Snow on the Mountains

Sometimes I like a green bouquet--Bells of Ireland, eucalyptus, some lemon leaves, and other green things florists bundle into a green bouquet can be really pretty and kind of a soothing change from a colorful bouquet of flowers. So, at the Farmers Market I decided to buy this plant--"Snow on the Mountains", or Euphorbia Marginata.
Turns out this stuff bleeds a milky white sap that is potentially irritating to the eyes and skin... in fact, the whole plant is potentially irritating to the eyes and skin. The person who sold me the plant cuttings said, "Don't touch the plant and touch your eyes..."
"Okay, thanks for telling me," I said, trying to be nonchalant, but actually sort of wanting to not buy them after all. Anyhow, the plant cuttings sat around our apartment for a week and in that week some of the flower parts opened, releasing some kind of insect hatchlings that were striped yellow and black like bees, but much skinnier. Fabulously poisonous, infested Snow on the Mountains! Just great!