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      10 Facts About Poinsettia

      10 Facts About Poinsettia

      What's in the name "Poinsettia"?

      The name derives from the fact that Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, introduced the first specimens to North America in 1828.

      Where is  the Poinsettia originally from?

      Also the Poinsettia is intolerant to the cold and need to be grown in greenhouses and wrap extremely well when transport it in cold weather. 

      Montezuma favourite plant

      Going back in history, the Aztecs called them Cuetlaxochitl and considered them to be gifts from the gods, representing mortality and purity.

      Montezuma, last of the Aztec Emperors, filled his palace with poinsettias.

      The  Cuetlaxochitl plants were more than just a symbol, they had practical uses to: the sap was used to reduce fevers and a dye was made from the leaves.

      Why is it a  Christmas Plant?

      The poinsettia’s association with Christmas comes from a Mexican legend.

      The story goes that a child, with no means for a gift, gathered humble weeds from the side of the road to place at the church alter on Christmas Eve.

      Then during the Christmas celebration the weeds turned into brilliant red and green flowers.

      Are Poinsettia Toxic?

      Many people believe that poinsettias are highly toxic, but that is a myth.

      It’s definitely not recommended for people or animals to eat poinsettias, but a child would need to eat approximately 500 leaves to have a major reaction.

      Some people who have a latex allergy might find skin contact with poinsettia sap irritates their skin.

      Poinsettia Plant Delivery UKFor how long has Poinsettia  been popular at Christmas?

      In 1830 the Poinsettias were fragile and mostly seen only in the glasshouses and conservatories of wealthy collectors and Botanical Gardens.

      In 1920, the Ecke Family (pictured) with some clever branding and a lot of entrepreneurial know-how they managed to make the Poinsettia or Christmas Plant (the name given by the Ecke Family) one of the most sold house plants in the world,

      Are the Poinsettia flowers red?

      The Poinsettia flowers are little yellow buds in the centre of each collection of leaves and they are definitely not the most beautiful part of the plant.

      The most beautiful "petals" of the poinsettia aren't flowers at all, but lush red, white or green leaves.

      Poinsettia Plant UKHow many Poinsettia do we buy in the UK?

      Every year we buy around 8 million plants in UK.

      Along with Orchids they are one of the most sold houseplants.

      The majority of Poinsettia are grown in UK by specialist growers and it takes approximately 6 months to grow to marketable size.

      Not so easy as you think!

      Poinsettia need to have twelve hours of darkness for at least five nights in a row in order for the bracts to change colour.

      Even bright streetlights can cause confusion for this plant, so it’s not as simple a process as you might think for the commercial growers.

      How many varieties of Poinsettia exist?

      There are more than 100 varieties of poinsettias available today.

      Poinsettias can grow in colours like the traditional red, white, pink, burgundy, marbled, and speckled.

      We hope you enjoy this Season with some ancient Aztec wonder by your side!

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      Christmas Wreath Making Tutorial

      Christmas Wreath Making Tutorial

      Christmas Wreath Making Tutorial

      Do you know someone that would love to create their own Christmas Wreath?

      Or maybe you would like to learn a new skill with a friend or family member either in person or over a video call? Our Christmas Wreath Making Kit is perfect for this festive season!

      This DIY wreath kit includes everything you need to make your very own festive door wreath and get creative!

      Video Tutorial

       

       

       Step by Step Tutorial 

      Wreath Making diy kit

      Step 1

      Once you open your box, check all your wreath making material.

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

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      Step 2

      Attach one end of the reel wire to your frame with a few twists.

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

      Wreath Making Tutorial

      Step 3

      Secure bundles of bunched up moss to the frame by wrapping the reel wire around them. We use moss as it gives depth to the wreath – it will also provide moisture for the foliage you’ll be adding later.

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

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      Step 4

      Continue adding bunches of moss until the whole frame is covered with an even distribution. Keep the reel wire attached to the wreath. Assemble small bundles of your mixed foliage and pine – it works best to keep larger bits of foliage and pine at the back of the bundle.

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

      Christmas wreath making DIY kit

      Step 5

      Lay a bundle of foliage on the wreath and secure firmly using the reel wire. Add more bundles in the same direction, overlapping with the previous one.

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

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      Step 6

      Continue adding bundles of leaves until the frame is evenly covered. Cut the reel wire, leaving enough to secure at the back by twisting it around itself.

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

      Natural Wreath making DIY kit

      Step 7

      Attach a ribbon by doubling it around your wreath underneath the foliage, leaving it long enough to attach to your door. It’s a good idea to hold up the wreath and look at the shape before you decide where to attach the ribbon.

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

      Wreath Making Kit delivery uk

      Step 8

      Cut long lengths of reel wire to make ‘legs’ for your decorations (to attach them to the wreath). To do this, bend the wire in half and attach with a few twists around a suitable point on your decoration (such as the stem or around the pine cone).

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

      Xmas Wreath delivery UK

      Step 9

      Attach the decorations at random intervals around the wreath by separating out the ‘legs’ of the wire and securing them at the back of  the wreath with a few twists. Use the ribbon to hang your wreath on a door or suitable place Your stunning festive wreath can be also be used for decorating your wall, door or mantelpiece!

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

      Xmas wreath delivery UK

      Step 10

      Well done!! You have created and made your very own  wonderful creative Christmas wreath- sit back with some mulled wine and enjoy! Merry Christmas!

      Halloween...did you know?

      Halloween...did you know?

      Some interesting facts about Halloween in UK 

      In Scotland and the Isle of Man, Halloween's Celtic roots are honoured through Samhain celebrations

      Hallowen in UK

      Samhain (a Gaelic word pronounced “sow-win”) is celebrated in Scotland, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland and Ireland. 

      Samhain is a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the "darker half" of the year and symbolised the divide between the world of the living and the world of the dead.

      Traditionally, it is celebrated from 31 October to 1 November.

      Samhain celebrations feature rituals such as bonfires and dancing.

      Bonfire Night 

      Guy Fawkes Day (also known as Guy Fawkes Night and Bonfire Night) has historically been  and still is a big day in the UK calendar.

      Celebrated with parades, bonfires, and fireworks on November 5 ― you might be familiar with the rhyme "Remember, remember the fifth of November" Guy Fawkes Day commemorates the failed Gunpowder Plot. The scheme, orchestrated by Roman Catholics in 1605, was an attempt to blow up Parliament in response to King James I's refusal to expand the religious freedom of Catholics.

      Halloween's customs are scary

      In the UK, we stick to the more traditional horror-inspired ghost, vampire, zombie, Frankenstein, ghoul costumes.

      In the US, when kids go trick-or-treating, it seems any costume goes, even costumes that aren't necessarily 'Halloween-y' (including princesses, Spider-Man and so on).

      Trick or Treat

      Brits don't go wild with Halloween decor

      It's rare for people in the UK to put up an excessive amount of Halloween decorations although every year there seems to be more Brits getting in the spirit and decorating their homes.

       

      Trick-or-treating is more common in the US.

      Going door to door for  treats is not as a big a deal in the UK, however again there seems to more of growing trend within some age groups to get dressed up and go out trick or treating possibly with an adult in tow!

      Guising has a Scottish and Irish tradition

      Dating to the middle ages, guising ― a shortening of disguising ― refers to the tradition of dressing kids in old clothes and having them mimic evil spirits on Halloween (known then as the Eve of All Saints Day).

      Going from house to house, they would be given offerings for warding off evil.

      Today in Scotland, children still go guising.

      But they're expected to show off a talent (like singing or reciting a poem) in order to receive a treat.

      A city in Northern Ireland is famous for its annual, four-day-long Halloween fest.

      In Derry, the second-largest city in Northern Ireland, people celebrate Halloween with a four-day-long event called the Banks of the Foyle Carnival.

      The festivities include a haunted house, a parade, and more.

      In Scotland and Ireland, it's traditional to carve a swede or turnip instead of a pumpkin.

      Halloween UK

      Pumpkins are synonymous with autumn, and it's hard to think of Halloween without picturing a glowing jack-o'-lantern.

      People in some parts of the UK, however, make lanterns from other root vegetables ― namely, swedes or turnips.

      The practice can possibly be traced to an Irish legend about a man named Jack who was cursed to wander the Earth by the light of a turnip lantern.

      This is a very old tradition in Scotland and Ireland based on Celtic mythology.