Aging in Place

OLD TOCCOA FARM – WHERE PEOPLE, LIFESTYLE AND DESIGN LIVE TOGETHER.

It was on Labor Day weekend last year, when over 150 members, staff, family and friends gathered in the early morning fog as a kilted figure emerged over a hill with the sound of bagpipes playing the old tune “Flowers of Scotland.” It was quite a surreal backdrop as the dedication began announcing the muchanticipated opening of all 18-holes of golf at Old Toccoa Farm, and it was that moment that launched the community into a new level of positive momentum. A year later, and working through the challenges of a pandemic, Old Toccoa Farm is thriving with a robust pipeline of new home construction, a significant increase

in memberships, record setting rounds of golf, and the golf course has been nominated for Golf Digest’s “Best New Course” in 2020. For those unfamiliar with Old Toccoa Farm, it’s a 400+ acre mountain lifestyle community offers its residents and members beautifully appointed amenities on property, including well maintained walking trails, 4,300+ feet of Toccoa River frontage for kayaking and fly fishing, a stunning mountain-links style golf experience, complete with expansive practice facilities, and construction is underway to open their new pro shop, bar and grill and river fronting pavilion in the spring of 2021. “Our members are thrilled that we have committed to building these new facilities, and we are looking forward to programming them once completed. While the members have been enjoying the social activities thus far, the calendar in 2021 will provide more and more opportunities for members to gather

together and enjoy activities and programs that add value to their life”.

Their new tagline, “where people, lifestyle and design live together”, is truly what you see and experience each day when on property. You will notice the lifestyle immediately upon arrival, any day of the week. A healthy combination of member play and public play fills the tee-sheet and has the course thriving. You will also see members and guests enjoying scheduled yoga classes down by the river, and member couples walking their dogs on the nature trails. Off-property, members who enjoy boating and socializing on Lake Blue Ridge, including “Friday Night Tie-Ups”. Other water enthusiasts have enjoyed kayaking down the Toccoa River or wetting a line from the expansive Toccoa River frontage offered inside the gates of Old Toccoa Farm. Trout rise here and the fishery is a special place for seasoned

anglers or those just getting started. And as the leaves begin to drop and the cool mountain breezes remove the summer heat from the air, this mountain community transitions once again. The fall welcomes small gatherings of friends and families around the community fire pits, and the smell and sounds of crackling fires fills the air. Mother-nature stands center stage as the colors of autumn remind us the change is in the air and the new seasons welcome new opportunities.

Georgia’s favorite mountain town, Blue Ridge, has always been a popular destination for visitors, but now more than ever, people are being drawn to the mountains for more than just the orchards, the creeks and the mountain trails. This “college town for adults”, as it has been referred to, has it all…… a charming downtown with a cool vibe, incredible activitybased lifestyle offerings, and now, the Blue Ridge area has an unpretentious amenity-based

community that brings all the pieces together, as evident of the 20+ million in completed and new homes now under construction.

Property owners are working alongside a highly talented group of preferred builders and designers to create beautiful homes that are both modern and rustic. Design guidelines incorporate high quality natural and synthetic materials that translate into low maintenance living while maintaining the authentic mountain look and feel that buyers desire. Custom homes and smaller footprint cottages live together and there is truly something for everyone here. With over 25 homes in the fall-winter construction pipeline, the development is transitioning into a thriving residential amenity-based community.

There has never been a better time to visit and learn more about Old Toccoa Farm. ACLM

To learn more about the developer of Old Toccoa Farm: Developer – OTF Holdings, LLC – 404.277.4980 Real Estate Sales – 706.946.4663 Membership Information – 4706.946.4663 Golf Tee Times – 706.946.4653 Visit their website: oldtoccoafarm.com

Photos by: Jerry Mucklow Photography, jerrymucklow.com Squareframe Media, squareframemedia.com,

WE’RE CELEBRATING AUTUMN! SHOP EARLY

A new season brings new arrivals and we are falling in love with our autumn collection! We know you will, too. To celebrate the arrival of new products, cooler days and crisp nights!

STORE HOURS: MONDAY THRU SATURDAY 10:00 AM TO 6:00 PM

DAISY BOUTIQUE 35 SOUTH MAIN ST. JASPER, GA 30143 (706) 253-6996 DAISYBOUTIQUE.COM

The Largest Yarn Shop in north Georgia!

Exquisite Specialty Yarns of all Fiber Types in Basics to Novelty

PLUS Books • Patterns • Needles Notions • Purse Handles

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Tues, Wed & Fri 10-5 • Thurs 10-7 • Sat 10-4

www.stringsandstitches.com stringsandstitches@ellijay.com 449 Industrial Blvd. Suite 165 Spring Plaza • Ellijay, GA 30540

A BRCT Film - SRA is the story of a small town as told by the deceased citizens, with all the secrets they took to the grave. SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY October 8th - October 11th Thursday - Saturday 7:30 PM Sundays at 2 PM

A Fun Musical set on Halloween that tells of the joys of candy and frightful fun, but warns about the dangers of Greed.

HARRIET’S HALLOWEEN CANDY October 23rd - November 1st Thursday - Saturday 7:30 PM Sundays at 2 PM Halloween Night at 8 PM

This twist on the classic Christmas tale is set in 1950’s Atlanta during the Transit Strikes, and tells of selfl ess love and generosity. GIFT OF THE MAGI 2.0 November 27th - December 13th Thursday - Saturday 7:30 PM Sundays at 2 PM

BOOK YOUR TICKETS TODAY BY PHONE OR ONLINE! BOX OFFICE: 706. 632. 9191 BUY ONLINE @ WWW.BLUERIDGECOMMUNITYTHEATER.COM FIND US ON FB: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BRCTGA MAIN: 706. 632. 9223 2591 EAST 1ST STREET • BLUE RIDGE, GA

annuals or PerennIals? Garden and Landscape Editor Steve Montgomery Shares an Extensive list of Perennialas, Including His Favorites

Sedum spurium ‘John Creech’

TThe age-old question of annuals vs. perennials is often asked of me when I am out meeting with clients . My answer is both, I love annuals, as they are a great splash of color for different times of the year. I recommend using them in a limited capacity, mainly to fill in areas during the winter months that are lacking in color. I also recommend a spot or two in the garden where one can enjoy some seasonal color year-round. There are so many to choose from and many are great, but you can end up replacing them up to 3 times a year. This is a lot of effort, work and money. The other option is to use perennials that flower on a seasonal basis, as the name implies, perennially. This is usually a onetime install and ongoing flowering for years. Perennials normally disappear in the winter and come back every year and bloom for our enjoyment. Sometimes perennials die out due to lack of water, light, fertilizer, but for the most part, are very hardy and require only minimal attention. Pruning the finished flowers off of the plant (dead heading) usually makes the plant produce more flowers for a longer period of time. Perennials are a great compliment to your trees and shrubs and the overall garden. Many of the plants I am going to mention here may be evergreen or evergreen with a seasonal bloom. Some do not bloom at all but give a nice texture and foliage for the garden, and some are actually biennial and re-seeding annuals, these designations depend on your planting zone. For the sake of this conversation, we are going to refer to all of these as perennials. Here are some of my favorite perennials that do well in this area and require little attention. Some take a little more care, but all would be a great compliment to your garden. Please keep in mind that many of these are not deer resistant so you might be taking a risk on using them. The following letters and symbols represent specific attributes to the individual plants: Native Woodland Phlox, Phlox divarcata

Key:

** = Deer resistant, not deer proof N = Native to the area E = Evergreen EB = Evergreen with a seasonal bloom SH = Shade S = Sun F = One of my favorites

Ferns: all ferns are ** (Deer resistant) and most are SH (Shade), a few are sun tolerant:

Maidenhair Fern- SH; Silver Painted Fern- F; Holly Fern- SH, E; Dixie Wood Fern- SH, E; Autumn Fern- SH, E, F; Louisiana Wood Fern- SH, N; Cinnamon Fern- SH, N; Christmas Fern- SH, E, N; Tassel Fern- SH; Southern Shield Fern- SH/S, F; Japanese Beach Fern- SH

Spikemoss: Look like ferns, but are actually a moss:

Arborvitae Fern- SH; Peacock Moss- SH

Grasses:

Acorus- SH/S; Carex, SH/S; Sea Oates- N, S; Horse Tail- S; Maidenhair- S; Muhly, S; Mexican Feather Grass- S

Hostas: A wonderful, easy to grow plant, but definitely not deer resistant. Deer love Hostas, so if you can use them, do. You might want to try one before you buy a bunch. All SH

(Shade): Gold Standard; Earth Angel; Albo and Aureo Marginata; First Frost; Francee, F; Guacamole; June; Mighty Mouse; Patriot; Stained Glass; Francis Williams, F; Blue Angel; Halcyon; Elegans; Mouse Ears; August Moon; Sum and Substance, F; Royal Standard, F

Hardy Succulents, Sedums: Most are E (Evergreen) and S (Sun):

Coral Carpet; France; Jellybean; Micranthum Murale, Akebono, Eco-Mt.; Emei; Weihenstephaner Gold; Aureum; Limelight; Ogon; Variegata; Angelina; Blue Spruce- F; John Creech- F; Fuldaglut; Takesimense; Tectractinum- F; Hens & Chicks- F

Other Perennials for SH (Shade):

Japanese Anemone- F; Columbine- Some N; Wood Aster; Astilbe- F, Bleeding Heart; Barrenwort; Woodland Spurge; Hardy Geranium, Lenten Rose- **, E, EB, F; Japanese Roof Iris- **,F; Deadnettle- F; Blue Star Creeper,- F; Mazus- F; Woodland Phlox- N, F; Forget Me Not; Jacob’s Ladder; Variegated Solomon Seal; Blue eyed Grass- N; Wood Poppy; Foamflower- N; Toad Lily- F; Perennial Angelica; Ajuga; Cast Iron Plant- E; Heuchera/ Alum Root- E, F; Heuchera x Blue Ridge- E, F

Other Perennials for S (Sun):

Yarrow- some N; Aster- N; Canna; Shasta Daisy- F; Mum;Coreopsis- some N; Dianthus- EB, F; Foxglove- S, SH; Coneflower; Joe Pye Weed- N; Blanket Flower; Gaura- N; Daylily, many varieties, favorite Moontraveler- F; Variegated and Regular Japanese Iris- **, F; Siberian Iris- **, F; Flag Iris- N; Torch Lily; Hardy Lantana; Liatris- N, F; Cardinal Flower- N; Lythrum; Beebalm- Some N; Peony- F; Russian Sage, F; Garden Phlox- N, F; Thrift- N, F; Black Eyed Susan- N, F; Sage- N; Pincushion Flower; Goldenrod- N; Stoke’s Aster- N, F; Verbena Bonariensis; Verbena Homestead- N; Veronica Speedwell; Lamb’s Ear- E, F; Santolina, E. ACLM

Steve Montgomery and Company has extensive knowledge in the areas of landscape, hardscape, construction of outdoor structures, water features and pools. Steve Montgomery and Company. Phone: 404-966-8283 or 770-317-1484 Email: Steve@smac.biz Website: www.smac.biz.

Black Bear Antiques and Interiors

With 20,000 square feet filled And 65 dealers, Black Bear offers cabin & traditional furnishings, artwork, accessories, garden, lamps, Chandeliers, Jewelry, Collectibles, Candles & Gifts. A Great Place to Spend a Rainy Day or Search for That Something Oh-So Specia.l