How to Choose and Care for a Poinsettia, Amaryllis, The Good Neighbors Short Story, Giveaways

Traditional red poinsettia

Hello from Elves Headquarters. This little elf has been decorating the house for Christmas. Outdoor lights, Christmas tree, and Christmas plants. Nothing brings Christmas to life like a live Christmas plant. 

Red poinsettias are the traditional plant of the season, but so many other colors are now available including solid pinks and creams and combinations of those colors in one plant. 

How to Choose and Care for a Poinsettia

The former florist in me has a few tips for plant buyers:

• Please note the little yellow flowers in the center of the poinsettia in the picture above. Yes, those are the flowers, the red "petals" that are distinctive of the poinsettia are actually the bracts or leaves. Do not buy a poinsettia plant unless the center flowers are in it. The plant will last longer if the "flowers" are still there. 
• When bringing this beauty home, wrap it to protect the delicate flowers and leaves from the cold air.
• Place the plant in a brightly lighted room, not close to a cold window or near a hot fireplace or register.
• If you leave the foil on the pot, poke a hole in the foil on the bottom of the plant so water will drain through. If the water collects in the foil, the plant will be over-watered and die.
• Feel the soil before watering. If it's dry, water it. Place a saucer under the plant to catch any water that may flow through the hole in the bottom. Don't let the it sit in water for hours, so dump the excess water out of the saucer after an hour.
• In Florida, after Christmas,  we can plant the poinsettia outdoors after the threat of frost is over. All those years in Michigan we struggled to grow poinsettias in pots, but in Florida they grow like bushes as tall as a man.
• If you are in a colder climate and you want to keep your plant for next year, there is a way to do it, but you have to plan ahead to have a poinsettia turn red in time for Christmas. The hours of daylight are key to the turning. Here's a good article on how to do this  turning-poinsettias-red-again/

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Amaryllis

We always have a poinsettia for Christmas, and this year we have re-instituted the tradition of growing an amaryllis. When the kids were growing up, we always had an amaryllis. Kids love watching them grow. 

This thick-stemmed flower graces a home with wonder and awe when watching it stretch its long stem elevating the bud above the pot. The lily-like flower opens into a large blossom and stands tall in all its glory.

Red Amaryllis
Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net by By franky242

I am amazed every year at this miracle. From a dry bulb to an elegant, graceful bloom. It reminds me of the wonder and miracle of Baby Jesus birth at Christmas. 

I have taken pictures to give you an idea of how quickly this plant grows. I'll update you when "Amy" blooms in all her true beauty. Yes, the amaryllis is always named Amy.

Taken the day after Thanksgiving November 28 breaking out of the bulb.

Taken December 3

Taken December 6 shooting up in the air growing almost an inch a day!

Just a few Merry Christmas tips for you. I hope they help. What do you think of poinsettias that are not the traditional red color? Leave a comment below. We love to hear from you.

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Speaking of Christmas. Check out my Christmas short story based on characters in my novella, Sunshine Boulevard.

Short Story
The Good Neighbors by J.Q. Rose

Jim and Gloria Hart, snowbirds from Michigan, always help out the neighbors in their Florida retirement community when asked. Who knew being good could turn out to be so bad?

Review from Conda Douglas
Delightful Short Story--I wouldn't have believed that a retirement community in Florida would be a fascinating setting, with intriguing and fun characters. But J.Q. Rose's short story delivers exactly that--I also believe it is an excellent taste of her mystery novel, Sunshine Boulevard, with the same setting and characters, and if so, I'm certainly off to read Sunshine Boulevard! More, please. 

The Good Neighbors is available at Amazon for 99 cents!

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PS--Sunshine Boulevard was chosen to be bundled together with three other mysteries from MuseItUp Publishing. The bundle of books is called, Sirens on Death, Starke Boulevard. A lot of great reading for only $1.99. Hurry and get yours at MuseItUpPublishing, amazon and major online booksellers.

This Week:

Thursday, December 11--Humorous suspense author Kathy McIntosh shares her writing tips on editing and more on the Romance and Mystery Authors on Writing series. Kathy is generously donating an ebook copy and audio book of her first book, Mustard's Last Stand, in the Havoc in Hancock humorous suspense series for door prizes. Two winners!

Enter to win prizes through December 13!

12 Lucky Holiday Winners 

from MuseItUp Publishing

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Holiday Short Story--The Good Neighbors--Excerpt and Giveaway!

Delightful holiday short story

Jim and Gloria Hart, snowbirds from Michigan, always help out the neighbors in their Florida retirement community when asked. Who knew being good could turn out to be so bad?

This delightful holiday short story will tickle your funny bone and question the idea of being good during the warmth and good cheer of the holiday season.

Review from Amazon

4.0 out of 5 stars Delightful short story, December 7, 2012

By 

Conda V. Douglas - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: The Good Neighbors (Kindle Edition)

I wouldn't have believed that a retirement community in Florida would be a fascinating setting, with intriguing and fun characters. But J.Q. Rose's short story delivers exactly that--I also believe it is an excellent taste of her mystery novel, Sunshine Boulevard, with the same setting and characters, and if so, I'm certainly off to read Sunshine Boulevard! More, please.

Excerpt:

A booming megaphone voice jarred the unsuspecting couple. “This is the police. Come out of the shed, Mr. and Mrs. Hart. Come out now with your hands up.”

Jim dropped his screwdriver and jumped away from the door. Gloria ran over to cling to him. What in the world is happening?

“Jim?” Tears welled up in Gloria’s eyes. Her heart felt as if it were going to pound out of her chest.

The front door of the shed ripped open and two policemen stood aiming their weapons at the frightened couple. At the same time two armed policemen wielding their guns burst through the already broken back door.

“Put your hands up and walk this way,” one policeman demanded. Gloria and Jim’s arms shot up in the air, and they started moving quickly toward the carport and out into the driveway.

“Officer, what is it? What’s happening?”

“Please don’t talk now, Mrs. Hart.”

Escorted by the policemen, Gloria shuffled out onto the driveway holding her hands high above her head. She saw a line of police cars up and down her street. I don’t see our first responders or firemen among them, so I guess there is no emergency. Against the backdrop of outdoor Christmas decorations, curious neighbors stood in driveways and yards up and down the block.

“Just co-operate fully with us. Okay, lay face down on the grass.” He motioned to the side yard.

“But, Officer, ….”

“Face down now, Mrs. Hart.” Gloria saw one of the policemen train his rifle on her, so she dropped to the grass immediately next to the candy canes lining the driveway and spread-eagled on the lawn.

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What is your favorite Christmas story or movie? Leave a comment to win a free PDF copy of The Good Neighbors. 

If you can't wait until Friday to find out if you won, you can buy The Good Neighbors short story for 99 cents at amazon.  All royalties from the sale of the story will support local food pantries. 

Humorous Holiday Short Story, The Good Neighbors by J.Q. Rose

T'is the season! 

Snowbirds Jim and Gloria Hart, main characters in my mystery novella, Sunshine Boulevard, have a Christmas story for you.  The action takes place in Florida's Citrus Ridge Senior Retirement Resort. Action in a retirement resort? Read this fun story, just right for a lunch break, and find out.

Humorous holiday short story set in Florida

Jim and Gloria Hart, snowbirds from Michigan, always help out the neighbors in their Florida retirement community when asked. Who knew being good could turn out to be so bad?

This delightful holiday short story will tickle your funny bone and question the idea of being good during the warmth and good cheer of the holiday season.

Here's what readers are saying:

 I disturbed the peace at Wendy's because I was laughing so hard reading this while I had lunch today. It's another great waiting room read--the kind of short-story you can devour along with a quick burger or while waiting to see the doctor. But try not to laugh too loudly unless you want to tell people what you're reading. On second thought, go ahead. Laugh out loud. Don't be afraid to let people know how much you're enjoying Ms. Rose's writing. Isn't a good hearty laugh in the middle of Wendy's a great recommendation for a book? 

5 stars Rochelle Weber

I wouldn't have believed that a retirement community in Florida would be a fascinating setting, with intriguing and fun characters. But J.Q. Rose's short story delivers exactly that--I also believe it is an excellent taste of her mystery novel, Sunshine Boulevard, with the same setting and characters, and if so, I'm certainly off to read Sunshine Boulevard! More, please. 4 stars Conda Douglas

Buy The Good Neighbors short story now for 99 cents at amazon.com.  

All royalties from the sale of the story support local food pantries. 

Mysterious deaths upset the Florida retirement community interfering with their seasonal activities and turning up more than dead bodies.

Reviews for Sunshine Boulevard:

What a page turner and full of surprises! I couldn't put this book down.

 Roseanne Dowell, author Stranger on the Shore

This story blends humor with mystery and death very cleverly, making it a book I had to keep reading. Even after I found out the answer to the above question, I was still hooked and had to read on to find out what happened next.  Sue Perkins,  Sue’s Book Reviews

Buy Links for Sunshine Boulevard

Muse It Up Publishing Bookstore

Amazon.com 

bn.com