4 December: Fir trees

In the French Revolutionary Calendar today is the Day of the Fir tree. 10 things you might not know about fir trees:

1. There are around 60 species of fir tree. They belong to the family Pinaceae and the Genus Abies. They are close relatives of the cedars.
2. The genus name is derived from the Latin "to rise", because they are tall trees, reaching heights of 10–80 m (33–262 ft).
3. The Douglas fir isn't technically a fir tree at all because it belongs to the genus Pseudotsuga, which means "false hemlock", because it isn't a hemlock, either. Here are a couple of facts about them anyway. The Douglas fir was named after David Douglas, a Scottish botanist who first studied it. Its leaves can be used to make pine needle tea, which has a citrussy flavour; they can also be used as a substitute for the herb Rosemary. According to Native American myth, the unusual pointed cone bracts of this tree are the hind legs and tails of mice who would hide in the cones to escape forest fires.
4. Firs typically prefer cool and moist environments. They are found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, mostly in mountainous areas.
5. Fir cones stand upright on the branches rather like candles, and disintegrate at maturity to release the winged seeds. Some species are popular as decorative garden trees, especially the Korean fir and Fraser fir, because they produce brightly coloured cones.
6. Fir wood, after logging, isn't very resistant to decay or pests, so the wood isn't suitable for use outdoors. It can be used for construction indoors where it's sheltered from the elements but outside it wouldn't last more than about 18 months. Fir wood is often used as pulp for plywood or Paper.
7. The Cherokee used Fraser fir resin as a dressing for fresh wounds, and also as a seasoning for other medicines.
8. In Ayurveda, Abies spectabilis is used as a cough suppressant.
9. Many firs are an important food source for caterpillars. Abies religiosa, or sacred fir, is the overwinter host for the monarch butterfly.

10. The best known use of a fir tree, however, is as a Christmas Tree. The

11. Nordmann fir, noble fir, Fraser fir and balsam fir are popular as Christmas trees. The Fraser fir has a strong scent while the Nordmann fir is popular because it holds on to its leaves and has a more subtle scent. Nordmann Firs are the most popular Christmas tree variety in Denmark and also a favourite in the UK.

A Very Variant Christmas

Last year, Jade and Gloria were embroiled in a bitter conflict to win back their throne and their ancestral home. This year, Queen Jade and Princess Gloria want to host the biggest and best Christmas party ever in their palace. They invite all their friends to come and bring guests. Not even the birth of Jade's heir just before Christmas will stop them.

The guest list includes most of Britain's complement of super-powered crime-fighters, their families and friends. What could possibly go wrong?

Gatecrashers, unexpected arrivals, exploding Christmas crackers and a kidnapping, for starters.

Far away in space, the Constellations, a cosmic peacekeeping force, have suffered a tragic loss. They need to recruit a new member to replace their dead colleague. The two top candidates are both at Jade and Gloria's party. The arrival of the recruitment delegation on Christmas Eve is a surprise for everyone; but their visit means one guest now faces a life-changing decision.

Meanwhile, an alliance of the enemies of various guests at the party has infiltrated the palace; they hide in the dungeon, plotting how best to get rid of the crime-fighters and the royal family once and for all. Problem is, they all have their own agendas and differences of opinion on how to achieve their aims.

Not to mention that this year, the ghosts who walk the corridors of the palace on Christmas Eve will be as surprised by the living as the living are by them.

Themes 

Christmas; superheroes; reunions; parties; life choices; shocking surprises; mistaken identity; kidnap and rescue.

Reasons not to read it

• It's a bit short. You could probably read it in one sitting.
• Most of the action takes place at a Christmas party. In a palace.
• It's all about Christmas but there doesn't seem to be a schmaltzy moral message.
• There are a couple of babies and some small children in it - and one nearly gets eaten.
• Santa appears in it, but he isn't really Santa.
• Superheroes. Again.
• Not to mention a whole bunch of super-villains. Again all new ones and not the ones we know from Marvel or DC.

Available from Amazon and Amazon Kindle