I just figured something out, and I’m not sure how it took me almost 50 years. Today, August 13th (8/13), is my half birthday, but what I never noticed is that it is also 813 day in honor of Tampa’s primary area code.

You’d think after nearly five decades around Tampa and having had a variety of 813 phone numbers, I might have connected those two dots before now. Nope. Apparently, I’ve been celebrating my half birthday all these years without realizing it lands on the day Tampa celebrates itself.

Does anyone else celebrate their half birthday? OK, I don’t really, but for some reason I always note it, and one year I even convinced my mother-in-law that I needed a half birthday cake. Admittedly, that had to do with an exceptional bakery in Georgia and was more about eating cake than celebrating a milestone.

I’m going to use this realization as an excuse to celebrate both! Because 813 is more than an area code. It’s a little piece of identity. It’s Tampa, Ybor City, the Hillsborough River, and the bay. It’s Cuban sandwiches, deviled crab, palm trees, giant live oaks, and afternoon thunderstorms that show up the minute you decide to work outside.

It’s Gasparilla, the Bucs, Lightning, Bulls, spring training, and old Florida mixed with new Tampa. And somewhere in all of that is our slice of the 813 area code, out here in the Seffner-Brandon area. Once the home of cow pastures and citrus groves, now bustling, busy, and ever-expanding.

And right in the middle is Kerby’s. We’ve had our 813 number for 46 years now, and we’re still growing strong. We started out as a place to get great plants, and over the years we’ve turned into so much more. Now you can come in and pick flowers, wander a native pollinator garden, marvel at butterflies, and take the perfect social media pictures. And of course, we just recently opened the Kerby’s Treasure Tower – the largest gem-mining sluice in the area!

And while we are currently in the dead heat of summer, we are making plans to keep the fun going throughout the fall. Veggie season leads the way with our Garden Hoedown on September 19th. Next, we’ll preview fall with a Sip & Shop the evening of September 25th, featuring the opening of the Pumpkin Patch, complimentary line dancing lessons, and a dirty soda bar. Then join us Saturday the 26th for the official Fall Kickoff. Hunt for scarecrows in our annual scavenger hunt, pick out the perfect pumpkins, and make sure you have tickets for the Pumpkin Succulent Make & Take. And that’s just the start of the autumn season. Check out our Upcoming Events page for more details, and we’ll be adding plenty of new things as we get closer.

We call the 813 area our home, and there are so many special things about it. Happy 813 Day, Tampa. And happy half birthday to me.

I’m not saying I expect another cake. But if anyone knows a good bakery…