For dazzle and shine and small-town Christmas spirit, there’s no better place than Johnson City, Texas, about an hour west of Austin, and the headquarters of Pedernales Electric Co-op, where a grove of live oak trees is annually transformed into a nebula of twinkle lights.

It’s a wonder to walk beneath them, your face lit by the glow. Not only the trunks and main branches but seemingly each twig is turned into light.

Recently we drove to Johnson City and joined the mellow throng strolling amid the trees and posing for selfies.

A guitarist sang Christmas carols for the crowd, and a tractor pulled a hay-ride wagon around the square.

It was pretty magical.

This free light show goes on until January 5th, and it includes the town’s courthouse square too, which I didn’t photograph this year. Check out my post from 2017.

Closer to home, the towering Zilker Holiday Tree, visible for miles around Zilker Park near downtown Austin, invites you to take a spin beneath it.

Here we go!

And even closer to home, this colorfully lit house in my neighborhood always delights me. I hope you’re finding some sparkly joy today too. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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Digging Deeper

Come learn about gardening and design at Garden Spark! I organize in-person talks by inspiring designers, landscape architects, authors, and gardeners a few times a year in Austin. These are limited-attendance events that sell out quickly, so join the Garden Spark email list to be notified in advance; simply click this link and ask to be added. Season 8 kicks off in fall 2024. Stay tuned for more info!

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