Poinsettia time

I plucked this beauty from the mass of Plain Jane poinsettias at Trader Joe's.  What a deal for $5.99.  It has ruffly dark pink flowers (technically called "bracts") with creamy white around the edges.

This is a picture of  the "Marabella" variety-- sure looks like mine.  Poinsettias are sold everywhere,  but they started out as a premium florist article. They were delicate and only lasted a couple of weeks in December.  Now they're bred to be much tougher and long-lasting, able to stand up to rigors of shipping and warehouse storage. Not to mention, being stuffed in TJ grocery carts.

Red is still the most popular color, but has dropped down to 65% as eye-catching novelties come on the market.  Wish I had the job giving new varieties wonderful names like these:

Cortex Burgandy
Cinnamon Star 
Visions of Grandeur
White Star
Polar Bear
Arctic White 
Early Orion Red
Sonoran White Glitter
Jubliee Red
and so on...