May 29, 2020
Smoky Mountains Are Home to Amazing Creatures!
The land snail’s shell is beautiful in both design and color.
The Great Smoky Mountains contain a myriad of flora and fauna. Some of you may have seen this little critter we photographed and posted on our Facebook page. We were eager to learn more about it. And just in time, the May issue of Smokies Live hit our inbox. This is a publication of the Great Smoky Mountains Association and contains well-researched articles on a myriad of topics. One such article is “Permanent Camp: Land Snails” http://www.smokiesinformation.org. Thanks to George Ellison for this interesting article. And we appreciate the beautiful illustration by Elizabeth Ellison.
The article identifies land snails as terrestrial gastropods in the phylum Mollusca. Worldwide, there are more than 100,000 members of the land snail species. About 150 of these can be found in our very own National Park! Land snails are fascinating to watch. They move by muscular contraction. The taller of their two sets of tentacles have eyes on their tips. The shorter set enables the snail to smell.
Where Can You Find Snails in the Great Smoky Mountains?
Just about everywhere, according to the article. They prefer moist, shady conditions. The article quotes Dan and Judy Dourson (authors of Land Snails of the Great Smoky Mountains). “The base of large diameter tree species such as black and butternut walnut can sometimes yield high numbers of land snails.”
The Great Smoky Mountains Association (GSMA) is a nonprofit that supports the preservation of the Park. They offer many resources to enhance public understanding and appreciation of the Park through education, interpretation and research. Membership in the GSMA includes subscriptions to their print magazine and electronic newsletters. Members also are entitled to shopping discounts at visitor center stores. We encourage you to consider membership in the GSMA and join us in becoming stewards of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
May 18, 2020
Why Are They Called “Salads”?
Today we picked a mix of beautiful greens for salads for our dinner guests. The bowl of colorful greens had us wondering about the origins of this dish.
These greens only need a drizzle of a flavorful dressing.
The word “salad” comes from the ancient Latin word “sal” for “salt”. In ancient times, salt was an important ingredient in dressing. You might be surprised to learn that ancient Romans and Greeks enjoyed raw vegetables with dressing. Typically the vegetables would be dressed with vinegar, oil, herbs, and salt. “Salata” literally means “salted herb”. The dish became more complex over time. In the 1700’s chef’s began to create composed salads with layers of ingredients.
Today any entrée or side dish that is composed of a mixture of ingredients and intended to be eaten cold is a salad. Some recipes are world famous. Master chefs of the International Society of Epicures in Paris voted Caesar Salad as the greatest recipe to originate from the Americas in 50 years. The Cobb was invented at the Brown Derby restaurant in 1937. Crab Louie began appearing on menus at the turn of the 20th century. Nicoise features garlic, tomatoes, anchovies, black olives, capers, and lemon juice. It is named for the city of Nice, France. A private party for the pre-opening of New York’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel on March 13, 1893 led to the first serving of Waldorf Salad. http://www.whatscookingamerica.net
The recipe below could be the start of your own famous salad! Fresh mixed greens and vine-ripened tomatoes. Just add a drizzle of lemon basil dressing and you will enjoy a taste of summer.
Lemon Basil Dressing for Salads
¼ Cup Diced onions
1 Tbl Minced garlic
1 Tsp Dijon mustard
½ Cup Fresh basil leaves
1 Tsp Salt
½ Tsp Pepper
1 Tbl Sugar
¼ Cup Mayonnaise
½ Cup Lemon juice
Combine the ingredients above in mixing bowl of food processor.
Add slowly while processing:
1 ½ Cups Combined Olive and canola oil
Chill and serve over salad greens.
Yield: About 2 cups
May 11, 2020
National Park Begins Phased Reopening
Saturday, May 9, 2020 marked the first phase of the reopening of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This phase, expected to last about two weeks, includes some popular destinations. The Park will open Newfound Gap, Little River, Cherokee Orchard, Laurel Creek, Cades Cove Loop, Lakeview Drive, and Deep Creek Roads. The restrooms and picnic areas along the roads will be open as well. However, visitor centers and campgrounds will remain closed for this period. The phased-in reopening follows guidance from the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and local public health authorities.
We understand that the LeConte Lodge and Cades Cove Riding Stables will open on May 18. The Cades Cove Campstore and Smokemont Riding Stables are set to open on May 23.
National Park Encourages Safety
Visitors can once again marvel at the beauty of the National Park.
The foremost priority in the reopening is the health and safety of employees, partners, volunteers, visitors, and local residents. Park managers will monitor all activities to ensure that they comply with public health guidance. Park authorities stress that visitors must practice social distancing. Saturday’s reopening drew visitors from far and wide. Park spokesperson Dana Soehn reports that she saw license plates from 24 states in one parking lot. Soehn asks that visitors make choices to keep themselves, and Park staff, safe.
After the two-week period, Park management will decide whether to reopen secondary roads and campgrounds, and later, to lift all restrictions.
We view the Park as our treasure, and we are so glad that visitors may once again seek comfort and solace by viewing the wonders of nature. We encourage our guests to hike early in the morning, before other hikers arrive. The Park Service website http://www.nps.gov/grsm is a wonderful source for information. The site has the most current information about facility openings, service hours, and access. They also have released a new video highlighting tips for a safe Smokies visit.
If you haven’t been hiking for a few weeks, a walk around the Buckhorn Inn nature trail is a good way to get back in shape. We look forward to seeing you outdoors!
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