Throughout my working life, one of the human characteristics I came to admire is that of curiosity. Curiosity about the world around us; the people we meet; places, people and events that dominate the news; the why, where, when and how of everyday life. Curiosity is one of the building blocks of lifelong learning.
I am pleased to say that my good friend from Italy, Randolfo, is one of the most curious people I have ever met. As well as enjoying his company – he is interesting and interested – I benefit greatly from his curiosity, learning by association as we have some terrific discussions.We once shared a bottle of very nice wine from Virginia – within a short period of time, his research done, we were talking about this up and coming wine region.
I have mentioned before the pleasure of getting your hands dirty in the soil and of course the need to occasionally protect your hands as you garden.I was curious that my favorite gloves (thanks Mads) were made,surprisingly, in Ethiopia. Randolfo and I often chat about globalization and the resulting complex supply chains so I mentioned the source of the gloves to him. ”Aaah” he said. Summarizing – Italy has a strong colonial link with Ethiopia; Italy is a leader in the design and sourcing of fine gloves (think fashion) ; trade and commerce has flourished between the two countries ; hence it is likely that my super comfortable gloves are a product of this cooperation – when you know, it is not that surprising?
I am starting to get curious about the woodland garden. Before the plot was developed there was quite a lot of native undergrowth beneath the mature trees. Now that spring has sprung, we about to experience the harmony between what we planted and what mother nature has given us. The intent in the woodland garden was not to fully curate it but to try and achieve a naturalistic blend. We are not yet at the starting line with this – exciting!
As CP and I walk the garden, the strife facing the world is never far away. With the pandemic and then the war in Ukraine, we realize that so many people’s lives have been irreversibly touched in the last 2 years. We are grateful for what we have and are cognizant of the fragility of both life and the society we live in. Resilience has become another important human characteristic and the garden offers so much. A place to relax – the wellbeing from the physical work- the mental satisfaction of creating something ( perfection is not the goal) – and of course, enjoying the wildlife. This, along with the joy of interacting with family and good friends, such as Randolfo and Paola, all helps to provide a positive outlook.
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