Poinsettias are flowers native to the Pacific coast of America, some parts of central southern Mexico, and a few localities in Guatemala. They are named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first United States Ambassador to Mexico, who introduced the plant in the U.S. in 1825.
Alternative names for the poinsettia are Mexican flame leaf, Christmas star, Winter rose, Noche Buena and Pascua.
I snapped this at Lowe’s last weekend – click to enlarge.
Cabrillo Beach, a popular swimming, fishing and boating area, is the only public beach located within the Port of Los Angeles complex. Inside the breakwater, the water is calm and relaxing, but just outside is the ocean surf where, on a day with a choppy sea, waves crash against the jetty and seawall. The isthmus of Catalina Island can be seen in the distance.
This is fruit from our dwarf orange tree growing in a planter out back. We have had little green oranges growing since springtime, and now that it’s winter ripening time, they are turning orange. This tree is one of California’s famous winter-ripening variety. Sweet, seedless fruit ripens in ten months.
The tree itself is sensitive to frost, as well as intense heat and drought. It grows best in temperate conditions. Areas such as the coast of Southern California as well as inland valleys are considered ideal for its planting. Trees can be grown from cuttings taken from branches two to four years old. One must bury the cuttings (replete with foliage) deep in the soil.
After our session at the shooting range, we drove up to the botanic gardens. Verna took over 100 pictures, and some of those will be coming up this week. Meanwhile, enjoy this panoramic image of the rose garden and fountain. Click on the image to see it full-size.
Today we honor the men and women who died in the attacks on Hawaii late in 1941. In the photograph below, the Officers and Crew line the flight deck of the USS Ronald Reagan, CVN-76, as they salute the war memorial at the resting place of the USS Arizona.
Even though it’s going to be rainy and ugly here for the next couple of days, you might look up at night and see a bright red dot showing through breaks in the clouds. In December, Mars and Earth will pass through the parts of their orbits where the two planets are as close together as they will be this year. Read about the close encounter at Astronomy Picture of the Day.
