That exquisite poinsettia you

That exquisite poinsettia you give or receive each Christmas - the one that doesn’t come with care instructions - doesn’t need to shrivel up and die weeks into the new year. With a bit of knowledge and a little care, this year’s gift poinsettia can last for many holiday seasons to come. A little knowledge The most colorful part of the poinsettia is its leaves. While small flowers do bloom at the base of the plant’s uppermost leaves, the poinsettia’s brilliant red, pink or white coloring is actually a resjlt of the amount of darkness, not light, the plant receives during the fall and early winter. A little care The first step to insure a long, healthy life for your poinsettia after the holiday season ends is to place it in a light, cool area, away from radiators and home appliances that generate heat. The soil should be moist, but not soaked, and should be allowed to dry completely between waterings. And be sure to remove the decorative foil from the outside of the pot as-soon as possible after the holidays. Time to repot While they will flourish well through the holidays, most poinsettias are potted for greenhouse conditions, not the home environment. So take a tip from the home gardening expert at Garden Scene, and be sure to repot your poinsettia before the end of the winter. When you repot, be wise. Select a planter that is versatile enough to adapt to any room decor and durable enough to withstand outdoor conditions during the summer. Garden Scene plastic planters are made to endure all seasons - inNot a day passes over the earth, but men and women of no note do great deeds, speak great words and suffer noble sorrows. Charles Reade What is true by lamplight is not always true in the sunshine.

Real Estate f=> Eileen M. Day realtor DECIPHERING ZONING MAP If you are looking for a new home in a new area, it is possible that you have secured a zoning map of the town. The problem is — if you are not in the business of building or selling real estate, the zoning code numbers and abbreviations will make the map just about meaningless. Here’s a quick course. The general zoning abbreviations are usually “R” for residential, “C” or “B” for commercial/business, “I” or “M” for industrial/manufacturing, and “A” for agricultural. Each of these classifications have subgroupings. For example, “R-l” for single family residential; “R-2” for two-family houses; “R3” for larger apartment buildings. Similarly, “M-l” may stand for light industrial use and “M-2” may refer to heavy industrial use. Zoning regulations and classifications protect your buying interests. If you’re purchasing a singlefamily home, you probably want to be reassured that a factory or shopping center isn’t going to go up next door. If there is anything we can do to help you in the field of real estate, please phone or drop in at EILEEN M. DAY, Realtor, The Clopton House, Washington, Va. 22747. Phone: 675-3400. We’re here to help.