Banked with hedges high,

Azaleas pink and white.

Lined with bark fine and red

The path began its journey.

Uneven cairns of small stones

Like tiny cottages along

Unseen borders of a road.

Scuffing shoes as we

Peered along curiously.

Halfway down the curving ess.

A marble bench for a rest.

Picnic lunch with cool drinks

Sitting poised to catch sight.

Verdant beauty enclosing

A circle of blooming trees.

Dogwoods, camellias, holly too

Red bud and gardenias.

Dappled sunshine crowned them.

Enchanted as a fairy garden.

Buzzing bees in sweet aromas.

Strolling on to large moss covered

Boulders blocking further progress.

Gazing in surprise and wonder.

Behind them a majestic thirty foot

Magnolia, its shiny leaves sparkling.

Underneath broad spreading

Branches, a soft damp leafy carpet.

The fairy village must be hidden.

For the path leads to a

Secret somewhere.

Note: I grew up in Montana on the Continental Divide with 9 months of snow and slush.  I moved to Charlotte,NC and lived nearby in Mt. Holly for 5 years where it was green all year around.  Real culture shock!