Of kiwis & hope

This evening (Wednesday) my dining room is filled with plants from the balcony so they won't freeze outdoors in these record-low temperatures. To remind myself why I persevere about many things, not just gardening, I'm re-reading nutritionist, gardener & author Joan Dye Gussow's lovely essay, Kiwis and Hope wherein she describes the "immaculate conception" of kiwifruit in her garden.  I encourage you to read the entire piece (it's not long & she's a wonderful writer) to learn why Ms. Gussow believes cultivating hope is not a foolish or futile pursuit.

And they [kiwis] seem to me a happy metaphor for the importance of continuing to work toward our necessary future even though the prospects sometimes seem daunting. Even when things seem hopelessly unlikely; if you just keep trying, even nature is apparently willing to break some rules (from the PowellsBooks.Blog essay).

Photo credit: Kiwis by Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez (Lmbuga); copyright: GFDL (GNU Free Documentation License), via Wikimedia Commons

Comments

[KR Wolfe]

I love that ending line. The book looks great too. Hurray for hopeful kiwis...

[René]

I needed this today. Thank you, E.

[Elaine]

I love the last line, too, KR. And I have this mental image now of hope being a kiwi with feathers.

I'm so glad this spoke to you, René. Joan Dye Gussow inspires me in many ways. I've been collecting links with her writing & will do follow-up post, either here or on Greens & Berries.