Some plants simply sit quietly on windowsills. The poinsettia? It demands the spotlight — bright, bold and as red as Rudolph"s nose. Long before it became a popular Christmas decoration, it grew wild in Mexico, where the Aztecs used its leaves for dyes and its sap for traditional remedies. In the 19th century, it travelled across continents as people admired its vivid colour during colder months, eventually finding its place in winter celebrations around the world.
Poinsettia: A winter classic
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
-
Mona Vale rockpool, Sydney, Australia
-
Lake Bled, Slovenia
-
Starling murmuration over the ruins of Brightons West Pier, England
-
Tree frog, Costa Rica
-
World Nature Conservation Day
-
Lago Pehoé, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
-
One rare streak
-
Praia das Catedrais, Galicia, Spain
-
Pacific sea nettles off the coast of Carmel, California, USA
-
Paradise Cave, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam
-
When being in a rut is OK
-
The other great barrier reef
-
World Environment Day
-
Just a couple of know-it-owls
-
Haghartsin Monastery, Armenia
-
Sea otters, Prince William Sound, Alaska, United States
-
Mount Fuji Day
-
A chocolate lovers favorite fruit
-
Art Installation of umbrellas, London, United Kingdom
-
Gateway to Latin America
-
‘The hills have a power to soothe and heal...’
-
Armbrug bridge, Amsterdam, Netherlands
-
Polar bear cub, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
-
How’s the air up there?
-
Fallow deer, Bradgate Park, Leicestershire, England
-
Palolem beach, Goa, India
-
A scented sea of purple
-
World Octopus Day
-
Male hooded merganser, Oregon, United States
-
Butterfly Beach in Canacona, South Goa
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

