About Those Poinsettia Plants

It would be difficult to imagine Christmas without these plants and their gorgeous colors.  

From the December 24, 2023, Chicago Tribune "New look at Christmastime flower" by Morgan Lee.  

This next part appears to be somewhat "woke."  "...attention is again turning to the poinsettia's origins and its checkered history of its namesake, a slaveowner and lawmaker who played a part in the forced removal of Native Americans from their land.  Some people would now rather call the plant by the name of its Indigenous origin in southern Mexico."  I have to wonder if the article's write would rather call it by its Mexican name?

The name comes from the amateur botanist and statesman Joel Roberts Poinsett, who happened upon the plant in 1828 during his tenure as the first U.S. minister to the newly independent Mexico.

Poinsett, who was interested in science as well as potential cash crops, sent clippings of the plant to his home in South Carolina and to a botanist in Philadelphia who gave the new plant its name, poinsettia after Joel Poinsett.

--Cooter

About Those Poinsettia Plants (Not Just for Christmas)

I have two poinsettia plants that are fifteen years old and also one I bought this last Christmas which has survived.  I have no luck with buying the real small ones as they always die on me, but when I do buy a bigger one they are much more likely to survive.

I put them outside on the front porch by the door (with a northern exposure that does get some early morning sun) and, of course, bring them in for the winter and keep them by windows with a southern exposure. The two old ones get some red leaves but not as splashy as the ones you buy at the store.  Their stems are quite woody now.

A will put them back outside in five weeks.  By then, they have lost many of their green leaves, but as soon as they get outside they fill out nicely and even bloom red a little.

Over the next several blog entries I will write about their origins.

--DaCootia

Top Ten Oldest Establishments of Their Kind-- Part 2

5.  THEATER:  Teatro Olimpio in Vicenza, Italy.  Opened in 1585

4.  AMUSEMENT PARK:  Bakken in Copenhagen, Denmark.  Opened in 1583

3.  MUSEUM:  Musei Capitolini in Rome, Italy.  Opened in 1471

2.  UNIVERSITY:  The University of al-Quarwiyy in Fez, Morocco.  Opened in 859

1.  HOTEL:  Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan in Japan.  Opened in 705

--DaCoot

Top 10 Oldest Establishments of Their Kind in the World: Airport and Restaurant

From March 31, 2022, ListVerse by Kerri Lee Gluch.

I am just listing them.  For more information, go to the site.

10.  AIRPORT:  College Park Airport, Maryland.  Opened 1909

9.  MOVIE THEATER:  State Theater in Washington, Iowa.  Opened May 14, 1897.

8.  SHOPPING MALL:  Galleria  Vittorio Emanuele II in Milan, Italy.  Opened in 1877

7.  ZOO:  Tiergarten  Schonbrunn on Vienna, Austria.  Opened 1752

6.  RESTAURANT:  Restaurante Botin in Madrid, Spain.  Opened 1725.

--Cooter

This Job's for the Birds-- Part 4: Eatin' and 'Scapin'

The official title of Ravenmaster is only fifty years old, though the role is far older, and Barney Chandler is the sixth holder of the post.    He is charge of the health and welfare of the ravens, who usually roam freely by day and sleep in cages at night.

Duties include maintaining the birds' enclosures, arranging veterinary checkups and keeping them fed on their preferred diet of raw meat supplemented by the occasional treat of a hard-boiled egg or a hardtack soaked in blood.

"They're carrion birds," said Chandler.  "They'll eat almost anything."

The birds' feathers are trimmed to keep them from flying away, although they occasionally escape.  According to Historic Royal Palaces, the charity that oversees the tower, a bird named Grog flew off in 1981 and was last seen outside an East End pub.

Chandler, who served in Afghanistan and around the world during 24 years in the Royal Marines, has been on bird handling courses and had other formal training for his role.

--DaCootFlyingAway

This Job's for the Birds-- Part 3: Many Uses of the Tower of London

The jet-black birds are a familiar feature at the Tower of London landmark, which has served as an arsenal, palace, prison, zoo and more recently a tourist attraction. 

Built by King William I after hiss conquest of England in 1066, it served as a royal residence for several hundred years, but is more famous as a prison.  Famous inmates have included Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen Elizabeth I; Guy Fawkes, who tried to blow up Parliament; and Adolph Hitler's deputy, Rudolph Hess.

Nowadays, almost 3 million tourists come each year to soak up history and see the glittering Crown Jewels which are kept there.

--Cooter

This Job's for the Birds-- Part 2: The Beefeaters

Michael "Barney" Chandler took over the post of Ravenmaster on March 1, 2024.  As such, he leads a group called Yeoman Warders, which goes back to the 15th century.  You may know them better as Beefeaters who dress in the very distinctive black and scarlet Tudor-style uniforms.  If you've ever seen a bottle of Beefeaters Gin, that's them.

They perform a hybrid role at the Tower of London.  They not only provide security, but also lead tours of the tower and perform ceremonial duties.

He leads a group of 4 former military men looking after the tower's seven ravens-- the six decreed by Charles II and a spare.  In case you're wondering, their names are Jubilee, Harris, Poppy, Georgie, Edgar, Branwen and the latest addition, Rex, who was named in honor of King Charles III last year when he had his coronation.

--Cooter

This Job's for the Birds: Tower of London's New Ravenmaster

From the March 5, 2024, Chicago Tribune "A job that's really for the birds" by Jill Lawless, AP.

If an ancient prophesy is correct, then Michael "Barney" Chandler has the most important job in England.  The 56-year-old former Royal Marine is the new ravenmaster at the Tower of London.  It is his new job to be responsible for looking after the feathered protectors of the 1,000-year-old fortress.

According to legend, if the ravens leave the 11th century fortress beside the River Thames, its White Tower will crumble and the Kingdom of England will fall.

In the 17th century, King Charles II was told of the prophesy and decreed that there must always be six ravens at the tower.

--DaCoot

I Found a New Picture of the HMS Kestrel Dog in the WW I Plane

One of the pictures that accompany this blog is of the bulldog dog in the cockpit of what appears to be a WW I plane.  I attempted to find out some more information about it.

I came across a similar photo, this time in color, of the English bulldog in the cockpit of the WW I era airplane.

He is wearing an HMS Kestrel sailor hat.

At first I thought that meant the plane might have flown off the HMS Kestrel, but since it was a destroyer, it was way too small to have a plane.  Plus, I did not read anything about it having a plane.

So, not sure about why the bulldog had the hat on in that plane.

Quite the Dog.

Neat Picture, Though.  --Cooter

Lake Geneva's Riviera-- Part 2

The Riviera was originally named the Northport and the building was dedicated on May 22, 1933.  Ever since, it has been a landmark for the region's tourism, including its design as a launch site for tour boats on the lake.  (Definitely something you want to try, especially the mail boat.)

Through the 1950s, the ballroom hosted renowned musicians including Tommy Dorsey, Glen Miller and Louis Armstrong.  And then in a more modern era: Chubby Checker, Herman's Hermits and Stevie Wonder who performed on the ballroom's Top Deck in the 1970s.

The building was renovated and repurposed as a hub for civic events in 1983.  Three years later it earned a spot on the state and national Register of Historic Places.

Restoration efforts were led by local architect Daniel Curran, who preserved the structure's architectural integrity and historical significance.

Today, the ballroom hosts weddings, corporate events and other social gatherings.

--DaCoot