What an utterly beautiful winter solstice weekend in the Heart of Dixie! I bought a new Burford Holly and planted it. (Not prickly!). And I planted a Peggy Martin Rose I’d bought around Thanksgiving and wove it into the garden arch. I refilled bird feeders and got a cute squirrel and hedgehog holiday seed feeder for the birds. I moved one feeder outside the fenced side yard because Simon spends time lying in the sun near the feeders there inside the fence. He’s too crippled to chase birds but they don’t seem to know that. The feeder outside the gate is a safe place away from the cats that may provide safer dining for the skittery ones!
The Tea olives are still blooming and are such a wonderfully fragrant treat as I sit here in the swing enjoying the quiet serenity of our little neighborhood.
As I planted the Burford Holly, I slipped off the shovel and went reeling backwards across the path, landing my fanny in the midst of the overgrown azalea on the other side! No injury, just a chuckle. Below is a photo of the butt print in the azalea….. It has been needing a good pruning for a while but it just kept blooming until this most recent 2 nights’ freeze. Today it got clipped…. Along with a very prickly volunteer holly that was flourishing in the middle of it! So, a good afternoon’s work and I’m going to clean up and get ready to head to the Coverdale Playhouse for a show tonight, “Miss Bennett.” I have no idea what it’s about, I just know I’m free tonight and need to be engaged in something more challenging than a Hallmark movie! LOL! 12/20/25. CBB
