New York Times Article Featuring Allan Benton of Benton’s Smoky Mountain County Hams

Posted on May 3, 2022 by Clyde Holler

Here’s a link to an article that features ramp hunting with Allan Benton: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/25/dining/allan-benton-bacon-ramps.html The NYT seems to have liberalized their pay wall policies recently, but if this link doesn’t work, you could try Googling the article yourself. His store … Continue reading →

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Scarlet Tanager, Red Spotted Purples, Azaleas

Posted on April 26, 2022 by Clyde Holler

Sunday was Red Spotted Purple day. I was thinking this butterfly was late, but they were here in profusion on Sunday. We also noted the mating displays of the Red Admiral in the yard. It seems to me that we’re … Continue reading →

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Dogwoods Remain, Azaleas Starting

Posted on April 22, 2022 by Clyde Holler

We’ve had some beautiful spring days lately. Some have started off near the freeze, but this morning, it’s 55 on the deck. Some of the dogwoods seem to be fading a bit, but there are still plenty in full bloom. … Continue reading →

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Wildflower Trifecta – Dwarf Iris, Lady Slipper, White Trillium

Posted on April 15, 2022 by Clyde Holler

We’ve had a bit of rain, and yesterday we found the first of the spring ephemerals, the Dwarf Iris, Lady Slipper, and Trillium, which was not fully in bloom.

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Dogwood Report

Posted on April 14, 2022 by Clyde Holler

Most of the dogwoods seem to be in bloom, although it depends on the location. I expect this weekend and the next to be the best. The sarvis is now completely gone in most places. I haven’t seen any azalea … Continue reading →

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Dogwood Report & A Little Snow

Posted on April 9, 2022 by Clyde Holler

It was about a degree over the freeze at 7:00 AM, and I don’t think it frosted in the valley below us. Some of the dogwoods are in flower, but I expect the peak is at least a week away. … Continue reading →

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Shallowford Bridge Update

Posted on April 1, 2022 by Clyde Holler

According to the newspaper of record, the Fannin County Commission has voted to allocate funds for repairs to the Shallowford Bridge. The crew working on the Noontootla Creek Bridge is to move to the Shallowford Bridge immediately after finishing work … Continue reading →

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Signs of Spring: More Sarvis Blooms

Posted on March 31, 2022 by Clyde Holler

Our oldest sarvis bloomed first this spring. It doesn’t always, but this year it did. Yesterday, one of our younger sarvis bloomed, and I’ve seen quite a few blooming around the county. They seem to be declining in numbers, probably … Continue reading →

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Signs Of Spring: The First Tiger Swallowtail

Posted on March 24, 2022 by Clyde Holler

Yesterday, I saw the first Tiger Swallowtail float by the porch. They have become the dominant butterfly here in terms of numbers. This is the first large butterfly I’ve seen this spring. In fact, the only other butterfly I’ve seen … Continue reading →

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Spring: The Sarvis Blooms

Posted on March 23, 2022 by Clyde Holler

Our oldest sarvis is in bloom. The younger ones are starting to show, but haven’t come yet. It’s all about soil temperature, and in some regions, it’s taken as a sign that it’s time to plant. Here, there’s often a … Continue reading →

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