Snakes are out and about! Watch your step! As seen above by Mary Filko, out on a walk, she encountered a black rat snake. Even though rat snake are protected in Georgia due to their ecological importance in rodent control they are frightening when out on a walk. Just know that when threatened rat snakes may assume a characteristic “kinked” posture and remain motionless. They vibrate their tails and repel a foul smelling musk to deter predators.

A medium sized black bear was recently seen on camera at the Chandlers. Just be aware that bears are most active during spring and summer, especially around dawn and dusk. Just remember bears will defend themselves if a person gets too close, so don’t risk your safety or theirs!
Six BearWise Basics; Never Feed Or Approach Bears, Secure Food, Garbage And Recycling, Remove Bird Feeders When Bears Are Active, Never Leave Pet Food Outdoors, Clean And Store Grills, Smokers, and Alert Neighbors To Bear Activity.

Submitted by Donna & Ray

Bring a chair, find your spot, settle I for evenings where community and music come together as you dance the night away!

The Barn at Coosawattee – 27 Eagle Mountain Drive, Ellijay, Georgia 20540

Submitted by Donna & Ray

The number listed on the packet is 1-877-722-6725 should you need to contact them.

Thanks to Nancy Shook and Beth Powers for notifying us.

Mountain Azaleas (Rhododendron Canescus) are deciduous, native shrubs known for fragrant, light pink to white tubular flowers in early spring.

Mountain Laurels (Kalmia Latifolia) and Azaleas are related acid-loving flowering shrubs. Mountain Laurels feature unique, star-shape, white-to-pink clusters in early summer with 5-sided blooms.

Both are native to North America and we are lucky to have them in Tranquility. Be sure to protect these native plants.

Mountain Azalea

Photo by Kim Pass

Beware: snakes 🐍 are emerging! There have already been sightings with the recent warm air and the warm stretch ahead will probably really bring them out. Copperheads, cottonmouths, rattlesnakes…the whole slew of venomous and non-venomous snakes. Stay alert!

Chief Meteorologists David Paul

As stated in the Ellijay Times-Courier, The Appalachia Georgia Friends of the Bear (AGFOB) would like to remind the public that March marks the black bears to emerge from their den. The warmer weather will bring the adult male, subadults and moms with yearlings out to start foraging for another year. Moms with cubs of the year will emerge in mid-April to early May.

Attractants like birdseed, hummingbird feeders, pet food, livestock food, greasy barbecues, smokers, fish cookers and wildlife feeders are easily accessed by black bears. Minimize attractants and availability’s of food rewards throughout your yard and neighborhood. Help us save a bears life and remove the attractants.

The intentional and unintentional feeding of bears teach them to approach homes and humans for food which is a recipe for human-bear conflict. Two-thirds of human-bear conflict is because bears having access to garbage. In addition, it destroys the bears teeth, digestive tracts and results in a slow and painful death.

The creek is bound in crystal sheets,

Where silence holds the winter sweets.

A murmur underneath the ice,

A frozen, quiet paradise.

Black water cuts through banks of white,

Reflecting back the frozen light.

The frosted breath of sleeping earth,

Awaits the spring for gentle birth

No leaves to rustle, only stone,

The winter creek, alone, alone.