Poinsettia Festival: A Christmas delight
By Judy Finkbeiner Johnson
The holiday season trumpets its arrival with a much-loved tradition for area residents and those much further away who make their way to Huron Ridge Greenhouses near Zurich for its annual Poinsettia Festival.
Starting Nov. 12 and running through to Dec. 5, people make the pilgrimage to enjoy the magical experience. Regular hours for this free event are Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. During the festival, hours are extended until 9 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for visitors to explore the greenhouse by candlelight; Huron Ridge is closed on Sundays.
Attracting hundreds of visitors every year, the festival began decades ago as a sparkle in Carol Steckle’s eye. Carol and her husband Dave founded their multi-generational business more than half a century ago. Today, the legacy continues with three generations working at Huron Ridge with its more than 6,500 square metres of greenhouses and outdoor acreage to grow plants for all seasons.
The family may have “green thumbs,” but there is much more in their extensive skills sets: their daughter Sandra Steckle Regier is part of the management team, their son Kevin and his wife Lorraine are co-owners, and grandchildren also work in the family business.
During the festival, visitors can enjoy breathtaking displays of more than 20 different varieties of poinsettias. Some are traditional shades of red, pink, and white. Most are hybrids propagated in South America, coming to Niagara for agricultural compliance, and grown from root stock at Huron Ridge. Visitors wonder at the colours of the hybrids, like Autumn Leaf with its orange/golden/tan hues. There are intense shades of poinsettias, pastel and brilliant pinks, and different tones of red and many other colours. Some hybrids come in patterns, like marble. Northern Lights poinsettias are coloured by spray-on air compression plant-friendly paints in mauve, blue, and pink, then sparkled with silver sprinkles on creamy white leaves. Some poinsettias look like roses in full bloom, others have variegated green leaves, and several varieties burst with white accents on crimson or deep pink backgrounds.
Evenings are extra-special, with the greenhouse lit by candles from 5 p.m., and seasonal music playing in the background. The atmosphere is tranquil as visitors leisurely savour the colourful sights and peaceful ambiance. On Customer Appreciation Evenings, which are being held Dec. 3, 4, and 5, one evening will feature a harpist group, another a ukulele ensemble, and the third, hot apple cider and popcorn.
The magical experience of the Poinsettia Festival begins much earlier, in late September. Until then, the greenhouses are a monochromatic sea of green leaves.
“When the season changes to fall, and the light changes, the poinsettias begin to set their colours,” said Sandra Steckle Regier. “Any artificial lights, including streetlights, inhibit the process, which is why a rural setting like ours works well.”
By early November, the morph is complete, in time for the opening of the Poinsettia Festival and shipping plants to fundraising organizations.
Huron Ridge partners with dozens of organizations throughout the entire region, including schools, minor athletics, and service clubs for fundraising efforts that benefit many communities.
There are photo ops galore, with themed-decorated Christmas trees and arrangements, indoor and outdoor seasonal décor items, an early-1900s sleigh right out of a vintage Currier and Ives Christmas card, and a miniature train making the rounds on its platform in the décor room.
A wide variety of poinsettias are available in sizes of pots about a couple of inches across to large containers with multiple poinsettias for a dramatic statement. The small ones are popular for table favours and gifts for smaller spaces, like rooms in long-term care residences.
Young and old, groups of friends or family, couples, or solo, there are smiles everywhere as people kick-start the joys of the Christmas season. Whatever the reason, whether simply enjoying the outing, shopping for gifts, or decorating for home or office, for many people the festival is a tradition, with its celebration of those plant divas of the holiday season, the brilliant poinsettias.
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