Host/Hostess Gifts Galore

I went shopping today for something to take a hostess for Thanksgiving dinner, and the choice wasn’t easy at all.

Christmas Cactus come in a lot of great colors, and they’re just unusual enough, I think.

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Orchids are increasingly popular and some can handle low light and the care of beginners. Phalaenopsis is a great choice.

My favorite Poinsettias are the unusual ones, like this one called Winter Rose. A horticulturist friend in New York posted about them today on Facebook, declaring that “I believe it holds its red bracts the longest.” She goes on to defend Poinsettias as a great as “NOT POISONOUS! Please tell all our animal loving friends… Intensive evidence (and my cats) state: Poinsettias not poisonous. It was a myth. (Lilies, yes, very very toxic.)”

These arrangements are specially made for Thanksgiving, so feature fall colors.

A fabulous gift for early winter are Amaryllis and Paperwhites, either individually or nicely boxed-up with soil and a pot.

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Paperwhites are also available already blooming. Famously fragrant.

And the winner is….Cyclamen! They’re just so beautiful, and the right height for a centerpiece.

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Posted by Susan Harris.

Stephanie Fleming

Stephanie Fleming was raised at Behnke’s Nurseries in Beltsville. Her Mom, Sonja, was one of Albert & Rose Behnke’s four children. She was weeding from the moment she could walk and hiding as soon as she was old enough to run, so many weeds, so little time. Although she quickly learned how to pull out a perennial and get taken off of weed pulling duty.