White Poinsettias, Longwood Gardens IMG 2400
I did not know that many people have never seen a white poinsettia until I posted this photograph in a number of Facebook groups and received a large number of comments from around the world. This photograph was taken at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA.
Subhash Sharma This is a lovely photograph of ‘Snowcap White’ Poinsettia which is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, a physician, botanist, and the first United States Ambassador to Mexico who spotted a red colour wild Poinsettia growing in a deciduous, tropical Mexican forest in the 1820's. Apart from its original red colour this lovely plant has now evolved to have over 100 varieties. It’s a native of South America where Aztecs had used its original variety to produce red dye and as an antipyretic (fever lowering) medication. In the language of the Aztecs, the plant is called Cuetlaxochitl, meaning "flower that grows in residues. The plant's association with Christmas began in 16th-century Mexico, where legend tells of a girl, commonly called Pepita or Maria, who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday and was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the church altar. Crimson blossoms sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias.
Mr. Sharma is a Facebook friend from India. He now lives in Ireland and frequently comments on my photographs as I post them on Facebook.
White Poinsettias, Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA USA IMG 2400
Canon PowerShot G11 Camera, f/4.5, 1/80 sec., ISO-800, 25 mm, No Flash
Photograph by Roy Kelley
Roy and Dolores Kelley Photographs
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