The week leading up to Christmas Day was a whirlwind of holiday gatherings, eating, drinking, and merry-making with friends and family, for which I’m deeply grateful. On a quieter Christmas Eve we visited the Zilker Holiday Tree, which has been lighting up Zilker Park just south of downtown Austin since 1967. The park’s Trail of Lights had ended on the 23rd, which meant the crowds were gone and so was the traffic. We easily found parking by the tree and stepped into a time warp of Old Austin — just us and a few dozen blissed-out Austinites, hatted and gloved against the cold, strolling or spinning and laughing under the colorful strings of lights.

A dizzying spin is a must-do, whether in a tight solo or in a group circle, hand-in-hand with loved ones. Ready, look up, and spin! (Turn on your volume for an appropriate Xmas tune with the video.)

My gardening friends, I wish you joy and peace this holiday season. Here’s to a 2023 with gentler temperatures, plenty of rain, and lovely green gardens to enjoy!

__________________________

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!

All material © 2024 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.