It's 10:00am and hot outside. I've only been biking a few minutes, but I'm already starting to sweat. Up ahead is one of the steepest hills I'll be climbing today, and I know that I'll need to start switching to lower gears soon if I want to make it to the top without having to get off and walk. As I start to ascend I think about the heat, and wish I had put sunscreen on. Once at the top it's easy going for a while. The hill is probably just as steep on this side as it was on the other, but it's quite a bit shorter, (it T's into a road at the bottom.)
I've only gone to the Botanical Gardens via the bike trail a few times. Being out of shape, and navigating a hilly, (although very nicely paved,) winding bike trail don't go well together. The bike trail isn't too crowded today; I see few people. Some pass me, some I pass. Overall, it's very pleasant.
As I get to the gardens, I get excited. The flowers there are so pretty, and the butterflies they attract are like special rays of sunshine with wings. Someday I hope to be able to tell the names of most of the plants off the top of my head. I'd love to become the flower lady.
As I wander around the gardens, I look for a spot. Some place that I could sit and enjoy the flowers, or the day; generally a place to rest, but one that's all my own. Even though it's a public garden, there are places on the outskirts of the property like that. The spot I find is actually facing away from the gardens. It overlooks a pond and has a clear view of an open field. It feels wrong to have my back to all of the beautiful flowers, but as I sit I can't seem to bring myself to leave.
The tree I'm sitting in has the same type of bark as a walnut tree I used to climb. The leaves are different, but it has a familiar feel. I think about the flowers I've seen, and decide my favorite is a little blue flower called leadwort. It's a simple flower, but its petals are a lively blue that I love.
I've only gone to the Botanical Gardens via the bike trail a few times. Being out of shape, and navigating a hilly, (although very nicely paved,) winding bike trail don't go well together. The bike trail isn't too crowded today; I see few people. Some pass me, some I pass. Overall, it's very pleasant.
As I get to the gardens, I get excited. The flowers there are so pretty, and the butterflies they attract are like special rays of sunshine with wings. Someday I hope to be able to tell the names of most of the plants off the top of my head. I'd love to become the flower lady.
As I wander around the gardens, I look for a spot. Some place that I could sit and enjoy the flowers, or the day; generally a place to rest, but one that's all my own. Even though it's a public garden, there are places on the outskirts of the property like that. The spot I find is actually facing away from the gardens. It overlooks a pond and has a clear view of an open field. It feels wrong to have my back to all of the beautiful flowers, but as I sit I can't seem to bring myself to leave.
The tree I'm sitting in has the same type of bark as a walnut tree I used to climb. The leaves are different, but it has a familiar feel. I think about the flowers I've seen, and decide my favorite is a little blue flower called leadwort. It's a simple flower, but its petals are a lively blue that I love.
As I get ready to leave, I stop and ask about volunteering at the gardens. I'm given a form to fill out and return, and told that they do need volunteers. I refill my water bottle, and start my ride back. There are several hills that were a lot more fun going down to tackle, but I know I've done it before and I survived then, so I'll survive now. It's been a peaceful morning. I get home two hours after I've left. Nine miles down, I have a new favorite spot at the botanical gardens, a slight cut on my knee from a run-in with my bike pedal, and a smile on my face because I've been able to see the thumbprint of God along the trails in the trees and in the flowers in the garden. God is so good. :)
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