Wild Garden Questions

Go Gentle by Maria Semple is a stunning, stunning, stunning book, and I’ve loved all of the philosophical questions woven through the book, even more once you learn how she got into philosophy.

On page 60, she’s watching the ground crew at her workplace tend the library’s massive garden. They switch out the annuals to go with the season, and she muses: “The efficiency and finished product never failed to impress. But ultimately, it felt airless and safe. Me, I’m a God’s-will girl.”

Of course, you need to pause and ask yourself: Are you a wild garden sort of person or a tended garden? Does “tended” automatically mean airless and safe? Does “wild” automatically give you room to breathe?

Me, I’m definitely a tended garden sort of person. I would rather have safe over surprises.

How about you?