If memory serves me right, thus ends Voltaire’s ‘Candide’. In general terms, I tend to avoid philosophical thinkers
like the Peste[1],
or plague. Here, however, Voltaire has hit the nail on the head if your aim in
life is to live as happily as possible – and perhaps with only one buttock – both
on an individual level and with those who surround you
I take Voltaire’s garden to mean all that surrounds the central core of
your life. If that core is your home and you and yours, then the garden is
everyone and everything else that revolve around this precious nucleus.
In terms of real estate, maybe your physical garden is nothing more than a
window box; perhaps it is 300
acres or more of parkland. No matter. Everything
contained therein is your concern and responsibility. If properly maintained, your
garden will bring beauty and happiness to you and those who see it and who know
how to appreciate it.
As in your garden, it is in life. Once the decision has been taken, weeds
and infestations must be ruthelessly dealt with – even if it means sacrificing
a once-favourite plant to save the rest. Such a sacrifice may be a wrench as we
pull it from the earth, but long-term, both its surroundings and your own peace
of mind will be the better for it.
Obviously, I am not advocating the wholesale permanent eradication of
annoying neighbours, night-barking dogs, workmates etc., although some
gun-owning lunatics, mainly American, do indeed regard this as a feasible, indeed logical, option. Before acting
we should be careful. We all fall into someone else’s ‘needs-to-be eradicated’
category. As Donne said, ‘no man is an island’. What I am advocating is that we
should not hesitate to grasp the literal and figurative nettle when it starts
to sting. At least we should try as much as possible to distance ourselves from
sources of frustration and anger. For our good and for that of the source.
Quite soon I hope to start my yearly tidy-up of the land[2]
behind my house. This year I plan to plant some espalier fruit trees along the
wall. Quinces are quite thorny and prevent neighbour’s dogs (and even
neighbours!) from entering.
I will also be lopping off of some branches from my beloved almond trees. Perhaps
I might also chop down an olive tree prior to planting a cherry in its place.
These decisions are not taken lightly. No such decision should be. Trees are
living beings and should be respected. It is, however, great fun when the
cutting and chopping is over and feeding the waste into the shredder for
composting begins.
Obviously the larger logs are cut into 2-foot lengths and dried for the
fire. Olive wood burns beautifully due to the fact that the whole tree is full
of oil. Sometimes beautiful patterns in the grain emerge and can be quite
captivating. I often wonder if I could put this wood to better use. Ironically,
I sarcasticaly suggested in an
earlier post , that maybe all degree courses should include a carpentry
course. Now, as I think of it, it does not seem such a silly idea. Hoist by my
own petard!
When the rains finally fall consistently and the brown earth begins to turn
green - even as the trees shed their leaves, I will upload some photos of my
efforts.
I have never been an avid gardener though I like a well tended garden. Am I any better at gardening in the euphemistic sense? I suspect not and that I am more the hunter gatherer type, collecting fruits, roots, berries and shiny things as I go.
ReplyDeleteI think that to be a good gardener you need to put down roots, both literally and figuratively, whereas I have always had the talent of walking away from my last place of sojourn without a backward glance.
Hoom Hum! I think perhaps that I am a bit more like an ent. I put down the roots but on occasion can bestir myself pull them up and shamble off. Actually, I can feel my roots begining to itch a bit now that my halflings are growing up.
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