Free milkweed aimed at helping protect fireflies

  • Students from Fannin County Middle School, from left, Keagan Massey, Lauren Waters, and Mackenzie Duvall passed out Milkweed plants to all who showed up for the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce & CVB event. The free milkweed day was part of the Chamber’s Lights Off, Fireflies On project to protect the natural beauty of summer evenings in Fannin County when fireflies light up the night sky. Milkweed protects fireflies from predators.
    Students from Fannin County Middle School, from left, Keagan Massey, Lauren Waters, and Mackenzie Duvall passed out Milkweed plants to all who showed up for the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce & CVB event. The free milkweed day was part of the Chamber’s Lights Off, Fireflies On project to protect the natural beauty of summer evenings in Fannin County when fireflies light up the night sky. Milkweed protects fireflies from predators.
  • Representatives of several different groups including the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce & CVB, Fannin County schools, the University of Georgia Extension Service, and Noontootla Creek Farms participated in the Free Milkweed Day. Shown during the event are, from left, Tori Arp, Christie Gribble, Shannon Cioffi, Amy Clay, Becky Griffin, Shari Bingnear, Kim Foster, Emily Owenby, and Jode Mull.
    Representatives of several different groups including the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce & CVB, Fannin County schools, the University of Georgia Extension Service, and Noontootla Creek Farms participated in the Free Milkweed Day. Shown during the event are, from left, Tori Arp, Christie Gribble, Shannon Cioffi, Amy Clay, Becky Griffin, Shari Bingnear, Kim Foster, Emily Owenby, and Jode Mull.
  • Fannin County Middle School students Zoey McDaris, Kaydee Parris, Rylee Kenniff, McKinzee Easterling, Braelyn Money, Lola Temples, and Melissa Acevedo-Montoya stood at the entrance of the Fannin County School System Agriculture center with poster boards and flowers to give to visitors and welcome them to the free milkweek day.
    Fannin County Middle School students Zoey McDaris, Kaydee Parris, Rylee Kenniff, McKinzee Easterling, Braelyn Money, Lola Temples, and Melissa Acevedo-Montoya stood at the entrance of the Fannin County School System Agriculture center with poster boards and flowers to give to visitors and welcome them to the free milkweek day.

    The night sky will sparkle with fireflies in Fannin County this summer. On May 10, the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce hosted Lights Off, Fireflies On, Milkweed Day. Milkweed plants of two different varieties were given out  free of charge to those who stopped by the Fannin County School System Agriculture Center.

    Fannin County Middle School students, Fannin County High School FFAmembers , and University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service representatives all partnered together to have the Milkweed ready to go and inform people about the fireflies.

    These plants protect the fireflies from predators.  Scientists believe that after the firefly eats parts of  the plant, it becomes poisonous to it’s predators.

    Light Pollution was also discussed at the event, in regard to fireflies. Artificial lighting at night affects the fireflies ability to communicate and find a mater.

    Sponsors of the firefly program encourage residents to make sure their lights are only used when necessary, only as bright as necessary, and warm-colored to help protect these nighttime creatures.

    For more information about Lights Off, Fireflies On, contact the Fannin County Chamber of Commerce at 706-632-5680 or visit their website at blueridgemountains. com.