We’ve been having some wonderful fall weather, with some warmer periods interspersed. So far, the coolest morning temperature has been about 52, and we’ve also had some afternoons that topped out a little over 70.
It’s been a wet year, which some argue is a negative for the leaf season, but I always take a “wait and see” attitude. At this point, I haven’t seen much color change, except in some of the dogwoods and hickories, so it’s difficult to predict when we might see the peak. In a normal year, the third or fourth week of October is usually a pretty good guess. There seems to be a good mast (acorn) crop this year, unlike last year, so that’s good news for the deer and other woodland creatures that depend on them.
The state’s Georgia Wild website has just posted a wonderful video of some hellbender mating behavior. These are seldom seen and reclusive giant salamanders that some folks confuse with Gila Monsters (hellbenders can bite, but aren’t poisonous). They are rare creatures, primarily because they require water that’s absolutely pristine to survive. We still have some in our mountain streams; in fact, I saw a young one at the Fish Hatchery this summer, which was being kept for research purposes. If you are interested in this rare footage, you can visit this link:
http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/GADNR/bulletins/d15b04
Here’s a brief rundown of our fall festival season:
October 4-5, Marble Festival, Tate, Georgia – Once a year chance to tour the Historic Tate Marble Quarry, Lee Newton Park, 10:30 – 6:00 Saturday, 10:00 – 5:00 Sunday.
October 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, Cherry Log Fall Festival (first three weekends in October).
October 4-5, John C. Campbell Folk School Fall Festival, Brasstown, NC – approximately 200 craftspeople, demonstrations, music, dance, food. Admission: Adults $5, 12-17 $3, under 12 years old free.
October 4, Downtown Blue Ridge Park, 5th Annual Homebuilders Show – our builder’s expo.
October 4-5, Indian Summer Festival, Woody Gap School, Suches – Save Georgia’s Hemlocks will have an informational booth for homeowners.
October 10-18, Fall Festival, Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, Hiawassee – including the famous State Fiddler’s Convention.
October 11-12, 18-19, Sorghum Festival, Blairsville
October 11-12, Fall Arts Festival, Downtown Blue Ridge City Park – one of our biggest festivals, formerly the Wildlife Arts Festival, it still features many wildlife artists.
October 18, Paws in the Park, Downtown Blue Ridge City Park – animal friendly fun in the old downtown.
October 18-19, 25-26, Fall Fest Arts & Crafts, Old State Farmer’s Market, Blue Ridge – between the High School and the Swan Drive-in on East First Street.