La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
Sunday, I read it was the final day of an exhibit held by the Bonsai Association of Córdoba. It closed in less than two hours and I decided I was not going to miss it, so I hustled over.
The exhibit was held in the Oratory of San Felipe Neri, a 17th century oratory (an exhibit space since 2011) that was created from the former church within the 16th-century Venegas de Henestrosa Palace. Of course I took nearly 100 photos. I won’t share them all and I’ll offer them up in smallish servings. I have attempted bonsai a number of times. I ended up with many beautiful empty pots. It requires more time and attention than I’ve been willing to give. I’ll just enjoy what a see.
On my way to the exhibit I saw a number of women and girls in traditional dress. When I was done, I followed the crowds to Plaza de las Tendillas for the closing of the dance academy competition of the Crosses of May. That was fun. I learned afterward that I missed the parade of the dance academies that took place an hour earlier. But I was busy with the bonsai at that time.
For me, some of the best performances were those by participants either practicing before they were to go up on stage or unwinding to the music of another group. I tried to share a video of a couple practicing while a group performed on stage, but music copyright blocked it from being posted at all. Today’s video, which shows part of the competition as well as a woman in costume teaching someone else the moves, is blocked in some countries. I don’t know which. Sorry. I tried.
I’m about to hang laundry and need to get out and buy lightbulbs today. Our kitchen has 6 lights (three under counter, two of which need recharging). Of the four overhead lights, three bulbs are dead. Two ceiling lights are recessed, and one is in a hanging lamp. Of course, the bulbs are different and can’t be found just anywhere. We even have five different types of recessed lights in the apartment. How many Spaniards does it take to screw in a light bulb? Juan.
We have a bank in the States (in South Dakota, because SG’s sister could help us with banking initially). SG is the one who deals with them and it’s not always easy. In following up on some of the bureaucratic work we accomplished last week, SG is to send info regarding that bank account (which is in both our names). None of the online documents show anything but SG’s name. So he has to phone the bank this afternoon (it’s 7 hours earlier there). Every call takes all his patience. It’s a good thing his patience replenishes (although it no longer replenishes completely).
El domingo leí que era el último día de una exposición organizada por la Asociación de Bonsáis de Córdoba. Cerraba en menos de dos horas y decidí que no me la iba a perder, así que corrí
La exposición tuvo lugar en el Oratorio de San Felipe Neri, un oratorio del siglo XVII (espacio de exposiciones desde 2011) creado a partir de la antigua iglesia del Palacio Venegas de Henestrosa, del siglo XVI. Por supuesto, saqué casi 100 fotos. No las compartiré todas y las iré mostrando poco a poco. He intentado cultivar bonsáis varias veces. Al final, terminé con muchas macetas vacías preciosas. Requiere más tiempo y atención de la que he estado dispuesto a dedicarle. Simplemente disfrutaré de lo que vea.
De camino a la exposición vi a varias mujeres y niñas con trajes tradicionales. Así que, al terminar, seguí a la multitud hasta la Plaza de las Tendillas para la clausura del concurso de danza de las Cruces de Mayo. Fue divertido. Después me enteré de que me había perdido el desfile de las academias de danza que tuvo lugar una hora antes. Pero en ese momento estaba ocupada con los bonsáis.
Para mí, algunas de las mejores actuaciones fueron las de los participantes que practicaban antes de subir al escenario o que se relajaban al ritmo de la música de otro grupo. Intenté compartir un vídeo de una pareja practicando mientras un grupo actuaba, pero los derechos de autor de la música impidieron su publicación. El vídeo de hoy, que muestra parte de la competición y a una mujer disfrazada enseñando los pasos a otra persona, está bloqueado en algunos países. No sé en cuáles. Lo siento. Lo intenté.
Estoy a punto de tender la ropa y necesito salir a comprar bombillas hoy. Nuestra cocina tiene 6 luces (tres bajo la encimera, dos de las cuales necesitan recargarse). De las cuatro luces del techo, tres bombillas están fundidas. Dos de las luces del techo son empotradas y una es una lámpara colgante. Claro, las bombillas son diferentes y no se encuentran en cualquier sitio. Incluso tenemos cinco tipos diferentes de luces empotradas en el piso. ¿Cuántos españoles hacen falta para cambiar una bombilla? Juan.
Tenemos una cuenta bancaria en Estados Unidos (en Dakota del Sur, porque la hermana de SG nos ayudó con los trámites bancarios al principio). SG es quien se encarga de ellos y no siempre es fácil. Para dar seguimiento a algunos trámites burocráticos que hicimos la semana pasada, SG tiene que enviar información sobre esa cuenta bancaria (que está a nombre de los dos). Ninguno de los documentos en línea muestra nada más que el nombre de SG. Así que tiene que llamar al banco esta tarde (allí son 7 horas menos). Cada llamada le exige toda su paciencia. Es bueno que su paciencia se recupere (aunque ya no se recupera por completo).
Gorgeous bonsai.
They used to have a show every year in Coconut Grove and one year Carlos bought a bonsai. It’s still alive 20 years later but it’s hard to manage and keep them smallish so our Bonsai is not in a giant pot and the plants stands three feet tall!
Bob:
Yep, that’s what happened to one of my bonsai. We moved too often for me to have the plant for 20 years, but it was a ficus (banyan fig) and would be 30 feet tall by now.
Glad you were able to see it
David:
So am I. And just in time, too.
I love bonsai but yes, what an incredible amount of work and watering to maintain them at their peak. Very time and labour intensive. Bonsai is not so much an art as a lifestyle, LOL! You don’t get a day off! I’d love to see a beautiful show like that, it’s been a few years since I have.
And I enjoyed the dance video too! The practising as well as the performance on stage!
Debra:
The show surprised me. Such dedication.
The bonsai tree show looks interesting — I had no idea there were different varieties. The closest I’ve ever been to a bonsai tree was the plastic one on top of our TV in the’70’s which looked very much like the one in your first photo, LOL!
Tundra Bunny:
It’s astounding how many different plants and trees can be trained this way. I take it you didn’t inherit your family’s bonsai?
The bonsai are amazing. I can’t even keep normal plants alive, so I can’t imagine this.
Kelly:
I’m good with plants, but bonsai took more than I had. They require so much attention. Every time I see one I want it.
I wish I could have tagged along with you to the bonsai exhibit. I like the concept of caring for these plants and taking them into a new realm of growth/or lack of.
before we moved from our extensive garden to an apartment where we have a balcony/and access to common gardens, I wanted to bring some of our home garden to out new place. So three years ago I started about 8 bonsai plants……..all different plants.
By the time we moved I was down to 4.
After two winters here I am down to one/a Small-Leafed Linden tree. As it sits on our balcony, after spending the winter in a shed, it is alive and I am crossing my fingers.
as a few said above in comments growing bonsai can be a challenge. I will persist.
Jim:
Yes growing bonsai is a lot of work. (Hence the title: Make 100, keep 3)
The video is not blocked where I am. I too found the woman teaching the other women the dance entertaining. It helps that I could see the expressions on their faces, unlike those on the stage.
Kirk:
I wish I could share the other dance practice video. A mentor and her younger mentee. Exceptional.
My one try at bonsai was sabotaged by my dog who was furious that I wasn’t paying as much attention to him, and ate it. I’m not so sure I like that degree of interference in nature nowadays. But that could be (tiny pruned) sour grapes. Boud
Boud:
Your dog sounds like he had a lot of personality. Bonsai sour grapes!
Bonsai?
Sign me up! These are absolutely gorgeous and probably incredibly expensive. VERY labor intensive.
Love me a good folklórica!
XOXO
Sixpence:
There was one bonsai for sale on a front table. Nice, but not as impressive (or mature) as what was on display. €80 and probably considered a bargain.
Bonsai are, in my experience, hard to keep alive. They are amazing though especially the really old ones. Back when I was a member of the garden club here they had someone from the bonsai association do a program about how to start, the different forms, etc. It was interesting but needs dedication. The video worked for me.
ellen abbott:
I don’t know who the video hasn’t worked for yet. It appears to work in Spain, England, and the States. I studied bonsai at one time and really wanted to do it, but it required much more attention and time than I wanted to give.
ellen abbott,
Yep. That’s my experience, too. So I’ve given up.
I also admire bonsai, but I wouldn’t want to attempt it myself. As much as I love plants, it’s against my nature to so tightly control a plant. I want them to grow into whatever they want. I don’t even like to prune them!
Steve:
Well, we’ve all seen your gardens! I’m a pruner. I love to prune. No surprise given my anal retentiveness. However, I’ve never done intricately (brutally) shaped topiary. I like my obsessive unnatural pruning to look more natural.
Steve,
This is so not you. You’d rescue a mature one and then transplant it so it had room to grow.