Adios, Christmas poinsettia, but not just yet

This poinsettia was a gift from a neighbour in early December. After two months of solid blooming, I thought it was on the way out.

Since it had dropped most of its leaves, and many of the red bracts had shrivelled, I decided to put it outside, to make room for pots of spring hyacinths indoors.

The weather has been so mild that it doesn't seem bothered at all. These last bracts showed so velvety and beautiful in the dewy night that I had to take a picture.