1. Purchase poinsettias early in the month.
2. Protect new landscape plants from wind damage.
3. Prune hardy dormant deciduous trees, shrubs, and vines, if you haven't already done so.
4. Prune fall and winter-blooming shrubs and vines after bloom. Do not prune spring-blooming plants.
5. Water living Christmas trees.
6. Monitor houseplants for adequate water, fertilizer and humidity. Water and fertilizer requirements generally are less in winter; do not feed dormant houseplants at all.
7. Make sure outside plants have adequate soil moisture. Plants need moisture in winter, too.
8. Check stored bulbs for rot or fungus. Discard any that have problems.
9. Make holiday decorations from outdoor shrubs and trees.
10. Don't forget to turn your compost pile.
11. Tie up limbs of evergreens to prevent snow or ice breakage.
12. Start planning your spring garden!

Poinsettias are a wonderful worldwide holiday tradition. In fact, next to a Christmas tree, nothing else says Christmas quite like poinsettias. Displayed alone or in groups, they can add a festive splash of color to every décor. From a centerpiece on a holiday table to a miniature plant decorating the corner of an office desk, to a colorful hanging basket that can brighten any room, the poinsettia is the perfect holiday gift.

So how did poinsettias become so popular at Christmas--and where do they come from? According to Mexican legend, a poor Mexican girl named Pepita who could not afford a gift to offer to Christ on Christmas Eve picked some weeds from the side of a road. The child was told that even a humble gift, if given in love, would be acceptable in God's eyes. When she took the weeds into the church and laid them at the feet of the Christ child, they bloomed into red and green flowers.

Poinsettias are native to the tropical forest at moderate elevations along the Pacific coast of Mexico and some parts of 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.

Poinsettias have come a long way from their humble beginnings. For years only variations of red flowers were propagated and grown. But now there are hundreds of color varieties available ranging from traditional shades of red, pink and white to burgundy, peach, striped, flecked and hand-dyed varieties.

The sooner you purchase your poinsettias, the sooner you and your friends will be able to enjoy the unique holiday beauty that only they can provide.

Poinsettias are fairly easy-going, and with proper care can last long past the holiday season. Just click on the link below for a complete care guide including tips for re-blooming the following season. Check out our Poinsettia Care Guide (click here).

Fresh holiday greens such as wreaths and garlands have a definite life span, but with the following tips you can keep them looking good so you can enjoy their wonderful scent and beauty throughout the holiday season.

If you aren't hanging or mounting your greens right away, lay them outside on the ground (best side up) in a cool shady location until you are ready to use them. Try to avoid getting the greenery wet.

Sunlight, heat and wind are the worst enemies for holiday greenery, so keep that in mind when hanging them up. Outdoors, wreaths will last much longer on doors with northern or eastern exposures. Southern or western exposures can cause greenery to dry and discolor much more quickly.

If hanging or mounting greenery indoors, be sure to keep it away from heating vents, and try to maintain room temperatures of 70 degrees or less. Also shutter direct sunlight window exposures to prevent excess discoloration.

Anti-transpirants help to slow down moisture loss, helping to maintain the color and reduce a potential fire hazard. Be sure to apply anti-transpirant outdoors at least one hour before decorating the greenery, so it can dry before you add all those personal touches to it!

Happy Holidays!

Soon after the festivities end, your once-fresh Christmas tree begins moving from Christmassy to crispy. No matter. When you're ready to take down the decorations, explore all your options of how to reuse or recycle.

Many communities across the country offer a recycling program, whereby trees are collected and ground up into mulch for municipal use. Areas with lots of man-made lakes sometimes collect and sink old trees into waterways to slow erosion. Check with your local city government or county Extension Office to see if such a tree collection program is in place.

Also, if you have the space and don't mind "the natural look" in your landscape, lay your old tree in a remote corner of your yard; it will make a great hiding and nesting place for birds, rabbits and other small creatures. If you have a compost pile, you can cut the branches into small pieces, and add them to the compost pile. It will take time, but they will break down to beautiful soil.

Whatever you choose, be sure all the non-natural decorations, like tinsel and ornament hooks, have been removed. While sparkly mulch might have an interesting look, it's not very good for the environment.

Makes an attractive--and delicious--centerpiece for the table!

What You'll Need:

• 8 ounce cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup ranch dip
• 1 cup shredded cheese of your choice (whatever you like best works for this)
• 1 teaspoon horseradish sauce (if using raw horseradish, use 1/2 teaspoon)
• 1/4 cup chopped/diced black olives
• 1 round bread loaf

Step by Step:

• Remove the center from bread loaf, leaving 1/2" thickness all the way around the sides, making a bowl out of the loaf.
• Combine cream cheese, sour cream, ranch dip, and horseradish sauce together until smooth (beat on medium in a mixer).
• Gently fold in the shredded cheese and black olives.
• Place inside the bread bowl, cover with foil and chill 1 hour.
• Serve with veggies, crackers or chips!