Margie Hunter is a writer, gardener, hiker, and an aspiring amateur botanist and naturalist from Nashville, TN. Her book, Gardening with the Native Plants of Tennessee: The Spirit of Place, was published in 2002 by University of Tennessee Press, and her Web site is www.gardeningwithnativeplants.com. She loves the natural history of Tennessee and the Smoky Mountains in particular.
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Incredible blog! But one would expect nothing less from such an accomplished writer and much more than amateur naturalist.
Margie’s style of writing, both in accuracy and flow, is easy to follow and yet so full of interesting and fun information not found in any other source I’m familiar with about the Smokies.
A unique blend of hiking, natural history and human history. What a joy to read.
Can’t wait for the next installment.
When I am fly-fishing in the Smokies I am constantly distracted by the wonderful streamside plants. If I keep up with your blog maybe I’ll be able to identify them! (I’ve got the maidenhair fern down). I’ve fished from Maine to Wyoming, but only in GSMNP do I feel like I’m fishing in a giant garden.
Dwight in Columbia, SC
GSMNP is like a giant garden. What a great description! I hope you will keep up with the blog. Enjoy the fishing!
I very much enjoy your site and all the breathtaking photos. My family (Greenbriar Whaley mostly) all grew up in Big Greenbriar. My Great
grandfather, Elbert Whaley and wife Cordia, were the last owners of the Hotel.
I am very interested to find out what I can about the Steam Engine wreck on Injun Creek. Stories handed down to me tell it a little different. My Grandfather Johnny Elijah Manning was following along behind the engine when the wreck occured. I would like to know where you found the information you posted as I am trying to research this. I also wanted to know if you have been to the apple orchards on Dudley. My Grandmother who will be 97 this year lived there. Her father Coy Ogle owned the orchards. Thank you for letting us enjoy your journeys with you.
Hi, Dana,
The information regarding the old steam engine wreck came from the trail account of Grapeyard Ridge in Hiking Trails of the Smokies, a guide to all the park’s trails published by the Great Smoky Mountains Association in 1994 (page 250). Regarding the specifics of the wreck, the authors reference “park sources” and quote a park ranger named Glen Cardwell who grew up in the area. The authors are Margaret Lynn Brown, noted as a history teacher at Brevard College, and Donald E. Davis, a teacher at Dalton State College in Georgia. I hope this information will help you in your research.
I am not familiar with the apple orchards on Dudley. Hailing from Nashville, TN, I’m an outsider just beginning to learn about the wonderful and rich history of Gatlinburg and the park, but even a visitor like me quickly becomes acquainted with the names Whaley and Ogle. You must be very proud of your family. I am very grateful for their sacrifice so that we all might enjoy the beauty of the Smokies and strive to honor their memory.
Thank you for your kind words on the blog. I thoroughly enjoy it and honestly think I’d do this even if no one read it. However, it sure is nice to know that others enjoy it too. Good luck with your research. The small variations that can develop with a story over time are fascinating to track. I’d love to know what you discover.
Margie
Margie – I am so looking forward to seeing you again when you come to Chattanooga to speak at our Native Plant Symposium. I just found this blog & will certainly be keeping up with it. I too love the Smokies even though I am a transplant from New Hampshire – GSMNP is my absolutely favorite place to recharge. Your hiking is inspiring me to try to make a goal like yours. I can see a new book down the “trail” – a GSMNP Hiking Guide for Native Plant Lovers – you could give us reference lists of where to find what and when! I so want to see a TN Master Naturalist Program here in Chattanooga – any ideas?
Terri Joyce – Soddy Daisy, TN
Hi, Terri. Your dreams are about to come true! The Tennessee Naturalist Program is an official statewide organization, and our newest chapter is the Chattanooga Arboretum and Nature Center. Their first course is set to begin in April of this year. I am glad you enjoy the blog and hope you will continue to follow along. I’ll have some new posts very shortly.
Margie
Margie,
What a surprise! I decided to do a search on blue ghosts to learn more and there you are. You and I were in several of the same SANCP classes up at GSMIT. Matter of fact, I remember the class where we were all crossing the bridge at night to hunt the blue ghost fireflies along the middle prong. I remember that was the second time I encountered them — the first was up in Grayson Highlands State Park in SW VA, the third and most recent was just this weekend at Frozen Head State Park north of Oak Ridge.
What’s the latest on the state certification. Is it up and running? If so, how does one go about accessing the program?
Good to see you’re still out in the woods.
Kevin Kennard
Hi, Kevin!
I’ve been meaning to contact you and Brenda, another Tremont SANCPer, about the Tennessee Naturalist Program. It is up and running in Nashville, Memphis and Chattanooga, with another chapter set for South Cumberland (Monteagle & Sewanee) this fall. We have contacted the education person at Ijams on several occasions hoping to schedule a meeting and discuss their starting a Knoxville chapter but have not heard back. Perhaps you and Brenda could nudge them along!
I trust you made it through Tremont’s Reptiles and Amphibians course to graduate too! My naturalist training is coming in quite handy as I hike all the trails in the park and document the experience in this blog. I hope you’ll check back periodically and follow along. It is good to hear from you.