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A light in the darkness

By LINDSAY BIANCHI
lbianchi@TheCitizenNews.com

Michael Plott has been decorating for Christmas for 34 years. His display is worth a drive to Hobgood road just north of Palmetto where you can drive through his driveway for a closer look. Plott's favorite piece is the Nativity set he and his grandfather built together. Photos/Lindsay Bianchi.

Michael Plott has had his own Christmas tradition since the age of 9, one that has been a part of his life for 34 years. If you happen to drive by his home at the end of Hobgood Road just north of Palmetto, you will see the bright display of lights and Christmas scenery that cover the house and yard like a child’s magic dream.

“I give a lot of credit to my granddaddy.” Plott said of his continued seasonal celebration. His grandfather, Dewey Pearce, who passed away earlier this year saw his grandson’s handiwork for the final time last year. “He was my best friend.”

The two men would add a little more each year, hand cutting wood scenery and characters to represent the familiar faces of Christmas. A large Nativity set bathed in spotlights sits to one side expressing Plott’s true feelings about the season. It is his prized piece among the many that he and his grandfather built together.

This year, he has added several animated blow-ups and Disney characters like the lovable Tigger. Plott pointed out that he plants winter rye for a nice green lawn on which to set his many displays. Cars can drive up through a canopy of lights and around the circular driveway for a closer look. The estimated quarter million lights can be seen every evening after 6 p.m. up until Christmas night unless there is heavy rain.

Plott runs his own commercial lawn care business when he’s not checking bulbs and breakers