Greensboro Daily Photo

Donkeys and Art

Hee haw, hee haw! These donkeys are braying the morning way to convince you to head out to Stealing Crow Farm on Highway 150, just east of Oak Ridge Military Academy (ORMA). Today, the "Keep It Local, Art and Pottery Show" will be held at 2409 Oak Ridge Road. There will be so much local art, from pottery to jewelry, to handmade dolls and so much more.

In addition, you will have the option to see some pretty cute animals, hear some music, and meet some great artists. This is the 20th year for this show. Twenty years of great artists from Greensboro and beyond! Wear a costume, or not. Nothing beats being out on a fall day and having the chance to own some really great art. 

Cats of Greensboro

 

After learning yesterday that Max the Cat, of Internet and Washington Post fame, lives in Guilford County, we decided to feature a Greensboro cat today. Max gained his fame in St. Paul, Minnesota for loving to roam, being social, visiting around, and especially loving to spend time in the the Macalester College library.*

Meet, "Callie," above, perched confidently on top of a 1985 Volvo. While Callie the Calico is not known to peruse libraries, she does like to visit people in the Sunset Hills neighborhood, is super social, and intellectually curious. She loves spending time on hoods of cars or near warm car engines waiting for the car owners to come out and say hello. Maybe she, too, can get some Internet fame. Perhaps, we can introduce Max and Callie and they can continue their adventures together. Seriously, we Humans of Greensboro love our pets and Max and Callie seem pretty happy with their lives in Guilford County. Greensboro is such a great place to be a cat... and a human.

*Max has his own Facebook page, here, and, read more about Max, here.  

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.

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.

Dogs of Greensboro

Humans of Greensboro love their dogs. The above photo features a great dane who was the hit of the Corner Market (corner of Elam & Waker) in Lindley Park last Saturday morning. The owners, and canine as well, were very accommodating as people right and left approached to pet the dog. Pet, pet, question, question. and so went show and tell with this lovely dog. 

Great Danes are a German bread of dog. They are also known as the German mastiff. They are calm and friendly. If you like dogs, but don't have one, visit any public space in Greensboro on the weekends and you will easily get an opportunity to pet a canine. Pet adoptions are also an opportunity to get to know some dogs that need love even more than the ones with owners. Remember to ask permission first. Not all dogs are as stranger friendly as the above gentle giant.

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.

Cows of Greensboro

It has been a while since an animal has been featured on Greensboro Daily Photo. And so, this weekend, we drove around the countryside on a quest to find an animal to feature. Just north of Greensboro, beyond the Highway 220 and 68 split, we found a pasture full of the above breed of cows. The cows were seen together in a pasture grazing happily. The one in the photo was particularly interesting, with that off-center blaze on her face. Perhaps it is the smaller ears, the large head, the color, or the muscular nature of this cow, but, she looks like she could be a cousin to a hippopotamus. 

A google search indicates that these might be Maine Anjou cows. If so, they were bred in the 19th century in France and known as a dual purpose breed, as they are good for both beef and milk. At any rate, they looked very happy and healthy and if, indeed, the herd was Maine Anjou, that would be pretty exciting to have them here in the area, as approximately 2/3 of the population of 60,000 is in France.

Within the first couple months of Greensboro Daily Photo, back in 2009, we uncovered a fold of Scottish Kyloes living in Greensboro. It is interesting to ponder how people get interested in a certain breed of cattle, and how they decide to raise them locally.

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.

Skinks of Greensboro

With summer approaching, for many, there is more opportunity to spend time out of doors exploring the flora and fauna of Greensboro. One creature you are likely to see is the little critter photographed above, a skink. Skinks are readily available in Greensboro. These reptiles are lizards and, while they resemble newts, newts are actually amphibians and are a type of salamander. Skinks live in a variety of habitats. They like to hide under things like logs where their predators cannot reach them. They like to be under leaves and in gardens where there are plenty of insects to eat. 

The skink above, spotted near the golf range at Bur-Mil Park, is one whose tail has been sacrificed to a predator, but whose life was spared. You can see the tail starting to regenerate and the skink, himself, looks well fed. The beauty of the extended hours of light of the warm summer days make nature watching in Greensboro's parks so much fun. 

Canine Companions in Greensboro

Greensboro residents love their canine companions. Yesterday's GDP post featured LeBauer Park, a local park that has a special section for dogs. Country Park also has a "bark park" section. Owners who know their dogs have been well socialized can let their dogs run around within the confines of the fenced-in area.

Greensboro also has many dog-friendly businesses. Replacements, Ltd., for one, allows employees to bring their dogs to work. Many brew pubs allow dogs on leashes. When the festivals in the parks, like MUSEP, start back up for the summer, you will see many canine companions. You will also see dogs out running with their owners, like at the "Running of the Balls" in Sunset Hills each December.

The old English bulldogs in the above photo didn't look like they were in the mood to run, but the were photographed while out exploring with their owner in Price Park. If you are interested in a dog, please look at the local animal shelters. There are plenty of options.

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.

Cat Cafe of Greensboro

Everyone is talking about the fact that Greensboro got a cat cafe. It opened this weekend with very heavy bookings. You need to have an appointment to attend and the were almost completely booked this weekend. The cost is $10 an hour, which helps cover the care of the cats. The Cat Cafe is located in the 600 block of South Elm Street, near Elsewhere Museum and across the street from Mellow Mushroom. 

To enter, you must sanitize your hands and go through the entrance door and then a 3' gate. The current batch of cats is a range of adolescent kittens and adult cats; all but the house cat are available for adoption. The cats are very friendly and playful. Coffee and snacks are available for purchase in the back of the store-  in a separate section. 

The Cat Cafe fills the need of giving people a chance to interact with kitties, especially if the are too busy to have one at home. It also brings like-minded people together and, who knows, you just might make some new friends while admiring a grey tabby or a bi-color, short-haired orange-marmalade colored American house cat, like the one who was flirting with us in the window Or, was it sticking its tongue out at us because we didn't adopt him?

(above). 

Spider Season

Spider season is upon us in Greensboro! The above photo is of argiope aurantia, a black and yellow garden spider. This is a female as her body is quite large. These colorful beauties are common in gardens, forest edges, and old fields. They spin round orb webs and decorate them with a bold, trademark zig-zag, which is known as a stabilimentum*  (something that is a stay, support, or point of stability). The above spider was smart enough to scurry out of the way when we came to photograph, but in less than five minutes, she returned to her place in the sun, a prime spot for catching insects on this warm, fall day. Garden spiders eat other spiders and other pesky insects, so, while they may seem creepy, they are actually helping control the bug population. 

If you read Charlotte's Web, you know that around the time of the state fairs, spiders need to spin their webs, lay their eggs, and prepare to die. They is why they are so active this time of year. Did you know that many orb weavers eat their web at the end of the day, rest, and spin a new web in the same location. Spiders are so interesting and fun to study. If you have any children in your life, we encourage you to let them use their imagination and spider watch. Good, free, imagination-building fun is alive and well, right here in Greensboro, North Carolina.

*reference and more information about spiders of North Carolina, here.

Great Egrets on Lake Brandt

Walking on the nature trails at Bur-Mil Park and on over Lake Brandt will only get more and more breathtaking over the next couple of months. The above photo features a great egret in a tree waiting over the lake, waiting for the perfect moment to swoop down and capture breakfast. Egrets are great fishermen. Like the herons, they like their solitude. On the day we were walking last week, this egret was by himself. However, another egret was in sight on the other side of the lake. Great egrets have held their own, with respect to population because their habitat extends beyond the coastal area, well into the other regions of North Carolina. The snowy egret, on the other hand, resides mostly on the coast of North Carolina and their population has decreased 70% since the 1990s. 

If you like learning about birds of North Carolina, here is a great site. These egrets usually only stick around our area through October. So, if you want to see them, put on your walking shoes. They are fun to watch and photograph.

We hope you are having a great Thursday and remember, they say Thursday is the new Friday!

Blue Heron on Lake Brandt

This blue heron on Lake Brandt seems like he might be just a little bit too friendly.  As we stood on the trail, just south of Owls Roost near Bur-Mil Park, he started walking towards us. These imposing, blue wading birds have been increasing in North Carolina since the 1980s. They are now found in about every county, except those in the mountains. However, blue herons are not as abundant in North Carolina as they are in the counties east of us. They like wetlands and can live by fresh and salt water. They like to nest in live trees that are standing in water, which is precisely where we saw this bird fly to, when he heard the rattle of the boards on a wooden bridge on the trail. In Guilford County, the herons are year-round residents. They are about four feet tall and have nests that are often four feet wide.

It is so nice to walk and bike on Greensboro's trails this time of the year. Sights like this great blue heron are out waiting for all to enjoy; it is not too hot. Autumn is upon us and, soon, leaves will be changing colors and falling to the ground. We hope you have time to enjoy the weather while it is still warm outside. Happy Monday!

Happy Labor Day 2017

This dog, who appears to be a Lhasa Apso, sure has the good life. On Saturday, he was hanging out on a bed at the Red Collection Consignment Store at the corner of Holden Road and Patterson Street, near the Coliseum. He was not overly excited by all of the attention he was receiving from customers, but was very accommodating when people stopped to take his photo. We chuckled, because the doggie bed appears to be fore sale. He sure did make it look cozy and what good advertising. (If Sparky endorses it, surely Lola will like it). Then again, maybe Sparky's owner had just purchased the bed.

The Red Collection is open today, as are most retail establishments in Greensboro. If you happen to be lucky enough to be off, consider being extra generous when you are in a tipping situation today. Is someone is waiting on you, thank them for meeting their work commitment. Labor Day has been a legal holiday in the United States since 1894, but not everyone gets paid holidays. It is a tribute to the contributions of workers for helping the USA prosper.

Most of Greensboro's pool clubs are having their last hurrah of summer today and many people are hosting cookouts.  If you have to work today, we hope someone saves you a plate of food. Finally, if you stop by Red Collection, ask them the price of the doggie in the window, or, in this case, in the bed! We're pretty sure he's not for sale! 

Westie of Westerwood

This West Highland White Terrier was a big hit on the walking tour of the Westerwood neighborhood this past weekend. He lives behind the First Baptist Church in a part of Westerwood that was known as St. Paul's neighborhood. He guarded the street, especially on the lookout for human visitors and one of the many felines often seen exploring his neighborhood. He is quite proud of his neighborhood. In spite of his role as sentry, Mr. Westie did not bark at us.

In the early 1900s African American families lived on this end of Woodlawn Avenue, an example of early integration, given Westerwood is located on the west side of town and many African-American communities were found in eastern Greensboro. Plumber, cash register repairman, and preacher, were a few of the careers of the men, well-respected community members, on this street. The above house is one of the oldest in the neighborhood, and hopefully, it will be around for a very long time. It looks cozy, is nicely landscaped, and in a fabulous location.

Remember Double Oaks in Westerwood receives community members to stop by for a drink or two on Wednesday evenings and Preservation Greensboro offers a free tour (see yesterday's post).

 

Elm and McGee Streets

There has been a lot of construction going on at the corner of Elm and McGee Streets, across from Natty Greene's brew pub. We're not sure what business is going in at this spot where the Idiot Box was formerly located. In the above photo, you see one of the workers busy trying to prepare the building for its new owners. One of the major changes is the windows and the way they open in the front, indicating that interaction with Elm Street will be really important.

We haven't spent as much time as usual downtown over the last couple of weeks. If you know more about this location, please let us know. Happy Wednesday, a good day for a random act of kindness, and a good day to help us investigate this new Greensboro business. Thank you!

Miniature Horses

Greensboro and Guilford County are known for having horses. We are one of the State's counties with the most horses. The above photo was taken just outside Greensboro, near Oak Ridge, on a farm where they have miniature horses, at Westergaard Kennels and Dog Boarding. In addition to raising golden retrievers and boarding dogs, the kennel also raises miniature horses on their 15 acres.

It is hard to tell the above horses are not full sized, as there is nothing to reference, other than the fact they are shorter than the fence. They are usually about 3 feet tall or less. Miniature horses can live up to about 35 years; so, if you get one, you are committing to a pet that will span generations. Miniature horses tend to be friendly and interact well with people.  The photo below features one that really tried to befriend us. 

Young at Heart

Happy August 1st. Can you believe August is upon us? Every first of the month, the City Daily Photo community sponsors a theme day and this month's theme is "Young at Heart." The obvious choice is the face of a senior citizen, someone like Iris Apfel who is well into her 90s, but seems as if she is in her 40s.  Indeed, we know many people in Greensboro who are older and eternally young at heart. In the end, we decided to select an older dog. You can tell by the gray on her face that she has some age to her. She was adopted from a no-kill shelter in the mountains of North Carolina. She had been there for a very long time and had been passed over a lot. However, when visitors and volunteers were with her, she seemed genuinely interested in being with the person handling her. Many of the other dogs seemed more interested in simply being out of confinement. Today, she is living the good life in Greensboro. She is active, loves to go on walks, run and play ball. She is always ready for a road trip and is planning one in that little Airstream in her back yard.

Guilford County has many options for adopting dogs that need a new home. If you Google "dog adoption Greensboro" many great organizations will appear in your search. If you are looking for a dog, we hope you will adopt, and that you find a dog that is a good fit for your living situation and your family.  Also, we hope you will consider adopting an older dog. So often they are, indeed, young at heart. By the way, the above mutt wants you to know that yesterday was National Mutt Day. We were celebrating during the photo shoot! Note the wagging tail!

House on South Mendenhall

This beautiful Greensboro home, at 612 South Mendenhall Street, looks like it could be found at the beach or in a small, southern town. With all of the perennials in bloom, it is picture perfect this time of year. The robin's egg blue and white trim make the pink and yellow flowers stand out. That porch and brick path look so inviting. Equally inviting is the beautiful kitty that loves to greet visitors. This 1,600 sq. ft. house was built in 1921. It is so well maintained, it is hard to believe that it 96 years old. Situated between Greensboro College and UNCG and less than a mile from downtown Greensboro, the location is very convenient.

We're betting the owners really enjoy their house. We have so many beautiful homes in our great city!

Walk the Dog

Greensboro has lots of greenway and walking trails and there are plenty of places to walk dogs. Research shows that people with dogs walk more and walking is good for your health. With all of the rain we've had lately, as you can see, it is quite green and lush in Greensboro.

The above man seems to be enjoying his walk along the edge of the golf course at Carlson Dairy Road. This course is the farm course of the Greensboro Country Club and it is also the location where they host swim meets. If you do have a chance to walk with your canine companion, please take a doggie bag to clean up after they use the bathroom. If you look closely, the above leash actually has a case for little bags attached to the handle. 

 

Name That Caterpillar

Summer is a great time for yard work, enjoying nature, and spending time outside. In Greensboro, there are many opportunities to play outdoors.*  The more time you spend outside the more likely you are to uncover interesting things in nature. Today, when moving the base of a birdbath, we happened first upon a nest of ant eggs and then the above caterpillar. The caterpillar was very static and lethargic. Perhaps it was getting ready to change into a moth. Do you have any idea what it is? If our internet search proves true, it is a "Schizura leptinoides"  and it will morph in to an equally unattractive moth! Such is the potential for summer adventures. You start the day never anticipating you will uncover a caterpillar that you have never seen before. Before we went back inside, we saw a tiny praying mantis. Hopefully the praying mantis will stick around long enough for us to get a good photo.

Even if you aren't going on vacation this summer, with these extended hours of daylight, you can have a fabulous stay-cation right here in Greensboro. Let us know if you uncover something interesting. The caterpillar looks like something that would appear in a Pixar animated film.

Happy Thursday!

*Learn more about opportunities for summer fun, (here) at the City of Greensboro's website.

From Amphibians to Friendly Frogs to Other Critters

Well, it has been raining cats and dogs in Greensboro this week. When you can't get outside to enjoy nature, it is nice to have nature come to you. During these rains, a little frog came to visit us on our back door. He was glued to the glass, waiting for bugs to hop by. The frogs are loving this rain.

Thinking of frogs reminds us that Greensboro has a great community pool with a summer swim team, the Friendly Frogs. If you are looking for some good, clean, summer fun for the whole family, consider joining one of Greensboro's many swim and tennis clubs. The Friendly Frogs are located at 2215 Mimosa Drive, right beside Friendly Center and Cone Health-Wesley Long Hospital. Swim practice has already started for the Friendly Frogs, but it wouldn't be too late to join. If you become a Friendly Frog, you will forever associate summer swimming with the tiny green amphibians. If their pool isn't convenient, you can become a Dolphin, Gator, Hornet, Marlin, Lizard, Elk, Tigershark, Piranha, Bear, Hammerhead, or more! All of the CSA teams provide great exercise and team building activities.

We love watching all of the teams; however, we're hoping one of those other CSA mascots doesn't attach itself to our door! (Well, maybe a lizard would be OK).

 

Duck Dynasty

This mated pair of mallards returns to the above Greensboro swimming pool every spring to swim and hang out. As you can see, the pool has not yet been opened for the season. These dabbling ducks are walking around on the pool cover, trying to figure how to get to the water underneath. Maybe they'll stop back once the pool is open. According to Wikipedia, 45 species of ducks, geese, and waterfowl have been recorded in North Carolina. The mallard is the main ancestor of the majority of breeds of domesticated ducks.*

Mallards are known for being adaptable and eating just about anything. They are comfortable being around humans, they are at times considered an invasive species. Females can lay up to half their body weight in eggs.  Here they are in happier times, a few years ago, when the swimming pool was all theirs. How do you mark spring? What do you enjoy seeing out your window every year?

*"Anas platyrhynchos (On-line), Digital Morphology". The University of Texas at Austin. 2004. 

Canine of Lindley Park

The above dog, who resides in Lindley Park, stands near the porch of his house as if he were a sentinel, keeping watch over the not only his master's domain, but also the neighborhood. This medium sized dog appears to be a mixture of breeds and seems to have a cheerful disposition. With that black and white coat, he is very visible from the street against the earthy colors of his front yard.

He is one of those neighborhood fixtures that people grow accustomed to seeing every day. Likely, the dog grows accustomed to people walking by and anticipates when his favorite canine buddies will be in the neighborhood. This type of dog really becomes a community pet, only, with his invisible fence collar, he knows better than to leave his designated territory. Have a great Tuesday and paws up if you like canines.

The Unbridled Joy of Dogs

The above photo was taken at the Downtown Greensboro Animal Hospital Dog Park at LeBauer Park. The two retrievers and the Bernese Mountain Dog were having a blast running around in the dog park at LeBauer Park, downtown. The golden retriever's ears show the energy being expended during play. The young girl on the hill was having the best time playing with the dogs. The dogs were well behaved and gentle with her. It is amazing how all of those big dogs were so well socialized. Greensboro is lucky to have such a great resource as LeBauer Park and we are lucky to have so many options for taking our canines to play.

The above dog park is sponsored by Downtown Greensboro Animal Hospital, located just a few blocks away at 120 W. Smith Street. Hats off to Dr. John Wehe and his staff. They provide great service in the office for the downtown canines and canines visiting downtown. Dr. Wehe was generous to help with this park. We first learned of him because he is one of the few veterinarians to treat pet rabbits. 

Lets all make an effort to unleash a little unbridled joy more often- with our without canines!

Passover 2017

Passover continues today. Passover is a pilgrimage festival commemorating the liberation of the Israelites from slavery and their exodus from Egypt, lead by Moses. At Temple Emanuel on Jefferson Road, today's Chevra Torah service will be at 9:00 am and the Passover Shabbat Service will be at 10:30 am. During Passover many observers only eat Kosher and unleavened food in remembrance of needing to flee Egypt hastily and not having time to wait for bread to leaven. These observances are not only respectful to religious tradition, they build memories for children, memories that will last a lifetime.

The above swallowtail butterfly was photographed last week very near Temple Emanuel. It reminds us of travel and flight,  and the great effort it takes to not only get from Point A to Point B, but to protect oneself from harm. Happy Saturday, Sabbath, and Passover.

Robin Redbreast

Little robin redbreast sat upon a tree; First he chirped and sang, and then he had to flee.

Robins are known for being a portent of spring. These migratory songbirds are one of the first signs, from the animal kingdom, that weather is warming and days are getting longer. Robins (turdus migratorius) are also one of the first species to lay eggs in spring and can have as many as three brooding seasons. Only 25% of robins survive their first year. On average robins live two years, with fourteen years being the longest known lifespan (Wikipedia). The robin is one of 309 species of birds in Guilford County (see the other 308 species, here).

Their original habitat was the coniferous forest; however they are now well adapted to suburban lawns. If you see them in your yard, smile, be thankful, and try to keep predators away from those pretty blue eggs. The above robin posed for us in a tree at the corner of Elam and West Market Street.

If you like haiku, here are several haiku about robins.

Green Acres

These cows, north of Greensboro and Stokesdale, just off Highway 220, were pretty unimpressed to have people driving down their road. It was a beautiful day and they were more interested in eating and resting than entertaining humans with cameras. So much of Greensboro has been developed, it is easy to forget our rural roots and the fact that there are still plenty of working farms near our community. Currently about 150 parcels of land and property are available in Guilford County. Perhaps most shocking of all is 16.74 acres on Horse Pen Creek Road is currently listed at $1,240,000. If you are looking for investments, it looks like property just might be the answer. Land around town is going fast and we just might need to tell the cows to moooo-ve over, here come the people.

We hope you are gearing up for first Friday and all of the events happening this weekend. One tremendously popular event is the International Festival on UNCG's campus. Check Go Triad, one of the best ways to keep up with events in our community. How do you stay informed about what is going on? The cows know... but they're not telling. We showed this photo to a francophile friend and she said, it is as if the above cows are saying, "Kiss my Dairy-erre." Forgive the potty humor and happy Thursday!

L is for Lake

Some cities are built around rivers. Greensboro doesn't have a river, but we do have some lovely lakes. Hamilton Lakes is the name of a local community that is now part of the city of Greensboro. According to the city's website, the Hamilton Lakes neighborhood has over sixty acres of recreational opportunities. There are trails, natural wooded areas, a stream, a playground, and limited access lakes.

If you know the bodies of water in the neighborhood, you will have seen the mated pair of swans. The above photo features Mr. Swan who is dutifully patrolling the shoreline guarding his partner and their egg. She diligently sits on the egg, perched on their throne-like nest. He glides back and forth, ever willing to flap his wings and use his forceful beak on anybody who gets too close. Hats off to him. It will be lovely to see the swan family swimming around together this spring. When we do, we will snap a photo and appropriately title it "Swan Lake." For now, we'll respect their privacy and hope that the egg makes it to term.

Today is ABC Wednesday and for Round 20, "L" is for "Lake" (Swan Lake).  See A-K, here!

American Green Tree Frog

Yard work has its perks. We were removing weeds from an outbuilding and uncovered this American green tree frog. It was a small one, only about an inch long. While these frogs are common throughout the southeast, their North Carolina habitat range tends to be a little more to the east than Greensboro. According to a website for amphibians and, maintained by Davison Herpetology, the habitat of the American green tree frogs is expanding into the North Carolina Piedmont.* Have you ever seen one near your home?

As the above frog clung to the wall, we were reminded why we avoid using pesticides in our yard. Nature is such a delicate balance, and amphibians are at risk. There are 21 frog species identified in North Carolina. It would be nice to maintain all of them. If you want to learn more about North Carolina's diverse amphibian population, and possibly become involved in efforts to help prevent decline, go here.

Did you know that North Carolina has the highest salamander diversity in the world? We are second only to Georgia in amphibian diversity in the USA. Learning these facts made us even happier to cover the above tree frog back up and let him sleep for the day. At night, he will be leaping through the air, trying to make a meal of flying insects. Hopefully, he likes mosquitoes. We don't!

*reference and tree frog call, here.

Dinner Time!

On the day we photographed them, these two beautiful horses were thrilled as it was dinnertime. They stopped eating, just long enough to pose for the photo, before they resumed devouring their bale of hay. They are two of the many horses at High Silver Texas Paint Horse Farm, located at the corner of Pleasant Ridge and Stanley Huff Roads. While neither of these horses is a paint, they certainly are beauties and representative of the happy, healthy horses found at this farm. Soon, they will be shedding their winter coats and will be even more stunning. You can tell they are well cared for and content. 

This is yet another example of the rural sights of Guilford County. We love progress; however, we also treasure some of the old-time beauty that is classic Greensboro. Guilford is one of the North Carolina counties with the most horses. Let's hope it will stay that way... for a very long time.

Happy Saturday!

Penguin Time

The temperature in Greensboro was in the 20's last night; not as cold as other parts of North Carolina, but cold enough. The above scene evokes winter: chilly-blue walls and perky penguins. The photo was taken at feeding time at the African penguin exhibit at the Greensboro Science Center. If you love penguins, you can actually sign up for an opportunity to go behind the scenes and watch them be fed. They are an endangered species and the science center helps with conservation efforts.

On the day we visited, several school groups were on site and the penguins captivated them. Seeing the children so engaged in learning reminded us of all the great resources we have in our community. While school groups won't be there today, The Greensboro Science Center is open today from 9:00 am- 5:00 pm. We have found that the earlier you arrive, the more opportunities you will have to see animals being fed. If you are looking for an educational adventure, a place to get in out of the cold, or a place for great photos. Whatever you decide, where ever you are, have a memorable day!

This Is Horse Country

In the Greensboro area, beauty abounds. On a recent, sunny, winter day, we drove on Highway 220 from Greensboro to the Stokesdale area. Once off the beaten path, we saw many scenes like the one above. The white horse was as curious about us as we were about her. The other horses were perfectly content to graze in the back of the pasture. The feathery tree line framed the view.

Guilford County and the surrounding area are known for being horse country. If you are interested in horses visit the international online horse directory, O Horse. It lists local opportunities for therapeutic riding, boarding horses, horse breeding, riding camps, pony parties, massage therapy for horses, and so much more. If you want to see a great show, on March 4-5, the Greensboro Kickoff I & II Horse Show will be held at the Sedgefield Showgrounds on Groometown Road. 

Lovebirds

The above lovebirds (and their cousins and siblings) at Friendly Pets in Friendly Center are very tame. They are finger trained and calm around people. The above pair seemed especially grateful to be handled together. These affectionate and social members of the parrot family are native to Africa, but do well in captivity. When properly cared for and well socialized, lovebirds can live for 10- 15 years. Friendly Pets takes great pride in keeping their birds tame and finger-trained and they are available during business hours to help meet your birds' needs.

If you want a bird and like the idea of rescuing, adopt-a-pet, currently has three parakeets and a cockatiel available. Here is the link for the North Carolina Bird Rescue. They have birds, too. If you are considering one, please remember birds are happiest when they have out of cage time. They make good companions. If love birds and want a gift that keeps on giving, here is Greensboro's chicken and poultry brochure. The city of Greensboro allows residents to keep chickens if they follow certain guidelines (read here). So, if you don't want birds indoors, consider getting hens that can double as pets and providers of eggs. There is no shortage of cute hen photos on Pinterest and social media. 

White Peacock

This white peacock lives at the Greensboro Science Center. He is simply stunning when you can get him to display his tail feathers. He is one of the few animals at the science center who is not caged or captured, per se. He is free to roam around the zoo part in the back of the facility and seems perfectly content to roam among the other creatures who live there. While, he is not particularly aggressive, guests are asked not to try to chase him or to pet him. He does, however, seem to like having his photo taken. 

The Greensboro Science Center, still located on Lawndale Avenue, is a fabulous place to visit any day of the year. If you have guests in town, and are looking for something to do this week, the Greensboro Science Center is a great option. Every year, the center gets bigger and better; and, the white peacock has been there to oversee it all. Since male peacocks have close to 200 tail feathers, let's say he salutes his home with a full 200-feather salute.

Tuxedo Trot

If you have some time off between now and the first of the year, and are looking for something to do, the Greensboro Science Center is a great option. The earlier you get there in the day, the more likely you are to see the animals in action. Yesterday, the above colony of penguins got fed at 10:00 am to the delight of the school children who were visiting with their teachers. The two young ladies in the above photo were masterful at making sure that each one of the African penguin got fed. African penguins are an endangered species and the Greensboro Science Center works hard to keep their penguins healthy and multiplying. As a matter of fact, rumor has it, baby penguins are currently in the works.

Here is some general information about the African penguins and how their numbers have declined over the last century. Learning about them may make you want to get involved in the conservation efforts. In May, the science center holds the Tuxedo Trot: A Run for the Penguins. This fundraiser is very popular in Greensboro as so many people here enjoy running as a sport. Finally, watching these flightless birds diving and playing in their tank will make it clear why the movie about emperor penguins is called "Happy Feet." May we all have happy feet at this busy time of year.

Let's Ride

The above horse lives in a pasture in northwest Guilford County. The equine industry in Greensboro is thriving and, in North Carolina, it is a 1.9 billion dollar business. Over 53,000 homes in our state own horses. There are over 306,000 equines, with a total of 2.1 million acres of land dedicated to the equine industry. At a count of 10,940, Guilford County's equine inventory is second only to that of Union County.* Locally, N.C. A&T University began an equine program in 2006. They have a judging and riding team and offer a certificate in equine management.

When horses cooperate, they are extremely photogenic. We like the focused gaze of the horse in front, as well as the white one in the back left corner of the photo. It is so peaceful to drive through the county admiring these beautiful creatures. If you like to ride, there are plenty of options around Greensboro. You may want to start by contacting the Equestrian Trails Alliance of Guilford County. Have a great Thursday!

*May, 2009 reference, here.