Back when I thought my trajectory would change, I went back to school. I was leaving teaching behind to follow my passion for plants. In my second semester at community college, I took a special projects class. Our project–raise poinsettias. I had never thought of all the colors and variations of poinsettias until I saw thousands of baby plugs spread across the campus greenhouse. We measured and monitored and reared our precious charges. I raised Monet Red, Cinnamon Star, and Jubilee Jingle Bells. But they were just three of over 50 varieties in the greenhouses. Once they were finished, the plants were sold at the farmers market at the school’s winter sale. Now, while I finished my horticulture degree at a different school, I will always look at poinsettias differently–this time with more love.