by Isabel, age 9 from Santa Barbara, California, asks Santa about Christmas berries, the city’s Spanish mission history, and California’s native plants.
Dear Santa, my name is Isabel, and I am nine years old. I live in Santa Barbara, California, where my mom says the mountains behind our house turn a beautiful purple color right around sunset every evening.
Dear Isabel, those purple mountains are one of my favorite views flying into California, your mom described the sight perfectly.
Santa, I have three questions.
What is a Christmas berry? My teacher showed us a plant with bright red berries and called it that.
That plant is called toyon, Isabel, a California native shrub that grows bright red berries right around this time of year, which is exactly why people started calling it the Christmas berry. Some old stories even say it helped inspire the name Hollywood, though historians still debate that particular detail.
My mom says our city is named after a real historical saint and has old Spanish missions nearby. Is that true?
It is true, Isabel, Santa Barbara takes its name from an early Spanish mission built centuries ago, and that mission still stands today as an important piece of California history. I always enjoy that graceful old architecture on my way to your rooftop.
My teacher says California has more native plants found nowhere else than almost any other state. Is that true?
It is true, Isabel, California is home to an extraordinary number of native plants, including your very own Christmas berry, found in very few other places on Earth. That kind of natural diversity is something worth appreciating and protecting, Christmas and every day after.
Merry Christmas, Santa.
Your friend,
Isabel Reyes
Santa Barbara, California
P.S. Can you bring a sprig of Christmas berry for our table this year?
I will ask the elves to gather some carefully, Isabel, that plant deserves gentle handling.
