Nochebuenas (Poinsettias)

When we lived in Canada we thought that Poinsettias came in a pot and were, of course, available at Christmas.

Since we moved to Mexico over 18 years ago, of the many wonderful surprises we experienced in this magical area of Ajijic, Lake Chapala, was that Poinsettias are trees that grow everywhere as this magnificent flower that originated in Mexico.

Even the poorest areas usually have gay profusions of nochebuenas in their yards during the season of Navidad (Christmas).

There are so many varieties of this beautiful flower in many different colors.

We too have them growing wild in our garden in several places and they bloom with gay abandon at Navidad and well before and even need to be cut back at times.

There are many places in Ajijic where you can purchase all manner of this wonderful Christmas flower.

I particularly like the nursery across from Superlake in San Antonio Tlayacapan where they have white ones, and pink ones, and a variety of shades of red ones in single and double formats. They also come in all sizes from small individual ones for the table to huge ones clearly indicated your great wealth.

The nochebuenas brighten up any home for the holiday and they need plenty of water. They are happy indoors or out and will last in masetas (pots) for several weeks.

We have several out on our terraza and two trees in our garden as well as a large one between the living and dining rooms so it can be enjoyed from both rooms.

Also there is a wonderful nursery with a fabulous selection of nochebuenas on San Jose in San Antonio Tlayacapan about halfway down the first block towards the lake on the left hand side.

Prices range from $25.00 pesos to several hundred pesos depending on the style, size and design of the plant you require.

So fill your home inside and out with this native flower and have a wonderful, bright Navidad.