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Garden of Winged Delights
Here’s a treat for anyone who loves butterflies. (And who doesn’t love butterflies?)
The Native Butterfly Garden at Burgess Falls State Natural Area near Sparta is a 20,000-square-foot garden with more than 3,000 native plants that attract monarchs, swallowtails, sulfurs and other beauties.
The project was funded by the Tennessee State Iris Fund
and landscaped by the park staff, the Putnam County Master Gardeners and Americorps members, all of whom contributed to the thousands of man-hours required to complete it.
The annual butterfly garden celebration, featuring a day
of educational programs, is planned for Aug. 9.
For more information, call (931) 432-5312.
Frozen Assets
The Tic-Toc Ice Cream Parlor has been
a favorite gathering spot in Loudon - about
28 miles west of Knoxville – for nearly
a decade. Folks from miles around seem
to gravitate to the quaint downtown
ice cream shop, where fresh, homemade ice cream is served
up mid-May through Labor Day.
Folks who frequent the place say it’s the best ice cream around, and that tasty difference may have something to do with 14 percent butterfat, says owner Bob Jones, who arrives at 6:30 each morning to start mixing the ingredients. The process takes about five hours, and he makes about 30 gallons a day.
The ice cream parlor was originally opened in the former Tic-Toc jewelry store building, and Jones and his wife, Mary, bought the business a couple years ago. They’ve kept the same recipes, décor and small-town friendly atmosphere that have turned the Tic-Toc into a Loudon County landmark.
Chill Out With Cool Characters
Take a break from the heat and check out the penguins at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, where the Penguins’ Rock exhibit features more than a dozen of the cold-climate critters. The interactive gallery includes touch pools so guests can feel the chill of the penguins’ watery world, and lively graphics lead visitors on a penguin fact-finding mission. Watch a video of the playful penguins, see them live on the aquarium’s PenguinCam or read the Penguin Keepers’ blog online at tnaqua.com (click on “Meet Our Animals”).
While in Chattanooga, enjoy the view from the window
of a Tennessee Valley Railroad restored vintage train,
or board the Southern Belle Riverboat for a lunch or dinner cruise. Check out other attractions or plan your getaway
at www.visitchattanooga.com.
We’d Like To Hear From You
Do you know of a wonderfully special restaurant or a quirky little museum?
Send your ideas to TN Connections Editor, 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, or e-mail tnceditor@jnlcom.com.
