La Plaza del Óvalo de Santa Paula, in LorcaIt has become one of the most representative spots of the Christmas atmosphere in the municipality these days. A striking tapestry has been laid out around the central fountain. Poinsettia flowers which combines red and gold tones, marking the start of the floral decoration campaign for the holidays.
This deployment is just the first step in a large poinsettia planting device The City Council has launched a project to fill the city, its neighborhoods, and outlying districts with color. The initiative, coordinated by the Parks and Gardens Department, relies on cultivating thousands of plants in the city's nurseries, a strategy that reinforces the project's local character and allows for significant cost savings.
A Christmas blanket around the Oval fountain
The heart of this initiative lies in the fountain in the Plaza del Óvalo de Santa Paula, where approximately 500 have been placed Poinsettia flowers in the traditional red and gold colors. These plants surround the central monument and frame the well-known Monument to the Processioner, which on this occasion is presented on a backdrop of snow-covered houses at its base, creating a scene very typical of this time of year.
As explained by the Councillor for Parks and Gardens, Antonio David Sanchez AlcarazThe extraordinary Christmas planting began precisely in this location, following the tradition of starting the city's floral decorations in the Plaza del Óvalo. The city's intention is that, in just a few days, the surroundings will faithfully reflect the Christmas spirit which they want to extend to the rest of the municipality.
During this first phase, the gardening teams have worked on the orderly placement of the flowerpotscombining different tones to achieve a balanced and striking visual effect. The result is a compact tapestry that embraces the fountain, in which the red and golden bracts of the Poinsettias, reinforcing the luminosity of the space along with the rest of the decorative elements already installed.
The view offered by the Oval, with the monument, the snow-covered houses, and the sea of flowers, has become one of the most photographed spots by locals and visitors, who find in this corner a clear reference point of the Christmas setting in LorcaIt is not just a simple planting, but a symbolic setting that marks the visual start of the festivities.
Meanwhile, work is being finalized on adaptation and maintenance of the remaining green areas so that the city as a whole maintains a coherent aesthetic. The Oval thus acts as a showcase for what the City Council intends to implement in other urban spaces in the following days.
6.100 Poinsettias grown in municipal nurseries
The floral decorations in Plaza del Óvalo and the rest of the municipality are based on months of prior work. La Torrecilla municipal nurseriesThis year, some 6.100 poinsettias have been grown there, planted in August and cared for until they reached the appropriate size, shape, and color for placement on the street.
The councillor for Parks and Gardens himself has explained that, although the summer brought a episode of intense heat that slowed growth Of the plants, the recent cold temperatures have been key in intensifying the poinsettias' color. This species It needs some cold. so that their bracts acquire that recognizable red color, and recent weather conditions have favored them now appearing at their best.
The nursery campaign's results are considered very positive. Municipal technicians highlight the achievements obtained. good-sized specimens, with robust stems and broad leavesThese qualities help the plants better withstand exposure to open spaces and remain in good condition throughout the Christmas period. Furthermore, the controlled height of the stems helps reduce wind damage, and the robust stems They are a clear advantage outdoors.
In numerical terms, production is distributed as follows: 4.500 red plants1.080 in a mottled pink tone and 520 of white or goldThis chromatic variety allows for playing with different combinations depending on the environment where they are placed, adapting the planting to the Christmas lighting and the decorative style of each square, avenue or roundabout.
The municipal cultivation system not only guarantees the availability of thousands of specimens at the optimal time, but also supports a advance planning throughout the Christmas season. By knowing in advance how many plants are available and of what variety, planting plans can be precisely designed for each prominent location in the municipality.
Economic savings and efficient management of public resources
One of the highlights of this initiative is the amount that the City Council manages to save by producing the poinsettias in their own nurseries. According to calculations offered by the councilor, the municipal investment in cuttings, substrate, fertilizers, pots and cultivation tasks is around 11.000 euros, well below what it would cost to acquire the 6.100 plants on the market.
The price of poinsettias typically increases as Christmas approaches. In retail stores, they can cost around three euros each, but you can also find them at lower prices. 6, 8, 12 euros or even moreDepending on the size and quality. If the City Council were to choose to buy them all, the cost would skyrocket; therefore, savings of over €25.000 are estimated compared to direct purchase.
This in-house production model reinforces a more sustainable management of municipal coffersby reducing costs without sacrificing the quality of the landscaping. On the contrary, those in charge emphasize that the results from the municipal nurseries offer high quality plants, perfectly adapted to the local climate and the type of ornamental use they will be given.
Beyond the economic savings, cultivation in La Torrecilla allows take advantage of the experience of the gardening staff and maintain close control over the entire process, from planting the cuttings until the poinsettias arrive in the plazas. This proximity makes it easier to adjust watering, fertilization, and care to the plants' actual needs at any given time.
The commitment to local poinsettia production also fits with an approach to resource optimization and medium-term planningwhich helps the municipality to maintain a broad and homogeneous Christmas decoration without placing a disproportionate economic burden on public accounts.
From the Oval Square to neighborhoods, outlying districts and senior centers
Once the planting in the Plaza del Óvalo was established, the gardening teams began the extension of the poinsettia blanket to other strategic points in the city. The next stop is Juan Carlos I Avenue, considered the main thoroughfare of Lorca, where numerous poinsettias will be placed in the planters and flowerbeds that line the route.
The decoration will be completed in squares such as the one in Concepción Sandoval, the one from Columbus and the historic garden of the Huerto Ruano mansionThese locations have become regular settings for Christmas decorations. There, the different colors will be combined according to the lighting and the other decorations installed, always aiming for a striking and harmonious result.
The plan is not limited to the city center. The main roundabouts, parks and green spaces in neighborhoods and outlying districts They too will receive their share of this Christmas tapestry. The aim is for the color of the poinsettias to reach the entire municipality in a balanced way, so that both residents of the town center and those in the outlying areas can enjoy the decorations.
Furthermore, a significant portion of the plants, especially those of red hue, is reserved to be distributed in senior centersThe idea is that these facilities can decorate their premises with poinsettias and that the people who live there feel closer to the festive atmosphere of the city, as a symbolic gesture of the affection of the residents of Lorca.
The planting program is organized in a few days through a large team of municipal gardenersThis allows the municipality's main areas to have a coordinated look in a short period of time. The speed of execution also ensures that the plants arrive fresh and in good condition at each location.
Tradition, symbolism and curiosities about the poinsettia
The presence of poinsettias in the Plaza del Óvalo connects Lorca with a Christmas tradition deeply rooted in many countriesespecially in Europe and America. The poinsettia, whose scientific name is Euphorbia pulcherrima, is native to Mexico, where it was known by the Aztecs as “cuetlaxochitl”, an expression that roughly translates as “bright flower”.
In the 16th century, the Franciscans who settled in Mexico began to use this plant for decorating churches during Christmas celebrationsas a substitute for holly, which was not available there. The intense red hue of its bracts was interpreted as a symbol of the blood of Christ, and the star-shaped form they formed resembled the Star of Bethlehem, making it a perfect element for the Advent and Christmas season.
Over time, the poinsettia gained international prominence. One of the milestones in its spread was the figure of Joel Roberts PoinsettAn American diplomat and botanist who, in the early 19th century, brought cuttings of the plant from Mexico to Charleston, South Carolina. From there, it began its spread to other parts of the United States and, later, to Europe.
In recognition of this role, in 1836 the plant was renamed Poinsettia, which is how it is known in many countries. Later, in 1991, the United States established the December 12th as Poinsettia DayThis date is dedicated to this ornamental species and its importance in Christmas celebrations. Although it is not an official commemoration in Spain, it is increasingly discussed in the gardening and decoration world.
Stories and legends related to the poinsettia also circulate in popular imagination. One of the best-known tells that Some children from a humble family brought a simple plant The story goes that the poinsettia was offered to the Christ Child in a nativity scene, and that God, moved by the gesture, turned the leaves red so that the offering would stand out among the others. This tale has reinforced the idea of the poinsettia as a symbol of generosity and simplicity during this time of year.
The combination of its symbolic value, its intense color, and its availability in different sizes and shades has made the The poinsettia is an almost indispensable protagonist. of the Christmas atmosphere in Spain and much of Europe. What can be seen these days in the Plaza del Óvalo in Lorca is, in a way, the local expression of a tradition that extends far beyond the borders of the municipality.
The initiative by Lorca City Council to cover the Plaza del Óvalo and other points in the municipality with a large tapestry of Poinsettias grown in municipal nurseries It combines aesthetics, tradition, and a commitment to the efficient management of public resources. The effort undertaken in La Torrecilla, with more than six thousand poinsettias produced and significant savings for the local coffers, results in a carefully curated Christmas display that reaches the city center, neighborhoods, outlying districts, and senior centers, solidifying the city's position as a regional leader in integrating urban gardening into the holiday season.
