‘One Must Cultivate One’s Own Garden’…Voltaire
In 1759, Voltaire wrote his most famous novel, Candide, in just three days. It was a satire on the hopes that were pinned to science and technology, which instead of improving the world, he was sure would destroy it by giving more power to tyrants. Better, he said in his parting message, to till our own gardens and leave the rest of the world alone. What an appropriate message that has turned out to be.
I took Voltaire’s advice, and this is the new garden I created during the first year of Covid, transforming an overgrown lot next door full of twelve-foot high castor bean plants, garbage and castoff boulders and leftover construction supplies from surrounding houses into what is a garden in progress. This is the photo I took yesterday through a space in the fence that protects it from further dumping.
Below are “before” and “during” photos. Click to increase size of photos:
But, forgive me, Cee, I just have to show it in color as well!!!! More to come.
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 
It’s beautiful, Judy —
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I’m glad you cheated and added the color. Wonderful black and whites and quote for this week 😀
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Thanks, Cee. Know you’ll forgive me if I lapse now and then.
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You were basically black and white and that is all that matters 😀
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Impressive, Judy! I like that philosophy as well.
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The garden sign I painted for my own yard says, “Let us cultivate our garden.” Candide is the best book I’ve ever read. Your garden is beautiful.
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Enough gardens will save the world.
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Mother Earth Thou Art
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It is beautiful in black and white but most amazing in color! What a great work to have done and to enjoy!
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An amazing transformation. Great job
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Thanks, Lauren. Very satisfying.
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You’ve done a remarkable job of it.
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It’s been so fun.. I planned it step by step standing on my lot above it.
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Must feel so satisfying
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It is, every time I see it. And plan the next move.
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I think it’s such a constructive hobby.
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Just three days! That is incredible! So is your garden project. Bravo!
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I know. I can’t believe he could write a book in three days.
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Amazing! He must not have slept. 🥴
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That’s what I thought.
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I know. 38,000 words means almost 13,000 a day. I think it must just be a popular legend. How can it be true?
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It won’t ever be true in my world. 😂
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Nor mine.
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I recently finished writing the first draft of my first novel – that took ten months. More words, but still! Hopefully it won’t take as long to edit. 😂
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my first prose book took me eight years to write!
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Perseverance! 👏🏻
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