Greensboro Daily Photo

Bee Positive

In Greensboro, with temperatures recently dropping to 39 degrees, summer is gone and fall is fleeting. So far, fall foliage is being stingy with color. The above photo cheats a little bit it, as it was taken at the recent fall flower sale at the Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden in Kernersville. Hydrangeas were abloom in October and bees were busily working on the flowers. Hidden from view are price tags, shipping bins, hoses, a fence, tables, clipboards, and other items from the sale. Actually, the brilliant blue in the background is nothing more than a blurred tag. Today's Sunday reflection reminds us that, to an extent, we can construct what we see and how we perceive it. It is human nature to do so. With a little bit of effort we can find beauty in what we see. 

Greensboro is a beautiful place. Sometimes we get too bogged down in our own worries, disappointments, or political platforms to step back; or, in the case of the photo, zoom in to see the beauty around us. We hope that today, at least once, you will take a little time to find the beauty in our community- and your own life. That beauty can actually grow and spread and beget more beauty. Truly, it helps to bee positive. 

Pho Hien Vuong

Pho Hien Vuong, the fabulous Vietnamese Restaurant located at 4109 Spring Garden Street was packed, several times over, last night. With so much of Guilford County out of power, people got very creative about finding ways to get a hot meal and out of the dark. This family-owned restaurant has been a Greensboro institution since 1996. The Hien Vuong family cooks are known for recreating the flavors of southeastern Vietnam, using lots of spices, fresh vegetables, and meats, while using very little oil. The kitchen and waitstaff seemed very undaunted by the large parties of guests on a Thursday night. 

Hopefully, everyone is safe today with the power back on. With so many neighborhoods with downed power lines, flooding, and trees blocking roads, there is much work to be done. With the current situation throughout the county, it is best that children are staying put at home- or out eating warm noodles and broth with loved ones.

As ready as Greensboro was for Hurricane Florence, it seems as if Hurricane Michael took the community a little by surprise!

Arboretum Time

The Greensboro Arboretum off of Market Street is just such a beautiful place to visit and to take photos, allow us to share one more picture of this mom pointing out plants to her chid during their time at Art in the Arboretum this past Sunday. How wonderful to have parents who take their children to these open, public spaces and teaches them to appreciate places that are free to all with no strings attached. The City of Greensboro has a great system of public spaces and collaborates with many organizations to keep the spaces vibrant and filled with interesting events.

The photo is a little smoky, due to the many food trucks that were to the side of the photographer. But the hazy look adds to the ambience of the photo. Let us all remember that we have local florist, nurseryman, and horticulturist, John Van Lindley (b. 1838- d. 1918) to thank for much of this open, public space and this love of plants and flowers. He operated the New Garden Nursery, the first of its kind in North Carolina. Were he alive today, he would love seeing the wide variety of plants in the Arboretum.

We hope you have a wonderful Thursday and that, by the time you read this post,  Hurricane Michael has broken up and fizzled into nothing more than some heavy rains.

Greensboro Beautiful & Arboretum

Today, is another photo taken at the Art in the Arboretum event this past Sunday (October 8th) sponsored by Greensboro Beautiful. This wonderful organization sponsors lots of gardening events in the community. This non-profit organization was established in 1968. As they report on their website, Greensboro Beautiful is dedicated to conserving the beauty of Greensboro and to enhancing the ecology. It is common to see members around town doing clean-ups, planting trees, or working gardening events. If you look closely in the background, the green watering can is actually a donation bucket for Greensboro Beautiful, and, indeed, they put to good use every penny that comes their way.

The plant in the foreground appears to be a trifoliate orange. While, technically, they are edible, they are very bitter. Sometimes marmalade is made from them. If you try to pick one, watch out for those prickly thorns. This is a great time of year to visit the Arboretum. In spite of the heat, seeing the plants with their colors starting to change make the visit especially worthwhile.

Blue Sky Over Mill Street

Today was a beautiful one in Greensboro. The temperature hovered in the mid-70s and the skies were blue. Perhaps it is the angle one can get by standing in the parking lot of the Red Collection on Mill Street, but the sky always seems to be so noticeably beautiful in this part of town. This tiny street between Westover Terrace and Battleground Avenue in Midtown seems to be a perfect, urban vantage point to admire the sky. Today there is an abundance of triangles formed by the phone wires, the angle of the photo, the clouds in the sky and the three red cars in the middle part of the photo.

The greenery of the maple trees on the left hand side of the road contrasts perfectly with the gray on the right hand side. If you look closely, those trees are just starting to change color on the top, a sure symbol that nature knows it is time for autumn. This former industrial area is now part of Midtown and will likely change dramatically, especially if a Publix grocery store moves into the area.*  Here's hoping the plans include keeping the trees.

*News and Record article, here.

Howard Street, North of Spring Garden

Howard Street, north of Spring Garden, intersects with Sherwood, near Lindley Park. The above Howard Street home is beautiful. On Saturday, the street was full of mushrooms. The recent damp weather made conditions perfect for mushrooms and they were everywhere. This bundle of spores evokes the lore of European fairy tales and fairy rings. From this angle, the mushrooms seem gigantic, almost overpowering the house.

How about your house? Has it been full of mushrooms? Learning which ones are edible and which are poison is quite an art. If you are interested in learning more, there is always the option of joining the Piedmont Triad Mushroom club. The group is on Facebook. They regularly hold potlucks and workshops, get together and talk about mushrooms... and probably eat them, too. 

Leaves of Tobacco & a Slice of Yesteryear

This charming farmhouse on Highway 158, at the corner of Angel Pardue Road, is located just north of Greensboro and just east of Stokesdale. As you can in the field on the right of the road and on the left, back to the tree line, this house is surrounded by fields of tobacco. While decreasing, tobacco remains North Carolina's number one cash crop and North Carolina is the largest tobacco producer in the United States.*

If you live in Greensboro, it is not uncommon to see scenes like the one above: a charming farmhouse with a wrap-around porch, a sleepy country road, fields and fields of tobacco, or some other agricultural product. Soon, this tobacco will be harvested, the fields will be plowed, and it will be time for planting fall crops- chard, cabbage, collards. If kids are lucky, there will be time for a little harvest fun; perhaps some apple cider made, a corn maze to visit, a hayride, and maybe even Halloween fun. Today's photo is a little slice of a way of life that has existed in North Carolina since North Carolina became a state.

* reference and article, here.

Lawndale Drive, the 3500 Block

As we batten down the hatches and prepare for Hurricane Florence, Greensboro residents are trying to determine the best way to remains safe during this weather event. Florence seems to be having trouble making up her mind where she will land and do her damage.

The above photo features a house in the 3500 block of Lawndale Drive, very near a cluster of retail shops at Pisgah Church Road. This ranch house is so typical of the houses that were being constructed in the 1950s in Greensboro. If you notice, the house has a large picture window is surrounded by very mature trees. Greensboro's neighborhoods are full of them (the city comes by its name honestly). Those trees provide lots of shade, they also are in danger of blowing over or having limbs drop during times of storm. Please send positive thoughts our way and be prepared to help if some of our dwellings and businesses suffer damage. As feasible, stay safe... and dry!

 

 

Time for Spiders and the Central Carolina Fair

The above, yellow garden spider has taken up housekeeping behind a mailbox on the edge of a field in northwest Guilford County. She is about the size of a fifty-cent piece. Also known as writing, or corn spiders, they are common throughout the United States. These curious creatures can make their webs wiggle and they can zig-zag write, not unlike Charlotte in Charlotte's web. This is one of North Carolina's largest and most brightly colored spiders. They are masters of trapping prey. If you want to teach children about the food chain, this arachnid is a great specimen. It is not uncommon to find moths and butterflies in their strong webs.

Females live for about a year, at least until the first hard frost. If brought indoors, they can live for several years. Anyone want a pet spider? We know where "Charlotte" lives in Greensboro. On the other hand, if we wake up to find the message RADIANT, TERRIFIC or HUMBLE in her web, we'll rush her off to the Central Carolina Fair, which begins September 7th and and runs through Sunday, September 16th at the Coliseum Complex. This is the 120th year for the Central Carolina Fair.* Yes, the fair is 105 years older than a Starbuck's pumpkin spice late. In the 21st century edition of Charlotte's Web, instead of SOME PIG, do you think she might write, SOME LATTE?

*more information, here.

Hints of Fall

Have you been enjoying these glorious days in Greensboro lately? There are still several hours of daylight in the evening. The shadows are long and the warm rays of the sun linger. The above photo features a scene on a sleepy road in northwest Guilford County. It shows just how green Greensboro has been this summer, and reveals the gentle contour to the landscape. This area is not completely flat, nor it is hilly. Yet, less than an hour away, we have Pilot Mountain and Hanging Rock; a few hours on to the west, the mountains, and a few hours in the other direction, the sea. Perfection!

With temperatures in high 80s these last few days, it is hard to believe that fall will be here within the month. There are hints of summer ending as gardens slow production, trees start dropping nuts, the magnolia pods are preparing to go to seed; mint and basil has long gone to seed. Perhaps the biggest indicator that fall in on the way, has nothing to do with Greensboro, per se; but, today, Starbucks offers pumpkin spice lattes again for the fifteenth year in a row.

Living Waterscapes

Living Waterscapes is a Greensboro business located on Sandy Ridge Road, across from the farmers market. They have such beautiful things to make yards look magical: koi ponds, water lilies, elaborate playsets for children, pergolas, lighting, accent features, and so much more. The above photo features a few of their Japanese koi gliding in and around the water lilies. "Koi" in Japanese also means "love" and "affection" and you are sure to fall in love with these fish and their ponds when you see them on display. While koi, bred for their bright and shiny colors, are lovely to look at, these color patterns also make them a target for predators, from heron to raccoons. Living Waterscapes has the expertise to build outdoor koi ponds  that provide places for koi to hide and features that are deterrent to predators. 

Their original Greensboro location has been so successful since opening in 1999, they been rebranded as Pond Country and have expanded into the Charlotte and Knoxville, TN markets. The day we were on location, a couple in their late 70s walked out of the retail shop with a bag of koi in hand. They told us they'd been going to the store since it opened and they were chatting about the new fish they'd picked out together as if they were newlyweds. So much "koi" over their koi, it was heartwarming.

Carolina Mantis 2018

This is the time of year that gardens really start to get buggy. The above mature Carolina mantis was having a field day eating bugs in a local Greensboro garden. The Carolina mantis (Stagmomantis carolina) is native to North Carolina; however it is common throughout the USA, Mexico, and even South America. We're pretty sure this brown mantis is a female as she has short wings and widens out towards the bottom. Also, the females don't fly and this one only scooted around during the photo shoot and never flew away. (No mantis was harmed in the preparation of this blog post).

The praying mantis catches and eats other insects with their forelegs. A mantis doesn't have to eat daily, but can eat from 2-7 flies a day. They live approximately nine months, consuming as many as 1,000 bugs in their lifetime.* This should make the owners of the above garden very happy as pest reduction by mantis is very organic and good for the garden. We try to publish one mantis photo a summer. Have you seen a mantis in your Greensboro neighborhood yet?

*reference and more mantis fun facts, here.

And Then There Were Frogs...

It wouldn't seem like summer in Greensboro with a rainy spell to bring out the frogs. This green tree frog (hyla cinera) is more common in the Costal Plain region of North Carolina, but is expanding into the Piedmont (Greensboro's region). The green tree frog likes wetlands, swamps, and moist, shady areas.* The above frog was spotted on a metal fence post in the middle of a butter bean patch. While green tree frogs are known for being easily frightened, this one seemed determined to hang out in this same spot, even though the humans around him were busy picking butter beans. What a reward for working hard in a garden, getting to see nature's creatures, also enjoying the garden. 

Of the 28 frogs and toads found in North Carolina, the green tree frog is one of the brightest in color. It is the state amphibian of Georgia and Louisiana. Do you know the state amphibian for North Carolina? Read below the reference.

 * reference and a chance to listen to how this guy sounds.

 

North Carolina has two state amphibians. The pine barrens tree frog is our state frog and it looks a lot like the above frog, except the stripe in brown. North Carolina also has a state salamander, the marbled salamander.

Spirituality of Nature

Today's photo features a male American redstart, who was flitting around in the leaves in the Bog Garden off Hobbs Road. Since November 2017, volunteers have planted 1,427 native plants in the Bog Garden. The funding for the new plants has been provided by Greensboro Beautiful and also the Piedmont Bird Club. These native plants attract birds and other wildlife. The American redstart is a warbler that likes open wooded habitat with deciduous trees. They are active birds that seem to never stand still.

In Psalms XI, the soul is compared to a bird. "Flee as a bird to your mountain." This week, Greensboro lost Phil Segal III, who was the founder and owner of Havana Phil's Cigar Company. We featured his business yesterday, not knowing that he passed away on Wednesday. On Friday, David Tyler, a young college student who grew up is Greensboro, was buried. So, today's moment of spirituality is in memory of Phil and David. Life is short, precious, and, before we know it, we flee as a bird to our mountain. The Greensboro community is grateful for our time with Phil and David. Both men left this earth too soon. We are thankful for public places like the Bog Garden that give us a chance to sit and reflect on life and the beauty all around us, especially in times of loss.

Produce Stands and the Flavors of Summer

Produce stands are a summer tradition in the South and they are plentiful in Greensboro this time of year. These side-of-the-road pop ups are a great place to stop and chat a while, unless of course vendors are super busy. By talking to the vendor, you can tell how the growing season has been, what is in season and what is not, and maybe even get some suggestions for recipes. Recently, the above stand has been at the Spears YMCA on Horse Pen Creek Road. Until this past week, they have had strawberries, but strawberries are out of season now. Blueberries and peaches are plentiful. 

The above produce was from Candor (Johnson Peaches if we remember correctly) which is located in Montgomery County. According to the 2010 census, the town of Candor only has 840 residents. However, come the third Saturday in July, which is July 21st this year, all of Candor will be celebrating the peach festival and peach EVERYTHING will be for sale. Until then, in Greensboro, we can all enjoy Candor/Sandhills peaches from the farmers markets and produce stands. Maybe we can even sneak off to Yum Yum to get some ice cream to go with those fresh peaches. By shopping locally, we are reminded that different foods have a season. Oh, the flavors of summer. 

Cabbage White Butterfly on White Echinacea

Summertime is Greensboro is such a great time to enjoy the local flora and fauna. As the summer solstice approaches and the hours of daylight are almost at peak for the year, there is so much to see and appreciate. In the above photo, a butterfly was settling in for the night, trying to blend in with the white cone flower. To the right of this scene is a cabbage patch and the larva of these butterflies are a serious pest to cabbage. Fortunately, the growing season for cabbage is over and we were able to harvest all of the cabbage before the invasion of the cabbage butterfly.

Insect-plant interaction is fascinating. Sometimes it is a good thing. For example, magnolia trees are pollinated by beetles. So, if you have a magnolia tree in your yard, you may notice beetles also. Sometimes, the relationship is not so great, as is the case with cabbage butterfly that comes to invade the cabbage patch. If you are sitting with your friends and family glued to their phones, have them investigate the flora and fauna and the dynamic interaction of the two. With all of the rain this spring, Greensboro is especially green and rich in vegetation.

Rainbow Over the Golf Course

Today's photo was taken at the golf course of the Greensboro Country Club along Carlson Dairy Road. While the farm course is extra thirsty due to having extensive landscaping done, most golf courses require generous amounts of water. The photo reminds us that when there is water, and the sun is angled just right, a rainbow forms. Rainbows can appear in unexpected places at unanticipated times. Let's all help each other find the rainbows even when the clouds loom large. Happy Sunday.

Hydrangeas Galore at 133 Paisley St.

In Greensboro, this has been an especially good spring for hydrangeas. The weather has been a bit cooler and sufficiently wet to make these beauties spring to life. Every year, this property at 133 Paisley Street, on the northwest edge of downtown has the most beautiful hydrangeas. The green shingled house appears to be rental property, but the landlord is diligent about mowing the lawn and keeping up with the landscaping. We keep hoping to see someone working outside, so we can ask about these beautiful hydrangeas. Does someone water and fertilize them. Or, do they magically find a way to care for themselves?

Here's to a weekend of admiring the beautiful plants that are blooming around Greensboro and to admiring all of the beautiful yards. If you are near Smith Street Diner, walk around the corner and have a look at these beautiful flowers. Happy Saturday, dear readers!

Iris Season in Greensboro

Just when it seems like winter is finally behind us, iris season is almost over in Greensboro. The irises have been blooming beautifully over the last couple of weeks, and now, the are ready to let go of their glorious blooms. Actually Schreiner's Iris Farm in Oregon has mapped out the bloom season, explaining that some varieties bloom early and some late, with a total blooming time at about six weeks. They can start as early as mid-march and last into June. Worldwide, there about 200 species of bearded irises. The are perennials and easy to grow. Iris was the Greek goddess of the rainbow, and the name fits as there are iris blooms of about every color- and size. If you are looking to decrease the amount of grass in your yard, as well as the need to water, yet you want some color, iris plants are a good choice. 

The above photo features one variety of bearded iris in a Greensbor yard. If you know of any iris gardens in Greensboro, let us know so we can get out to photograph them. They are very photogenic. Last week, we shared a photo of chard, spinach, and cabbage (it is still growing strong and producing servings of green, leafy vegetables). Perhaps, subconsciously, Wednesday is nature day on Greensboro Daily Photo.

 

Piedmont One Mic Acoustic Convention

The first annual Piedmont One Mic Acoustic Convention (#POMAC) was held this past weekend about 45 minutes southeast of Greensboro in Franklinville, NC.  Last year, Mark Dillon (playing guitar above) presented the idea to the Franklinville Town Council and they were eager and agreeable from the start. Once permission was granted and funding was arranged, Mark and members of the Piedmont Old Time Society began planning the festival. Thankfully, committee members had a lot of experience attending festivals and took great care to make POMAC enjoyable for musicians and spectators alike. Thanks to festival costs being underwritten by Franklinville for this first year, the festival was free and prize money was awarded to individuals and bands in a wide variety of musical categories.

Franklinville, formerly a thriving cotton mill community, is now a sleepy little town, located along the Deep River in eastern Randolph County. The venue was just perfect, with the Deep River as a backdrop and the viewing area on a natural slope with all views leading to the stage. Plans are already in the works for POMAC 2019. To learn more, check in from time to time at the Piedmont Old Time Society's website, here.

Cold Gardening in Greensboro

As the world becomes more aware of sustainable practices, small-plot, home gardening is gaining more traction. The above photo features part of a cold-weather garden planted in a yard in northwest Greensboro in late March. The beauty of cold-gardening is that the plants are cold resistant, and the growing season happens before bugs overrun the garden and start eating the plants. After a month, the small garden has already produced several servings of spinach and chard. The cabbage looks healthy, indicating that it will soon produce heads. There are no signs of insects.

With winter finally behind us in Greensboro, it is not time to plant summer gardens. Please consider filling your property with as much produce as possible. Vegetables and greens look lovely planted among the flower beds. Working the dirt is good for the soul. Plus, gardening can help you get to know your neighbors. Perhaps you want to offer them a little gardening space. Perhaps you can garden and they know how to can; you both get vegetables for the winter. Perhaps you can give them some garden space in exchange for house sitting on your beach weekends. Best of all, perhaps you can share the produce when 100 tomatoes are ripe at once. Happy Wednesday! It is a good day to plan your garden.

Greensboro Astronomy Club

One of the best ways to hook students on science is to expose them to it early. In the above photo, members of the Greensboro Astronomy Club are showing the curious, young and old alike, about a world that is not always visible with the naked eye. They were set up in Price Park at Kathleen Clay Edwards Branch Public Library during Greensboro's recent Earth Day event.

The Greensboro Astronomy Club meets at the Greensboro Science Center. Monthly, a group of kindred spirits gathers to observe and discuss astronomical events. Members are very generous in sharing equipment and expertise. Their next meeting will be Friday, May 18th at 7:30pm at the Greensboro Science Center on Lawndale. If life from the earth to infinity and beyond, this may well be the perfect group for you.

Yellow House at the Corner of Meadowood and Greenview

Nothing says spring like a bright yellow home and bright pink azaleas. Built in 1962, this three bedroom, two bath split level home reflects an architectural style popular in the mid-20th century. This design makes it possible for the adults to be in one part of the house and the teenagers to hang out in another.  The home is located in the Friendswood neighborhood at the corner of Meadowood Street and Greenview Drive, just off Wendover Avenue. You can tell the owners take great pride in the home by the meticulous trim on the azalea, essentially turning it into a hedge.

The gnarly tree on the left is at least as old as the home. It adds charm and character to the lot, reminding us that plantings of all ages have a purpose in landscape. Consider it an overgrown bonsai. If you take Meadowood on your trek two and from Wendover, Sam's Club, or Costco, keep an eye out for this cheerful house. Surely, people who would paint a house bright yellow are cheerful, too.

Even google maps captured the pink square hedge on his house!

Spring Blossoms

 

The cherry blossoms have reached peak in Washington, D.C. and, while Greensboro may not be brimming with sakura blossoms, the blossoms of spring are lovely here. Greensboro has rolling blossoms. Early bloomers include redbud and tulip magnolia, flowering trees like pear and cherry; then come the dogwood and azalea. The above photo shows blossoms on a long stretch of road in northwest Greensboro. As of this week, the lilac are starting to bloom.

This past Saturday, April 7, parts of Greensboro saw snowflakes late at night, reminiscent of the blossoms in the photo. On occasion, every several years, it snows in April in Greensboro. According to the records of the National Weather Service, it has never snowed in Greensboro in May. * Is it too hopeful to assume Greensboro has had its last snow for the year? The blossoms and light in the above photo exude a translucent crispness. The jacket and hat of the man walking his dog indicate that it is a cool spring day. How wonderful to enjoy a walk along a road with no signs of traffic, not uncommon in Greensboro if you get away from the main roads and plan your walks when it is not rush hour. Happy Tuesday!

*see record snowfalls for Greensboro, National Weather Service records, here.

 

 

 

 

Living the Good Life On Walker Avenue

This house on Walker Avenue, in the heart of Lindley Park, is all dressed up for spring. The home is impeccably maintained and the yard has great curb appeal. The owners are nice, neighborly folks, who came out to strike up a chat as we were photographing their flowers. They planted the above tulip bulbs last fall and, this week, the flowers are in full bloom. The tulips provide a great accent to the stone wall.

The house, built in 1928, while only a little over 1,600 square feet, has that wonderful front porch where the owners can enjoy each other and their neighbors on warm afternoons and evenings. Today's photo speaks volumes about life in Lindley Park. From the Arboretum to Bestway, Lindley Elementary School, all the shops, and homes in between, spring has sprung in Lindley Park, and the yards are looking glorious.

Spring Blossom Time

Since the weather forecasters are hinting at a wintry mix for Greensboro on Wednesday, today might be a good day to provide a "blossom status" for the community. Greensboro is ready for spring and, after such a sunny afternoon, yesterday, blossoms are sprouting out everywhere. The above blossoms are budding on the shrubs at Deep Roots Co-Op on Eugene Street in Downtown Greensboro. It is hard to believe that this photo was taken in a parking lot on a busy street. 

On Saturday, Joymongers Brewery Company, Deep Roots' next door neighbor, was bursting at the seams with people out celebrating St. Patrick's Day. In the meantime, Deep Roots was offering parking for $5 a car for those headed to the brewery. However, for those who were at the lot to shop for healthy food, or to take photos of blossoms in the lot, parking was free.  

Take time to zoom in and appreciate these special signs of spring in Greensboro. Happy Monday!

Starmount Drive

This house on Starmount Drive, just off of Holden Road, is a prime example of just how beautiful Greensboro is this time of year. On a sunny day, houses simply exude beauty and warmth. This house, built in 1955, has been extended and renovated and is now over 4,000 square feet. Stephen Jobe was the architect of this home that has many custom features, like the dormer and the rounded mahogany front door, that give it lots of curb appeal.

The Starmount Forest neighborhood is located near Friendly Center, Sternberger Elementary, Starmount Country Club, a park, and more. The Starmount name is the English translation of "Sternberger", a very prominent Greensboro family. Emanuel Sternberger was a merchant from South Carolina who moved to Greensboro and joined the Cone Brothers in the production of flannel. Today, the neighborhood, school, street, and Tannenbaum Sternberger Foundation are just a few of the many ways their legacy and impact on Greensboro is remembered today. If you have time this weekend, consider getting lost in one of Greensboro's neighborhoods. You will see so many lovely homes.

Mighty Tendril

On any given day at the Yanceyville Curb Market, you can find farmers from age 20 to 80 selling their produce, and the farmers at The Mighty Tendril are on the younger end of the continuum. The mighty Tendril is owned by a young couple, who bill themselves as business and life partners- Emily and Adam. According to their website, Emily and Adam met at UNC Chapel Hill, where they became committed to healthy and locally sourced food. After graduating, they began farming and, in 2017, moved their operation, The Mighty Tendril, to Cedar Grove, just north of Mebane.

Every Saturday, The Mighty Tendril sets up a table at the Yanceyville Curb Market. You never know what intriguing vegetables they will bring and Emily and Adam are always so enthusiastic when talking about customers about fresh vegetables. The above photo features flowers that they brought to sell last weekend. Their bouquets are vibrant and always freshly picked. It is nice seeing farmers, young and old alike,  living their dream. This new generation of farmers is as passionate about farming as the older generation. Next visit, we’ll have to get a photo of them, if we can find a time we’re not interrupting their time with customers.

Blooming Trees at L&O Body Shop on Burlington Road

Imagine driving back from Raleigh on I-40 West on a Friday afternoon when the traffic is bumper to bumper, getting off on Mt. Hope Church Road in McCleansville and seeing this beautiful scene. These trees are located on  Burlington Road on the lot of L&O Body Shop. The scene was so beautiful and peaceful, we had to pull into L&O's parking lot to sit and take in this beautiful sight. If you could see a 360 view, you would find somebody jumping a car. You would see workers trying to finish up work at a decent time on a Friday afternoon. You would see workers doing a double take, wondering if our car was there for service. L&O has been repairing car bodies, from fender benders to nearly totaled, since 1980. They are one of those businesses that you might not notice, until you need their services. But, those trees in full bloom, against a bright blue sky, command attention.

We also featured a nature shot on Greensboro Daily Photo yesterday, and don't want to go overboard with nature photos. However, spring is arguably the season when Greensboro is at peak beauty. Residents (and even car body shops) take great pride in their landscaping. We hope you don't mind our indulging our love of photographing signs of spring in Greensboro. Greensboro's natural beauty is worthy of this extra attention!

Tulip Magnolias Bloom and the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament 2018

The tulip magnolia, also known as mulan magnolia, it starting to bloom in North Carolina. With so many plants starting to bloom now, we've got to hope that they don't get too beaten down by rain. According to the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association, sugar maples should start blooming in the Piedmont this week too.

This is a busy weekend for Greensboro. Tonight is First Friday, so downtown will be lively. Also, the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament is in full swing at the Coliseum, culminating with the championship game to be played on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. We should all go out and support this series; no only because it is good basketball, but we want to show that Greensboro is a great basketball town. After all, spring and basketball tournaments just seem to go together. Happy Friday!

New York Pizza

Happy March 1st. The New York Pizza building is an interesting one. At one point, it was a gas station, and then Buffalo's, and now NY Pizza. As seen in the above photo, the metal facade reflects the setting sun, always managing to look shiny and polished. To the right, an outdoor seating area has been added on. To the side and behind the building are lovely trees already blossoming and in their full glory. They have been like this all week, which seems a little premature since there can still be ice storms in March. The blossoms are there for all to enjoy and are a sure sign of spring.

Yesterday's view of the construction at 2704 Battleground Avenue was taken from this parking lot. The road to the left is Martinsville Road. At one time, it must have lead all the way to Martinsville, Virginia. For now, it is a fast way to get from Battleground Avenue to Pisgah Church Road at Lawndale. Greensboro has many great establishments for pizza and NY Pizza is one of them.

 

February Weather

Overheard in Greensboro recently, "There is a reason February is the shortest month of the year. It is so dreary." The above photo features a field just north of Greensboro near the Highway 220/Highway68 split. Local temperatures hovered in the low 30's. It was trying ver hard to freeze and the threat was significant enough to cancel many local church services. The scenery is rather beautiful, as long as you don't have to drive or, at the very least, have a reliable four wheel drive. The white of the slush brings the straw gold and pine greet to life on an otherwise dreary day. 

The end of the day, Greensboro was gifted a beautiful sunset. Let's see what today brings.... possibly a lot of people moving slowly and sluggish, post Super Bowl. Greensboro's sports bars had hefty crowds, in spite of the weather. Happy Monday, dear readers, in Greensboro and beyond.

Springlike Weather on Carlson Dairy

Yesterday in Greensboro, the temperature rose to 50 degrees. After a mostly-rainy Sunday, the sunny Monday afternoon felt like spring was giving our community a visit. The above photo was taken just off Carlson Dairy Road on the Farm Course of Greensboro Country Club. Nine years ago, this course had a six million dollar renovation. British golf course architect, Donald Steel, redesigned the par-72 course. It is the longest course in Greensboro and is said to be one of the longest in the state.

Over the last few decades, country clubs have evolved to emphasize being family friendly and having something for everyone in the family-- tennis, golf, swimming, social events, great meals, and more. Even if you don't play golf, or belong to one of Greensboro's local country clubs, you can walk the perimeter and enjoy the views. Greensboro's many golf courses provide expansive views and are a great way to appreciate nature's great beauty. Look at that blue sky that provides a great backdrop to that lovely field. Before we know it, indeed, spring will be here.

Snow Day

Yesterday morning, the predicted snow fell, and then some. Not only was school cancelled, it was not even an optional teacher workday. People were advised to stay put and Greensboro was silent. It seemed as if there were as many cancellations as places open. Uncharacteristically, even more snow fell than was predicted. Even with electricity and access to programs for binge watching and social media for posting snow photos, people have been hinting at cabin fever. 

Hopefully the bird bath in the above photo will not crack and the fig tree will weather the storm. Fig trees aren't supposed to be subjected to temperatures below 20 degrees. Somehow each year, the manage to grow again. How are you spending your time? Are your pantries stocked?

Super Moon

Yesterday, we had a super moon, the full moon coincidee with its being at its closest point to the earth during its orbit. While this week's super moon was the largest for  2018, we will have an almost super moon on January 31st. Since it will be the second full moon in the month, it will be a blue, super moon. To add to it, there will be a total lunar eclipse that night in most of North America. Since a totally eclipsed moon usually looks red, it will be a red, blue, eclipsed almost-super moon. *  Surely, on the 31st, somebody in Greensboro can arrange a moon watching event. Any suggestions on the best vantage point to moon watch in Greensboro, with low light pollution?  

The above photo was taken last night at a private residence in Greensboro. In her book, The Bright Hour, Greensboro author Nina Riggs references an Emerson quote about a special first hour of morning and its effect on the body and soul ( reference ). There is a similar effect at that sapphire blue hour at twilight, when we must let go of the day and are reminded that the moon controls more than the tides. If you are interested in astronomical events and skywatching, consider joining the Greensboro Astronomy Club.

* reference and great information, here and here.

Winter Solstice & Turkey Vultures

Yesterday, December 21st, was the Winter Solstice which means that, in the northern hemisphere, days start getting longer. Greensboro adds one minute of daylight from now until January 7th at which point we gain two minutes a day of daylight. For some reason, the above scene reminds us of the barren and bleak aspects of winter. The above photo, taken in the countryside off Highway 220 near Stokesdale, shows a turkey vulture resting on a fence post between a barn and a row of evergreens. 

From the year 2000 to 2010, the turkey vulture population increased by 130 percent in North Carolina.* It isn't entire clear why the population is increasing. One thought is that since the deer population has increased and more dear are being killed by cars, the buzzards have easier access to food. They are also attracted to fields that have been freshly fertilized with manure.

These imposing birds have a wingspan of 5 feet or more. They look so powerful as they float through the air. In winter, with the leaves off of trees and shrubs, the buzzards are easier to see and their food sources (decaying carcases) are easier to spot.  In North Carolina, turkey vultures/buzzards tend to be sedentary, as opposed to migratory; so, we don't have much luck in getting them to migrate somewhere warmer during these cold, dark months. 

*reference and additional information, here.

Dang Skippy, Inc. at Daisy on Battleground Avenue

Stores within stores is a nationwide trend. Antique malls have long rented space to individual vendors. However, booths of new retail items, up-cycled items, and original artwork are appearing in large, repurposed retail spaces. Daisy's Designer Alley at 3121 Battleground Avenue, a few doors up from Lowe's, has attracted a great assortment of shops. The above photo features one of their newest vendors, Kier Skipper, who makes furniture, food serving boards, and other items out of reclaimed wood. He never cuts down a tree; he only harvests wood from trees that are already dead. In 2015, Skippy saved 700 trees; in 2016, 1,200; in 2017, 1,800. If the trend continues, we should expect him to save over 2,500 trees in 2018. He even has some reasonably-priced, scrap pieces that crafters could use for their own art projects. He tries to save every little bit of those hardwoods that get blown over in storms. Some of the wood is sealed with polyurethane and some is left natural. (Skippy says he can tell by the smell of the polyurethane how far along it is in the drying process).

We met up with Skippy as he was hauling in items for his booth. He is a U.S. Army veteran who enjoys his newfound career an a woodworker. Skippy still had quite a bit to load in when we left. Stop by his booth, Dang Skippy, Inc., and have a look at his great selection at Daisy. If you have some unique request, inquire at his e-mail address, barnpoles@gmail.com. It will be interesting to see where this new start-up venture leads him. If you are lucky, you will meet Skippy in person. He is optimistic, upbeat, easy to talk to, and always seems to be smiling.

Stream at Yanceyville Curb Market

As we enter the most "decoration and merchandise dense" time of the year, our brains really benefit from those calm slices of nature that show no signs mankind and technology. The above stream is located in front of the Yanceyville Curb Market, across from the old War Memorial Stadium. We have been monitoring its progress for years. The Sierra Club has been working to clean up the stream and to restore some native plants to the stream bed. All of their hard volunteerism is paying off. When we were there on Saturday, there was no sign of garbage in the stream.

It is hard to believe that the above photo was taken from the cement bridge at the farmers' market. It is as if we were in the middle of the woods at a state or national park. The blue, gray, brown, and black in the photograph really situate it in winter. The bog garden and our local lakes are also lovely this time of year. We hope you have a great weekend, that it includes a little bit of a nature walk. You deserve it. Happy Friday!

Happy Thanksgiving 2017

Happy Thanksgiving! We hope you are dining on good food with family and friends today. Word has it that turkeys were in good abundance this year which brought the price down. North Carolina ranks number 2 in turkey production in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thirty three and a half million turkeys were produced in NC. Minnesota was the only state producing more turkey than North Carolina. Poultry is a top agricultural industry, generating over 34 billion dollars in revenue for the state.*

The above photo features a plate of  food that was harvested entirely within 70 miles of Greensboro: peas and snaps (the shells of the peas that were too small to open), turnips, hot peppers, and greens. The protein is deer meat, not exactly the traditional Thanksgiving turkey. However, given North Carolina's deer population is over a million, we’re betting it could be a big revenue generator- if there were more of a commercial a market for it. About 125,000 deer were harvested this past hunting season, so somebody is eating deer meat. To be sure, it is sourced locally.

Regardless of what you have decided to serve today, enjoy your meal and make good fellowship. If you venture out shopping, be extra nice to those who have to work. Today, as always, we give thanks for you, dear readers.

*reference, News and Observer.

Pleached Hornbeam Walk at Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden

Today's photo was taken at the Paul J Ciener Botanical Garden on Main Street in Kernersville, about 12 miles west of Greensboro in the next county over. The promenade is actually a walkway, known as the Pleached Hornbeam Walk, installed in 2008 and sponsored by Fidelity Bank. It is hard to tell from this photo but the tree branches are entwined onto wire, growing more two dimensionally than three. Hence, the term "pleached." The hornbeam tree is actually in the birch family with "horn" referring to the hardness of the wood, and "beam", the Old English word for tree (German, baum). The elongated arrangement, seen above,  forms a lovely wall and it is as if you are surrounded by nature, even though the living wall is only one layer of trees.

Walking and sitting in silent meditation there was extremely peaceful yesterday. Although the winds were strong, taking photos was enjoyable, as pods and drying plants are glorious this time of year. The wind made photography challenging, but rewarding. On Sundays, we try to post something spiritual, inspirational, and reflective. Most everyone appreciates the spiritual aspect of walking in solitude, without the distractions of our hurried, technology driven world. If you need a respite, consider Ciener Garden.