When my neurologist asks me if I’ve fallen in the last six months, and I say yes, and he says, “What were you doing,”I say “Gardening,” because I often fall while I’m gardening. I’m tired, the ground is uneven, and I’m often too hot.
Gary’s never around, so it isn’t a crisis, and frankly, I think the neighbors expect it.
In the last three weeks I’ve fallen every time I’ve gardened. Today’s fall was particularly dramatic.
I was tidying the peony bed. I had bought new cages: some plastic and substantial, some metal and graceful. I had just assembled the first plastic one with great difficulty, set it over some peonies in bud, stepped back, admired it, turned, tripped, and fell backward on top of the new peony cage.
Sadly, Gary was in the garage and heard the impact and ensuing cursing. And moaning. Aside from my damage, I think one stem of the peonies broke, and of course the cage is in pieces again. I know one support leg is bent. I didn’t have the heart to inspect it, I just gathered the bits and piled them on the workbench.
Tomorrow’s a new day. But tonight I am very discouraged.
3 responses to “Garden mishap: Spring 2026”
Hooray for not having osteoporosis! My mom broke her femur by falling over backwards while gardening, but we are of Extremely Brittle Genetics.
Sorry about the peony and the cage, though.
(have you considered bringing an iced rehydration-y drink out with you when you garden and wearing a shade hat or gardening during lower-heat times of the day? There are also ice vests, or simply spraying oneself down with the hose and then air-drying. No Broken Bones For The Queen Please.)(also, perhaps obviously, please always carry your phone so you can call someone if you *do* fall and can’t get up. Nag, nag, nag, please take care of yourself…)
KC – Well, I should. I did listen to your advice and brought my phone along yesterday.
THANK YOU! I appreciate you taking care of the Queen!
Hope the rest of the gardening goes well. Peony season is coming, hooray!