsburg facility rehabilitates injured birds of prey and returns them to the wild. Staff members and volunteers will bring owls and hawks which have been rehabilitated but are not capable of surviving on their own. Visit the birds and their handlers and lears about the efforts of Rehabitat.

Decorate an Evergreen Tree for the Birds
Learn how to decorate a tree with ornaments to feed the birds. Children can make and take home an ornament for their feathered friends.

Holiday Face Painting
9:00am - 4:00pm
Come have your face painted for the holidays by Erin Mathes.

Antiques

As the holiday season approaches, we are scurrying to stock up on antiques! Currently we have a great selection and variety with pieces including furniture, primitives, crocks, ironware, baskets, mahogany, oak and pine furniture, crocks, jugs, pressed and patterned glass, linens, doilies, wood bins, sleds, lanterns, old bottles, jars, advertising items, kitchen collectibles, tools and many new items arriving daily.

One-Of-A Kind Gifts from Ashcombe

It is hard to imagine that the holidays are just around the corner. It seems like just yesterday that we were preparing the ground for spring planting! Well, Ashcombe has everything you need to make that transition to the holidays. Visit our specialty gift shop and floral department and you'll find many creative gifts - the kind that are hard to find, but sure to please. Lamps and shades; furniture; pictures; soaps and lotions; scents of the season with Yankee candles and potpourri; Christmas ornaments; creative floral designs and so much more!

Let Ashcombe take you away from the crowded malls this season with a relaxing stroll through our very special country store. You'll be glad you came!

Amaryllis

Amaryllis (official name: Hippeastrum) originates from the tropical regions of South America. Most popular are the large flowering types. They are available in shades of red, pin, salmon, orange and white. There are also multi-colored varieties such as red & white candy striped.

The Amaryllis is an extremely easy bulb to get into bloom. Moreover, this can be done entirely indoors.

PLANTING
Place the bulb with its base and roots in lukewarm water for a few hours. Use nutritious potting compost for which ready-made mixtures are available. Carefully place the lower 1/2 of bulb in soil, using a large pot with a drain hole. Take care not damage the roots. Once planted, press soil firmly around the bulb so that the plant will be quite steady. Place the pot on a saucer and keep in a warm area with direct light.

Until the stem shows, it needs little water. Gradually give more water as the bud and leaves become more visible. Once this occurs, the stem will grow quite rapidly. Once the stem ceases to grow, the flowers will develop.

AFTERCARE
When the bulb has stopped flowering it is not necessary to discard it. With a little care, this same plant will flower again next year. After flowering, cut the old flowers from the stem and allow the leaves to develop. Water regularly and add some fertilizer to the water.

In early September, gradually reduce watering and stop in October. Then allow the bulb to rest in a cool dark place. In January, pot the bulb again after all the old soil and dried roots have been removed. In March the bulb will bloom again.

MAINTENANCE
Once your Amaryllis is in bloom partial shade will help bring out the brilliant color of the flowers. Cool conditions will make flowers last longer. Always keep moist while in leaf. Also apply water soluable fertilzer once a month during the growth season.

Amaryllis can propagate from offset bulbs at potting time but will take 2 years to flower. Propagation can also occur from seeds of the seed pod. Remove seeds from the pod and dry for a few days and then plant. These will take 3 years to flower.

Holiday Recipes

YULE LOG CAKE

1 package active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water
3/4 cup warm milk
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup shortening
1 tsp. salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
33/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup candied cherries, quartered
1 cup confectioner's sugar
1 Tbsp. milk

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE WREATH

3/4 cup vegetable shortening
11/2 cups light brown sugar, packed
2 Tbsp. milk
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup pecans - coarsely chopped
ICING
11/4 cups powdered sugar
3 Tbsp. vegetable shortening
2 tsp. milk
1 tsp. light corn syrup
red and green chewy candies or gum drops

Meanwhile, prepare the icing. In a small bowl with mixer on medium speed, beat the powdered sugar, shortening, milk and corn syrup until smooth. If too thick, thin with a little milk; if too thin, add more powdered sugar. The icing may be covered and refrigerated for up to 1 week. Makes 11/2 cups. Spread or pipe the icing over the cooled wreaths. Cut the red and green candies as needed for flowers and leaves. Place in clusters around the wreath.

CHRISTMAS MORNING WIFE SAVER

16 slices of bread, crusts removed
16 sliced back bacon or ham; cooked
16 slices cheddar cheese;
sharp eggs
6 eggs
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. dry mustard
1/4 cup onion, minced
1/4 cup green pepper; finely chopped
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
3 cup milk; whole or 2%
1 dash tobasco
1/4 lb. butter
corn flakes, crushed

Bake 1 hour in 350°F oven. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Message From The President

As we approach the end of the year, it is a time that we spend with our families for the holiday season. We want to make this a special time for you and yours. I'm sure you will be pleased with the selection of gifts, flowers, antiques, and gourmet foods our people have chosen for this season.

We appreciate the many times you have shopped with us this past year and wish all of you a happy holiday season. It is because of you that we have grown over the years and continue to strive to do our best to serve you with our very best products. Our people, we believe, make the real difference in your shopping experience and we will try to continue this service as the year ends and the new one starts. We have been retailing for 38 years and hope to continue in the new millennium. May you and yours prosper therein.

Best Wishes,
GLENN GROSS

Previous Newsletters:

• September 1999

• June 1999

• May 1999

• March 1999