Greensboro Daily Photo

Happy Fourth of July 2020

The above photo was taken at the golf course at the Greensboro Country Club at their farm course. The land the course is built on was once part of the Carlson Farm and is now a golf course. Many people will be playing golf today. Last year on the Fourth of July, it seemed as if almost everyone in Greensboro was downtown for Fun Fourth. There was so much to do downtown, especially on Elm Street. Jack and Liz Grimes were even performing weddings.

This year, plans will need to be very different as so much has been cancelled. it will be up to individuals to make their own fun. But we can! Hopefully, you can have a picnic and spend time with those in your household. There are also options for getting out of doors. Golf is a great outdoor option, and Greensboro has plenty of courses, public and private.

So, Happy Fourth of July! Let us know how you spent it.

A Pretty Little Alley Just Off South Elm Street

This alley is a little taste of Europe right here off of South Elm Street. The combination of the bricks, plants, benches, lights, gates, and those fabulous awnings make this space so cozy. Those features, combined with the fact that the alley is narrow and off the beaten path, really contribute to the feel of Europe. The alley is located between a bakery, spa, and clothing store, and just north of Washington Street. The names of these businesses and the owners may have changed over the past decade, but great products and services continue to be available. During these times, we need to be a little more careful;  in many cases we need to call ahead for products and services. But, how wonderful to start the day with a fresh cup of coffee and warm pastry. You can even sit on the benches in the alley. Here is another view from a couple of years ago when streets were busier. Here is a view, looking the other way, eleven years ago!

Today is First Friday, and Elm Street will not be as busy as usual, but some businesses will be open and the window shopping and art admiring are fun activities. If you like selfies, there are some great backgrounds Whatever you decide to do today, we hope that you have a nice day. If you are staying in town for the Fourth of July, by now you know that Fun Fourth is cancelled. However, with a little effort, we can all make a day, or a holiday feel special. Greensboro is such a lovely community.

Reading the World with Scuppernong Books

Scuppernong Books in downtown Greensboro is hosting a year-long reading series of contemporary fiction in translation from around the globe. The discussions are held the first July of each month. We are a day late in telling you about the July meeting, which snuck up on us and was held last night (see description, here). They met via Zoom and discussed a book from Israel/Palestine. But, it isn't too late to get the book for the August session. it will be from Morocco and is entitled, "The Butcher of Casablanca" by Abdellah Hadouchi. If you call Scuppernong, they will order the book for you (336-763-1919). Anyone can participate. During these times of self-isolation, we all need to get a little creative in staying connected to the world. An international-themed book club with mostly local folks participating sounds like so much fun.

If you look at the above photo, which was taken on Elm Street mid-day on Tuesday, as you can see, the street is empty. Understandably so, there is not much foot traffic these days. So, doing something like ordering a book, and participating in a Zoom call, could be something fun and educational to anticipate in August. 

Have a happy Thursday and may July be filled with good times and fresh vegetables!

Peach Season in NC

It is peach season in North Carolina. Every summer from June - September, with July being peak, some type of peach is available in North Carolina. While they are grown south of Greensboro, in the Sandhills, we have access to great peaches at a great price. The above photo features the peach display at the Harris Teeter at Friendly Center. The beautiful display is front row and center when you enter the building. And, just look at those peach-colored balloons.

Common peach varieties in North Carolina are Biscoe, Candor, Carolina Belle, Derby, and Norman. According to the NC State extension agency, North Carolina is the 7th top peach producer nationally (reference). California, South Carolina, Georgia, and New Jersey are the top four producers of peaches. If you are in search of North Carolina peaches in Greensboro, you can find them at the local farmers markets and several grocery stores. If you want a day trip: Here is a map of places to buy NC peaches throughout the state. In the meantime, the 99¢ a pound peaches at Harris Teeter were very tasty. We did, however, forget to verify whether or not they were NC peaches. Don your best peach colored attire and enjoy the hunt! Happy July!

Bright and Inviting Bungalow on Percy Street

Percy Street is located in the Dunleath Neighborhood of Greensboro (Formerly the Aycock Historic District). It is just off of Yanceyville Street and North of the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market. The homes a mixture of Victorian and bungalow styles are well maintained and really reflect the personality of the owner. The above home, with its generous front porch with a rocking chair and porch swing, arbor, wind chimes, and lush plantings are a good example of the warm and inviting atmosphere of the street. The pink, blue, and purple paint make this home a standout. The home has changed so much since the current owners purchased it in 2009. Formerly it was brown and white with pink azaleas in front of the porch. This bungalow style home built is 1937 is close to the Yanceyville end of Percy Street and one of the first things you notice as you approach the area.

If you look closely, you can see that it was raining rather hard in east Greensboro this past Sunday, when the photo was taken. The planting is so lush, we could hold the camera under it without its getting wet. It must be super relaxing to be able to sit on that porch during a summer rain. Hopefully, you have a cozy spot to sit and enjoy a summer rain. If the weather app is correct, we just may be getting some rain tomorrow.

In the meantime, have a great day today.

ERIC at NCAT

Today's post features the State of the Art Engineering, Research, and Innovation Complex (ERIC) at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCA&T). The four-story building is being constructed at the corner of North Dudley and East Market streets. You may recall that the Hayes-Taylor YMCA was located on this site. The 130,000 sq. ft., 90-million dollar facility will have a positive impact not only on Greensboro, but also on the entire state and region. Imagine the impact on the economy with not only the new jobs, but also with the dotting-edge discoveries and all of the innovation that will take place in this interdisciplinary center.*

The building is nearing completion and should be ready for occupancy by 2021. As we drove by yesterday, we couldn't help but notice just how beautiful the structure looked just after the rain shower. If you want a sneak peek, this Yes! Weekly article shows the finished building (see here). This facility and all that it will contain is a fine example of how different a college education is today that it was even ten years ago.

As we learn more about the building, we'll be sure to feature it again. 

* reference and more information, here.

Bethel Baptist Church on Lees Chapel Road

Today's photo is of Bethel Baptist Church at 2230  Lees Chapel Road. Lee's Chapel is located on the eastern side of Greensboro and actually turns into Pisgah Church Road as it gets closer to Elm Street. Bethel Baptist has the architecture of so many churches. Brick veneer, A-line roof in the front, and white steeple with a cross on top. It was built in 1953 on almost an acre of land. It is possible the congregation pre-dates the building of the church. Unfortunately, they don't have a history on their website. If you have more information the church, please share with us and we'll provide the additional information through Greensboro Daily Photo.

If you are looking for a traditional, independent Baptist Church, contact the pastor, Reverend Gunter, read more about them on their website, here, or consider attending a service.

Happy Sunday!

A Good Year for Sunflowers in Greensboro

Yesterday, we featured hydrangeas; today, we're sharing a photo of a backyard sunflower. Sunflowers are blooming brightly in Greensboro now. They are easy to grow and can be squeezed into just about any patch of soil, as long as it gets full sun. Our sunflower, while far from perfect, volunteered on the edge of our garden and is bringing us great joy. It is about 8' tall and has a 90º chunk that doesn't seem to want to grow, but we love it anyway.

In 2007, Jerry Wolford, reporting in the News & Record, featured a Forest Oaks resident who joined his neighbors in the planting of sunflowers in the community. This man, Rev Som-Pimpong, had a sunflower that actually grew to 11 feet tall (see, here). More recently, in 2013, Joseph Rodriguez featured Brantley McLendon in the News and Record. Brantley lives in Fisher Park and is known for keeping a pocket full of sunflower seeds and planting them every chance he gets (read more, here). Even more recently, an initiative known as  "The Sunflower Project" in Greensboro was established on Facebook to help in the growing of flowers in urban communities. Unfortunately, their Facebook page has not been active in 2020.

Greensboro gardeners love sunflowers and there is plenty of room room to start sunflower projects like the ones described above. Sunflowers are great to grow with children as they change rather quickly and are the largest flowers in a garden. Depending on variety, it takes 80-120 days to get flowers from seed to sunflower head. If you have a good sunflower story, please share it with us!

Happy Saturday!