In December, the highland boasts the coolness of late autumn and the splendor of early spring. In the Southern Madre Mountains, red flowers spread across the undulating hills, painting them in a blood-red hue. These are the native red poinsettia and hibiscus flowers, the former exuding a strong fragrance, the latter having tangy petals. From the Cloud Mountain Valley to the Oaxaca Valley, clusters of white flowers bloom in the low valleys, white with a touch of yellow like sunlight. These are the common daisies and ginger flowers, symbolizing hope and purification, respectively.
"Blessed be the Chief Divine! This season in the Land Amidst the Clouds, without war, would be a beautiful autumn mountain scene, vibrant in 'red and white'!...But now, what I see in 'red and white' is the death of a splendid view..."
