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Crimes Against Nature (VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED)

8/21/2014

 
Recently, my mom was in Home Depot, where she spied something truly horrific--something no human being, and certainly no lover of succulents, should ever have to witness.  I hate to share this picture with you, because you won't be able to purge the image from your mind.  But I'll share it as a public service.  People need to know.  What you see below is, in fact, nearly a dozen spray-painted succulents that I believe were aloe aristatas before they were defaced.
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At first, I thought: those big-box store people are ridiculous.  They'll try anything for a buck.  But no one will like this or think it's a good idea.  Such tomfoolery will never catch on.   After all, not only does spray-painting beautiful plants plainly desecrate them, but it makes them look weird and unnatural. 

Also, I'm no botanist, but I'm pretty sure that covering a plant with paint will inhibit its ability to breathe, and thus to live.

Then, partly to reassure myself, I googled, "spray-painted succulents."

This was a mistake.

Had I not googled "spray-painted succulents," I never would have known that there is, in fact, a whole cadre of online craftspeople and wedding planners who are positively bursting with enthusiasm at the idea of defacing these drought-tolerant gems of the plant world.  I would have remained innocent, optimistic, naive.  But no more.  Since misery loves company (and since I can't feel adequately aghast unless others are aghast, too), I'll share some of my least favorites.
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To the left, you can see the dubious creation of whoever writes momadvice.com.  She advises that painting succulents can add a "pop of color" to plants.  

Uhhh... 
Sure it does.  In much the same way that the gentleman to the lower right added a "pop of color" to his face.  Or that unwanted graffiti adds a "pop of color" to downtown buildings.

To add insult to injury, momadvice.com's paint job is shoddy, especially the blue faucaria (what was going on there!?).

Here are some others that I hate.
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This dum plant waz soo boring n green till I maked it painted now its rad yeah!
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Cakktuses r stupid so I spray painted them 4 u
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We luv suklents together so sparklee and glitteree whee!!!
Take a stand, my dear succ-er friends.  This nonsense has got to stop.  (Or at least leave a comment below telling me you're as aghast as I am!)
Debra Lee Baldwin link
8/22/2014 07:22:33 am

Not my taste, but I understand the plants aren't harmed and lose the artificial color over time. Regardless, this is one more illustration of how versatile sux can be.

Valley Girl
8/22/2014 07:28:39 am

So I have to comment on the grotesquely painted succulents... I work part-time at one of these big box stores and I have to say it is quiet disturbing to walk by these unsightly beauties, however they sell like hotcakes!

I also might add that Home Depot, Lowes,and Walmart do not paint these succulents... they sell these plants on consignment for the vendors who provide them to the store already painted.

The vendors are the evil geniuses here... Since I am sure they know how to care for succulents, but they choose to torture them anyway for the buck they bring!



Merralyn
8/23/2014 08:32:44 am

It's so refreshing to see ANY negative response to the postings on Pinterest! I was beginning to think that if it made it to Pinterest people simply accepted it no matter how weird. I agree that painting succulents is sad. I guess some people just can't see the natural beauty. Too bad for them, huh?

Sara Jane Keskula
8/28/2014 03:02:14 am

Ha! I was just at Home Depot last week and saw them and was so horrified that I had to bring my (succulent loving) girlfriend last night so we could be appalled together. I had exactly the same response as you!!! Stop the madness!!!

Silly Little Sheep link
9/1/2014 08:02:57 am

It is truly disgusting. Same applies to the little Christmas trees sprayed with artificial snow. Gross. My Grandma aused to buy one every year and when I was little, I always tried to peel a bit off it.
Not to mention some of the paint jobs are terribly done, indeed :)

erienne
9/26/2014 08:22:40 pm

I do not have any understanding as to how these idiots that create this craft have any concept of health for a living organism! Could you imagine what ideas they would have for animals!!! Oh the treachery!


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