red shadows...

...playing with light -

in between the poinsettia leaves... making it appear mysterious - yet bold in its rich red coloring...

some fun facts about the poinsettia:

-they've been called the lobster flower due to their red color
-despite the rumor - they are not poisonous
-poinsettias are not frost tolerant... in the ground, they can reach 10 feet tall
-the aztecs used poinsettia sap medicinally to control fevers
-california is the top u.s. poinsettia producing state
-it's estimated women account for 80% of poinsettia sales

and finally - not surprisingly to me - one of the most common questions people ask about the poinsettia - is how to get it to rebloom in successive years... i find if i don't end up killing it during the first season - which happens 9 times out of 10 - then i want to know what the trick is to get it to come back for me - that would then truly lead to...

a

happy day.....