The Christmas plant

The other day I bought a potted poinsettia - the Christmas plant. I am always reminded when these lovely plants appear in the shops, of a task I had to do annually in our garden in Durban SA.

On top of a retaining wall we had a row of poinsettia plants. They looked terrific all summer but had to be pruned every year. They reached heights of 8-10ft in a season. I didn't have the benefit of a pair of loppers back then, only a pair of cutters and an old garden saw. Pretty hard work cutting throught those tough stems. The plant, euphorbia pulcherrima, oozes a white milky latex sap when stems are cut. This stuff is dreadful, sticky and impossible to wash off it is also a bit toxic.

So not my favourite garden task. However, every year these plants would grow to their spectacular best, only to cut them back again. Isn't nature wonderful?

For advice on how to look after poinsettias indoors

My first garden centre

At about this time of the year in 1994, we had settled in a bit more; kids off to school or college; starting to find our way around and feeling less like we had just got off the boat.

A colleague invited me to go and see a deemonstration of flower arranging at a nearby garden centre. I would not normally be that interested in flower arranging as I consider myself as being a total dork in that area. To my regret I may add because I wish I had the ability to arrange flowers, but the skill eludes me.

Being December, it was cold, however, we all gathered in an annex which was like a big tent. nI thought we were going to freesze, but no, the whole area was heated by massive plastic ducts which blew out hot air. It was marvellous.

A gentleman then arrived and proceeded to dazzle us with the most unbelievable creations. They were more like sculptures made out of folliage and flowers, some very exotic. He gave a running commetary as he worked. I remember one of this masterpieces was a giant peacock which stood over eight feet high. So clever! I was enthralled and thrilled to have been there.

Afterwards we wandered into the garden centre proper. Well, I was in for a surprise! It was like walking into a fantasy land. I had never seen so many Christmas decorations in my life! They were arranged by colour, each in its own space. The colours were amazing; rich reds, greens and blues; burgundy, silver and gold. All kinds of baubles, tinsel. stars, hanging things, bells and, and, and.... I was gobsmacked. I realised then that Christmas decorating in the UK was a big business and that I could get really carried away here.

That was my first garden centre. I didn't even get to see the garden section!