A Wonderland Greeting~

Poinsettias are such a part of Christmas...you probably give one or recieve one at this time of year. Contrary to popular myth these plants are not poisonous, although nobody should ingest them because they are not food. (the link above takes you to FAQs for poinsettias)

Some interesting poinsettia history~

The Aztecs called poinsettias "Cuetlaxochitl." During the 14th - 16th century the sap was used to control fevers and the bracts (modified leaves) were used to make a reddish dye.

Montezuma, the last of the Aztec kings, would have poinsettias brought into what now is Mexico City by caravans because poinsettias could not be grown in the high altitude.

In the 17th century, Juan Balme, a botanist, noted the poinsettia plant in his writings.

~The botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima, was assigned to the poinsettia by the German botanist, Wilenow. The plant grew through a crack in his greenhouse. Dazzled by its color, he gave it the botanical name, Euphorbia pulcherrima meaning "very beautiful."

Joel Roberts Poinsett was the first United States Ambassador to Mexico being appointed by President John Quincy Adams in the 1820's. At the time of his appointment, Mexico was involved in a civil war. Because of his interest in botany he introduced the American elm into Mexico. During his stay in Mexico he wandered the countryside looking for new plant species. In 1828 he found a beautiful shrub with large red flowers growing next to a road. He took cuttings from the plant and brought them back to his greenhouse in South Carolina. Even though Poinsett had an outstanding career as a United States Congressman and as an ambassador he will always be remembered for introducing the poinsettia into the United States

I made a Wonderland themed Christmas card tonight and plan to share it at the Altered Alice blog. I used K and Company die cut poinsettias on my card~

I used:

• vintage book page
• bakery string and mesh ribbon
• stamped teacup, 1995 Stampin' Up 
• stamped Penny Black sentiment
• stamped Inkadinkadoo AIW rabbit
• S. Hunt Bella Blvd houndstooth cardstock
• Distress Ink

sharing this post with Uncommonly Yours