Don’t stand so / No estés tan

La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.

THERE’S A PARTICULAR SONG THAT should play whenever I water or trim the cacti and succulents. San Geraldo asks me every time, “Why don’t you put on a long-sleeved shirt. And wear gloves!” I tell him every time he’s right. And then I don’t do it. I had no idea even photography could be such a dangerous activity. Today’s photos are in the currently hazy light this week in our front hall.

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HAY UNA CANCIÓN EN PARTICULAR que debería sonar cada vez que riego o recorte los cactus y las suculentas. San Geraldo siempre me pregunta: “¿Por qué no te pones una camisa de manga larga? ¡Y use guantes! ” Le digo cada vez que tiene razón. Y luego no lo hago. No tenía ni idea de que incluso la fotografía pudiera ser una actividad tan peligrosa. Las fotos de hoy están en la luz nebulosa de esta semana en nuestro vestíbulo.

• This is a type of euphorbia. Dudo and Moose regularly rub themselves against many of the cacti. If they can do it, why can’t I?
• Este es un tipo de euforbia. Dudo y Moose se frotan regularmente contra muchos de los cactus. Si pueden hacerlo, ¿por qué yo no?
• No pricks here, but just try and plant the droppings at the base of the euphorbia.
• No hay pinchazos aquí, pero solo intenta plantar los excrementos en la base de la euforbia.
• No thorns but the tips are deadly. Maybe that’s why it’s called a cylindrical African Spear (sansevieria cylindrica). You could poke an eye out!
• Sin espinas, pero las puntas son mortales. Quizás por eso se le llama lanza africana cilíndrica (sansevieria cylindrica). ¡Podrías sacar un ojo!
• The dracaena was burned last summer and I had to cut it down to its trunks. It’s thriving this summer with the additional window shade.
• La drácena se quemó el verano pasado y tuve que cortarla hasta los troncos. Está prosperando este verano con el estor enrollable addicional.
• The dracaena is gentle. But the aloe vera sneaks up on me.
• La dracaena es suave. Pero el aloe vera se me acerca sigilosamente.

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Author: Moving with Mitchell

From Brooklyn, New York; to North Massapequa; back to Brooklyn; Brockport, New York; back to Brooklyn... To Boston, Massachusetts, where I met Jerry... To Marina del Rey, California; Washington, DC; New Haven and Guilford, Connecticut; San Diego, San Francisco, Palm Springs, and Santa Barbara, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; Irvine, California; Sevilla, Spain. And Fuengirola, Málaga..

32 thoughts on “Don’t stand so / No estés tan”

  1. You sure no how to inhibit invaders to your abode. You need a door sign saying, Pricks Inside, too! No need to mention they are on your balcony.

  2. I have a love hate relationship with Cactus. I like some and find many very odd looking. I think I like succulents more. That first picture gives me the willies….looks like a bunch of worms invading. And if it’s gloves you need, well…. I can send those!!! I have tons of gloves…ask Deedles!

    1. Mads! I was thinking the same thing about that wormy plant. I actually thought alien worms from some old science fiction movie. Pam Demic’s gloves hold a special place in my heart. They’ll also hold a special place in my new home if I can figure out which box they’re in 🙂

      1. Deedles:
        Those are actually five wormy plants in a row, so maybe not so wormy. (Nah, they’re still wormy.)

    2. Mistress Borghese:
      I need gloves that go up to my shoulders. I found some online. You might even like them.

      1. Shoulder length gloves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh oh yes!

  3. Oh, dear, dear Scoot. Sigh. Well at least the Aloe plant can wound and heal at the same time. You may have to cut a bitch, I mean plant, though.

  4. Tell me about it. Living in New Mexico everything is out to stab prick cut or puncture your skin. Goat heads AKA a puncture vine, prickly pear, Spanish daggers, Choya, 500 different kinds of weeds, even the junipers. At least you can run around the beach barefoot. Not anywhere in New Mexico.

    1. Frank:
      Oh those jumping choya! I have a terrible reaction to junipers. We had them in Connecticut. And, yes, barefoot on the beach!

  5. Mistress Maddie, Deedles and I must be on the same wavelength about that first plant cuz it sure gave me the willies too! If Pam Demic can’t send you any of her beautifully adorned gloves, may I suggest you get a pair of veterinary gloves? They’ll provide you with protection up to your shoulders, LOL!

    1. Tundra Bunny:
      The first plant isn’t as creepy in person when you see that it’s actually five separate pots. It gets delicate flowers, too. I don’t know if full length veterinary gloves would stand up to the pricks. I found some great stuff online I hope to share today.

  6. We have a couple of holly trees, one pruned into a ten-foot tall column, and one trimmed more into a standard tree shape, as well as along holly head at the rear of the house and Carlos always tells me about sleeves and gloves when I prune them, and I always say No, and I always shred my fingers and arms.
    My mother was right: I will never learn!

    1. Bob:
      We had holly in Connecticut and I of course was destroyed every time I went near it.

    1. mcpersonalspace54:
      Cacti and succulents are often so other-worldly looking. We love them.

  7. If you think you’re going to take care of those plants without long sleeves and gloves, then you’ve got another think coming, old girl (I’m channeling Mother. I heard it at least once a week about any little thing I was going to do.).

    Love,
    Janie

  8. Now what prevents that very tall euphorbia from falling over?
    For the first time we have put our Crown of Thorns outside for the summer. It appears to LOVE it.

    1. Jim:
      I hadn’t thought about the euphorbia falling over! I just checked it out. It had been standing away from the wall but now it touches the wall. The thorns are grabbing the stucco! Our two planters filled with crown of thorns have been cut down to nothing once. They go nuts out there.

  9. We recently inherited a very leggy dracena from our neighbor who moved. Ken read about it and started cutting it back, hoping to root the cuttings. Your’s looks great. I’ll try to keep you posted on our progress.

    1. Walt the Fourth:
      The dracena is one of the first plants we bought in Sevilla and the only one remaining. I’ve always had them. They root easily and thrive after being cut back. I hope you have good luck with yours. Ours is happy once again now that it’s protected from the afternoon August sun.

    1. David:
      We love pointy plants… except when they have to be transplanted. And two big ones are overdue. I might need a hazmat suit.

    1. Urspo:
      I use towels to wrap cacti when I transplant them, but I’m not sure where I’d put the towel when I’m watering. Do I wrap myself in it?

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