Stone Mountain Pumpkin Festival

One of the most celebrated autumn events in the southeastern United States with the World’s Largest Pumpkin Drone and Light Show.

The Stone Mountain Pumpkin Festival, held annually at Stone Mountain Park near Atlanta, Georgia, has grown into one of the most celebrated autumn events in the southeastern United States. It began as a modest fall-themed gathering, with simple pumpkin displays and seasonal entertainment,

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Blue Ridge Dam

A hydroelectric structure in the Tennessee Valley Authority system and a significant landmark in the North Georgia mountains.

The Blue Ridge Dam, located in Fannin County, Georgia, stands as one of the key hydroelectric structures in the Tennessee Valley Authority system and a significant landmark in the North Georgia mountains. Completed in 1930 by the Tennessee Electric Power Company and later acquired by the TVA in 1939, the dam created Blue Ridge Lake, a man-made reservoir that has become both a vital energy source and a recreational centerpiece for the region.

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Brazilian Wandering Spider

The genus name, derived from the Greek for “murderess”.

The spiders commonly called Brazilian wandering spiders belong to the genus Phoneutria, a small but medically significant group of large, fast-moving araneomorph spiders in the family Ctenidae.

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Taxidermy

Its origins can be traced to ancient Egypt.

Taxidermy, the art and science of preserving and mounting the skins of animals for display or study, has deep roots that extend across centuries and cultures. The word itself is derived from the Greek “taxis,” meaning arrangement, and “derma,” meaning skin. Its origins can be traced to ancient Egypt, where animal mummification was practiced as part of religious rites.

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Placing Lavender in Drawers

The presence of lavender in the home created a natural boundary between the household and the unseen world, driving out malevolent forces and inviting harmony.

The superstition of placing lavender in drawers, when viewed through the lens of witchcraft and folklore, becomes an act rich in meaning, protection, and quiet ritual. For centuries, lavender has been more than a pleasant scent; it has been a guardian spirit in herb form, a ward against evil, and a purifier of both space and spirit.

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Paper Wasps

They derive their name from the distinctive papery nests they construct by chewing plant fibers mixed with saliva.

Paper wasps are a diverse group of social wasps belonging primarily to the genus Polistes, though the term also encompasses several related genera within the subfamily Polistinae. Found worldwide in both temperate and tropical regions, they derive their name from the distinctive papery nests they construct by chewing plant fibers mixed with saliva to form a malleable pulp.

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Roger Cook – This Old House

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife management and conservation law but his passion for he decided to pursue a career in landscaping.

Roger Cook, the beloved landscape contractor known for his long tenure on PBS’s This Old House, was born in 1954 and raised in Massachusetts, where he developed a deep love for the outdoors and gardening at an early age. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in wildlife management

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Shellac

A natural resin secreted by the female lac bug. 300,000 lac insects are needed to produce just one kilogram of shellac.

Shellac is a natural resin secreted by the female lac bug (Kerria lacca), primarily found on trees in India and Thailand. The term “shellac” is derived from the French word laque en écailles, meaning “lac in thin plates,” referencing its flake-like form after it has been refined and dried.

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Tornado Alley

A region in the central United States where tornadoes are most frequent and severe.

Tornado Alley is a loosely defined region in the central United States where tornadoes are most frequent and severe. The area generally includes parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and sometimes extends into states like Missouri, Iowa, and Colorado. This region is characterized by the clash of warm,

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Orographic Rainfall

The windward side of the mountain, which faces the incoming moist air, typically receives the heaviest rainfall.

Orographic rainfall is a type of precipitation that occurs when moist air is forced to ascend a mountain or elevated terrain. As the air rises, it cools and condenses, forming clouds and eventually releasing moisture in the form of rain. This process is common in regions where mountain ranges are positioned

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