This week, I got back in the saddle, or more properly, the seat again. You may remember that around three months ago, I broke my collarbone and separated my shoulder biking out at Alafia River State Park. Fortunately, recovery hasn’t been too bad, and I haven’t lost any mobility in my shoulder. I know it could have been much worse and after telling various folks about what happened, I have heard very similar stories about biking falls and injuries.

But I’m not ready to give up on biking. I do love the thrill of riding up and down hills, jumping rocks, and pushing myself a little. I wasn’t quite ready to take on Alafia, so I went an easier route and headed out to Flatwoods. I had a great ride, although it was insanely hot. Fortunately biking off-road allows you to be in a little more shade. I am happy to report that I did not fall off my bike a single time! While Flatwoods, as its name would imply, is pretty flat, there are a couple of places where you can test yourself on little hills. When I got to that area, I have to admit that I was a little nervous. I still have no idea what caused me to lose control of my bike on the trails in Alafia. One minute I was rolling down the hill, and the next I was smashing into the ground. So even on the tamer hills at Flatwoods, I found myself tentative heading down. Once my wheel slipped a little in the sugar sand and it sent my heart racing. But I kept my bike under control and made it to the bottom of the hill and back up again. Baby steps. Not sure I’ll be brave enough to take on a black diamond trail again any time soon, but at least I can feel confident that I didn’t forget how to ride my bike. It just took a little push to get back out and ride again.

Seems to me like gardening is sort of the same sometimes, though of course, I hope no one has broken a collarbone in the garden. No, what I mean is gardening is not a smooth paved pathway. It’s filled with ups and downs, twists and turns, and plenty of rocks and branches in the way. If you’ve been gardening for a long time, you know what I mean. There are lots of mistakes and missteps along the way, but in the end, that’s half the fun of it. You get up, brush the dirt off, and try again.

P.S. Keep an eye out for details about our upcoming Plants and Pets event, scheduled for 9am to 1pm on August 20th. During the dog days of summer, we’ll have a Saturday where you can bring your pets to the nursery, and we’ll have a pet photo booth for taking pictures, some refreshment stations for them, as well as learning stations for you about which plants are pet-friendly, both indoors and outdoors. We’re hoping it will be lots of fun for you and your furry friends.