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Please join us for our
Holiday Open House
this Saturday, December 1st,
from 9 to 5.
Enjoy refreshments &
enter for a chance to win one of several Collier's gift cards to be given away! |
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December Hours:
Monday through Saturday 9 to 5
Sunday 1 to 5
We will be open through Saturday, December 22nd. |
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Deck the Halls
Fresh and fragrant greenery is here! We have a great selection of garland, wreaths, swags and cut greenery to use in arrangements. Here's a sample of some of our favorites for this holiday season:
Boxwood Wreaths For an elegant touch indoors or out. 13, 16, 20 and 36". $16.99-$39.99.
Christmas Cross This is our most sought-after item at Christmas! Use instead of a wreath on the front door, or hang indoors in front of a mirror. $44.99.
Forest Elegance Wreath Our most eye-catching wreath, with a mix of noble fir, boxwood, juniper with blue berries, red berries and pinecones (26", $49.99). Pair this with our Woodland Fantasy Swags (36" long, $24.99), which have the same mix of greens, for a riot of color and texture.
Mailbox Swags An easy, quick but beautiful way to decorate your mailbox! These are formed to fit snugly over the top of standard mailboxes. Add a bow and your done! For a more dramatic look, add garland around the post or cascading from the swag.
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La Flor de la Noche Buena:
Flower of the Holy NightPoinsettias
The common Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a member of the Spurge family, native to Mexico and Central America. Poinsettias are named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first U.S. ambassodor to Mexico, who discovered them growing wild there and introduced them into the United States in 1825. So how did poinsettias become so closely associated with Christmas? Legend tells of a very poor young girl in 16th century Mexico who wanted to bring a gift to church on Christmas Eve to honor the Christ child. Having no money and nothing to give, the girl was told by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and lay them at the altar. The girl did this, and when she carried them in to the church they turned the beautiful red we are so familiar with today. The Aztecs used the leaves of Poinsettias to make dyes, and the sap to control fevers. Montezuma, the last Aztec king, had poinsettias brought in to what is now Mexico City on caravans- what a sight that must have been!
 The colorful "blooms" of poinsettias are actually bracts, or modified leaves. The true flowers of the plant are the small yellow blooms at the center of the bracts.
Poinsettias are the top-selling potted plant in the United States, and California is the top producer of poinsettias.
Despite what you may have heard, there is no need to fear your kids or pets munching on poinsettia leaves. Studies have shown that 500 to 600 leaves would have to be consumed to cause harm. Also, they are not tasty at all, so there's not much chance of anyone eating more than one!
Find out more:
Poinsettias on Wikipedia
The Poinsettia Pages (University of Illinois Extension) |
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How to Care for Your Poinsettias
- Protect poinsettias from cold drafts and keep away from cold windows.
- Poinsettias do best with daytime temps of 60-70 degrees, and nighttime temps no lower than 55 degrees.
- High temperatures will shorten your poinsettia's life.
- If possible, place your poinsettia in bright, indirect light.
- Allow the soil to dry to the touch before watering. We recommend placing a handful of icecubes in the soil to avoid over-watering. Make sure water does not stand in the bottom of foil wrappings.
- Poinsettia stems are long-lasting as cut flowers. To use them this way, sear the end of the stem with a candleflame to stop the flow of sap and make them last longer.
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Holiday Blooms
Poinsettia Alternatives
Poinsettias are far from the only blooms to use in holiday decorations. We have several other choices in spectacular colors, to use in baskets or tabletop displays or to give as gifts.
Amaryllis Large, trumpet-shaped blooms in Christmas red and white. The blooms are long lasting and the bulb can be saved and planted outdoors.
Christmas Cactus A very easy, low-maintenance option for non-stop holiday blooms. Christmas cactus come in bright colors and won't wilt immediately if they dry out.
Cyclamen Delicate, nodding blooms all winter. Place in bright, indirect light and water when the soil feels dry.
Hydrangeas Our "hothouse" hydrangeas have been forced to bloom for the holidays. They will last 4 weeks or longer indoors and can be planted in the garden later!
Kalanchoes Another easy option for indoor color this season, kalanchoes thrive on neglect and will bloom for about a month.
Pansies Who can resist the little "faces" of pansies and violas? Because of the wide range of colors they come in, pansies are excellent to use in tabletop arrangements and baskets for extra pops of color. Welcome holiday guests with cheerful pots of pansies near your entry ways.
Paperwhites One of the sweet smells of the holiday season, a few small paperwhite blooms can perfume an entire room. We love to use these with fern and poinsettias for a classic Christmas arrangement. |
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