Adirondack Family Time™

Adirondack Animal Land Adirondack Animal Land is a 80 acre privately owned zoo. Located  3554 State Highway 30, Gloversville, NY 12078. From Lake George take 87 south to Exit 15 and follow Route 29w to 30N, following signs to Adirondack Animal Land.  

By Diane Chase Did you know that Gypsy Moths were introduced in the United States as a failed attempt at creating a silk industry similar to the silkworm? The Gypsy moth was brought from Europe to Massachusetts in 1869 by Leopold Trouvelot in attempt to breed the moths for silk production. A few escaped and now the moths defoliate trees from east to west coasts of the United States. Well, Mother Nature is trying to trip my apple growing by first giving that cute fawn apple leaves to nibble upon and now a bout with tent caterpillars. So what is the difference between the Eastern Tent Caterpillar, Forest Tent Caterpillar and the Gypsy Moth?  Eastern Ten Caterpillar "tent" The Eastern Tent Caterpillar • black heads, light brown body with hairs with a white stripe. • Light stripe down its back bordered with brown and black wavy stripes on either side  There are a series of blue and black dots along the length of the body • Length - about 2 to 2 1/2 inches • The

By Diane Chase For the 2 nd  year Amusements of America will be coming to Tupper Lake between stops at the Saratoga and Franklin County Fair. In case anyone is wondering about these traveling fairs, Saratoga County Fair (held in Ballston Spa) is one of the oldest fairs in New York State and still organized by the Saratoga Agricultural Society while the Franklin County Fair (held in Malone) is run by the Franklin County Agricultural Society and has continued to provide this annual event for over 150 years. Now the Tupper Lake Lions Club has gotten into the carnival game. From July 27-31 at the Tupper Lake Municipal Park there will be an assortment of carnival rides for children of all ages, from rides for small children to something the parents can share like the Ferris wheel, merry-go-round or the “dizzy dragon.” I can’t tell you what the last one is because when I spoke with Maurice from Amusements of America it sounded like he was on the Ferris Wheel at Saratoga County Fair. He ass

By Diane Chase There is always a lot of conversation about invasive species in the Adirondack Park. These prolific plants, animals and insect crowd out native plants. Purple Loosestrife is a hardy perennial that was brought to North American by settlers as early as the 1800s as a  medicinal plant to treat such ailments as ulcers, diarrhea, and dysentery.   Without a natural predator the plant chokes out native wetland plants (especially cattails) How does it affect other plants?  1) Its rootball grows in a tangled mass that chokes out other native plants. 2) A single plant can produce as many as 3 million tiny seeds. 3) It is aggressive and grows by root and seed making it nearly impossible to eradicate. What eats Purple Loosetrife?  The golden loosestrife beetle (Galerucella pusilla) is being introduced into the Adirondack Park in hopes to help control this wetland invasive. Thankfully extensive research shows that the beetle will not become a different issue to deal wit

FRIDAY ADIRONDACK FARMERS' MARKETS ESSEX COUNTY Elizabethtown - Behind the Adirondack History Center Museum.  Adirondack Farmers' Market    Fridays, June through October, 9 am-1 pm HERKIMER COUNTY Old Forge - Park Ave., behind the Old Forge Hardware Store Fridays, June - October  3-6 pm WARREN COUNTY Warrensburgh - Warrensburgh Mills historic district, River Street (NYS Rte. 418) near Curtis Lumber. Fridays, May through October  3 -6 pm Bolton Landing - Behind Town Hall Fridays: June - September 9 am - 2 pm 

Ebony Jewelwing Adirondacks For Kids: Be a Bug Detective while you are playing outside or along a nature hike and look for this damselfly known for its bright body and black wings. It can be seen buzzing about usually during the summer months of July and August.  The Ebony Jewelwing is a type of damselfly. This bug eats large quantities of aphids, flies, mosquitos and other insects! Just the type of outdoor friend we like to have. Not only is this little creature beautiful but very helpful.  That said, it also is a meal for birds, dragonflies and bats. Well, we all can't be at the top of the food chain. 

Thursday Adirondack Farmers’ Markets Clinton County CVPH Plattsburgh Thursday - 75 Beekman Street,  Thursdays, June - September  11am - 2 pm  Essex County Willsboro - Across from the old Mountain View restaurant on Rte. 22. Thursdays, June through September 9 am-1 pm Hamilton County Long Lake - Corner of Rte. 30 and South Hill Road across from post office. Thursdays, June through September 10 am -2 pm   Speculator - Located at the pavilion in Speculator Thursdays, June through September 3-6 pm  Warren County North Creek - Next to the train on the Hudson River on Railroad Place. northcreekfarmersmarket.com
 Thursdays, June through October 2-6 pm  Diane Chase is the author of Adirondack Family Time: Tri-Lakes & High Peaks (Your Four-Season Guide to Over 300 Activities)