Pawpaw Holler Home

The Laurel Falls fire is almost out but there are still trail closures.

 Park fire at Laurel Falls quiets down

The Blueridge Parkway is still closed from Highway 441 to Highway 19 (Soco Gap),  due to the Stony Ridge fire at Cherokee. The closure includes Heintooga Ridge Road and is expected to be lifted on May 2.

Stony Ridge Fire

It’s rained (poured!) all morning in the Smokies, so that should help.

Happy traveling,

Denese

The Blue Ridge Parkway is closed from U.S. 441 northward to Soco Gap due to the Stony Ridge fire near Cherokee.

The Laurel Falls fire that has burned nearly 270 acres since early this week appears to be abating.

Laurel Falls fire abating; part of Blue Ridge Parkway closed

Denese

According to Tennessee Radio Network News, the Cobbly Nob fire is out.

Firefighters are still battling the Laurel Falls fire as of yesterday, no new updates today.

Fire keeps Park’s popular trail closed: Firefighters battle Laurel Falls blaze

Rain and storms are still forecast for the Smokies on through the first of next week.

Smoky Mountains Weather Forecast

Safe traveling,

Denese

Here is the latest word on the fires in and around the Smoky Mountains.

Smoky Mountains Fires

• The 60 acre Cobbly Nob fire above Gatlinburg is contained, eight homes were damaged or destroyed.
• The Laurel Falls fire inside the park has grown to 165 acres and more crews have been called in to help.
• The 1.200 acre Cherokee, NC fire is being monitored.
• The Wears Cove prescribed burn has flared up and crews were sent to monitor it, also.

Full Details

Crews working to contain Laurel Falls wildfire in Smokies

Smoky Mountains Trail Closures

• Laurel Falls
• Roundtop
• Little Greenbrier
• Little Brier Gap
• Cove Mountain

It’s supposed to rain, and it looks like it wants to, but we haven’t had any so far.

Stay tuned for updates.

Denese

As of this afternoon, firefighters were battling three wildfires in or near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and monitoring a controlled burn that is still smoldering.

Crews battling three wildfires in or near Great Smoky Mountains

National Park responds to four fires

Some hiking trails in the Smoky Mountains have been closed due to the wildfires.

More Hiking Trails Closed due to Wildfire activity in Great Smoky Mountains national park

Rain is in the forecast for the rest of the week, hopefully it will help.

Smoky Mountains Forecast

I’ll have another update on the wildfire situation tomorrow.

Stay safe,

Denese

Attention Smoky Mountains vacationers:

Fire Near Gatlinburg

There is a fire burning on Cobbly Nob, a resort community of mostly vacation cabins, east of Gatlinburg. According to news reports, approximately 30 acres  and 3 structures have burned. The area was evacuated overnight and the Red Cross has set up a shelter for those affected.

Wildfire forces Cobbly Nob evacuations

Cobbly Nob Fire Update: Red Cross opens shelter

You might want to call ahead if you have reservations there.

Safe traveling,

Denese

Bad Ladybugs

Do you have ladybug problems? In your house?

Here in Tennessee we have an imported menace -the Asian  Lady Beetle. They swarm into your house in the winter time and are so numerous that I know people who vacuum them out of their house every day! They bite too!

There may be a way to get rid of them -catnip!

Catnip To The Rescue

There is a  substance in catnip called "nepetalactone" that repels mosquitoes, flies and other bugs. According to recent Agriculture Research Service research, "nepetalactone"  also repels the Asian  Lady Beetle.

Venable: Nothing ladylike about ‘em

Catnip Compounds Curb Asian Lady Beetles

Grow Catnip Now: Keep Asian Lady Beetles Outside Next Fall

More About Catnip

Chemical and Engineering News: Catnip

A Modern Herbal, by Mrs. M. Grieve: Catmint (Catnip)

Catnip Repels Mosquitoes More Effectively Than DEET -ScienceDaily Aug. 28, 2001

Farmers’ Almanac Spotlight on Herbs Video: Catnip -Learn some practical uses for the herb Catnip.

Home remedy for colic: Catnip/Fennel Tea

Related Posts:

• Home Remedies/Folk Medicine
• Free Resources For Learning About Herbs

Now all I need is something to repel the cats from the catnip…they eat it all before it gets big enough to harvest!

Denese

If you are traveling to the Smoky Mountains today, you might want to watch the weather.

There is a hazardous weather alert in effect this evening and tonight for East Tennessee, including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Strong storms are expected tonight with the possibility of damaging winds, cloud-to-ground lightening, hail and tornadoes.

Forecast: Batten down the hatches

National Weather Service Forecast: Blount Smoky Mountains, TN

East Tennessee Radar

Denese

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has released it’s spring opening schedule for roads and campgrounds.

Secondary Roads Re-opening  Today

• Forge Creek (tentative)
• Little Greenbrier
• Rich Mountain
• Straight Fork/Round Bottom
• Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail

Temporary Weather and Construction Related Road Closures

Picnic Areas Open

• Big Creek
• Cades Cove
• Chimneys
• Collins Creek
• Cosby
• Deep Creek
• Greenbriar
• Metcalf Bottoms

Campgrounds Opening Today

• Abrams Creek
• Big Creek
• Cades Cove (all year)
• Cataloochee
• Cosby
• Elkmont
• Smokemont (all year)

Camping Information for The Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Campground Regulations

Frontcountry Camping

Group Campgrounds

How the Campground Reservation System Works

Campground Reservations

Horse Camp Information

Smokies Trip Planner (downloadable pdf file)

GSMNP Maps (downloadable pdf files)

Related Post:

Great Smoky Mountains Roadwork on 441

Denese

Heads up for you Smoky Mountain visitors and vacationers:

An 18-monthlong project to repave 6.5 miles of Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s Newfound Gap Road (U.S. 441) is set to begin Monday. Completion of the work is not expected until Sept. 1, 2010.

Repaving work to begin on Newfound Gap Road

For current information on the status of any lane closures, call 1-888-355-1849.

Denese