Greensboro Daily Photo

Tree Pruning

Now is the time when just about everything is dormant in Greensboro, except maybe those hellebores  that are chomping at the bit to  bloom.  The above photo show a  home at Katie Drive where some tree work is being done.  It is the perfect  time to check the health  of trees  and to  prune them  as  needed.  When no  leaves are  on  the trees, it is easy to  see  where trimming is needed. Most tree companies have arborists  who are trained to  help you maintain  the health  of the trees on your property. They can  determine whether the best choice is to preserve, trim, or remove,  so that you don't have  the dreadful  of clearing a tree that has done  damage. From canopy to  roots,  and everything  in  between, every  part of a tree plays a crucial part  in helping it stay healthy.

Do you  have trees in your yard? Is  there anywhere you could plant a tree or two. After all, trees go  a long way  to helping  birds and other animals thrive. Trees help  keep the green  in Greensboro. This thought evokes a Chinese proverb...  "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The  second best time is  now. "

The Chandler Suite

One of the added perks of attending the arts and crafts show at the Double Oaks Bed and Breakfast this past weekend was getting to tour the property itself. One of the artists encouraged us to tour the third floor and today's photo features the Chandler Suite on the top floor. According to the B&Bs website, the Chandler is named for the first car owned by the Martin family, the original owners of the home- a 1917 Chandler.

The suite is actually half of the living space on the top floor of the property. It is open, airy, and has a luxurious, 21st-century bathroom. The Westerwood, named for the neighborhood, is right across the hall. The open space in the middle houses the artist in residence.

Double Oaks is a fine example of how young entrepreneurs are turning their dreams into reality and loving the life they are living. If you have friends or family coming to town, consider booking them a room at Double Oaks. If you aren't afraid of stairs, the Chandler is well worth the climb! Happy Wednesday!

Homes Along Lawndale

There is one block on Lawndale, around Rosecrest and between the Target plaza and the shops at Cornwallis that is all residential. The homes are about the same size but vary in age and style. At one time, the area seemed far from town and rather rural. Now, the homes are still charming, but appear to be a holdover from an earlier era. 

The above brick home used to have a giant oak tree in the front yard. The stump is about 6 feet in diameter. It may have been damaged from a recent storm. Hopefully, the owners will plant something in its place so the community can watch it mature over the upcoming decades. In the meantime, we sure have a good view of this charming home.

Happy Thursday! Tomorrow is First Friday and the Festival of Lights in downtown Greensboro. Hope to see you there!

House on the Corner of Oak & McCormick

This single-family house in the heart of the Glenwood neighborhood of Greensboro is charming and represents the old south. The large front porch looks so cozy and must be a real refuge for the residents on warm days. The red tin roof really makes the house stand out against the white exterior and the bright blue sky. The natural, scruffiness of the yard is actually much healthier for the environment than a manicured lawn.

The Glenwood neighborhood came into being at the beginning of the 20th century and actually had trolley service. Glenwood was one of Greensboro's early planned residential neighborhoods. The above house, built in 1945, at the end of World War II, is a bit younger than many of the properties. With those mature oaks behind it, this home is just begging for an artist to paint it!

Körner's Folly

If you are local to Greensboro and celebrate Christmas, you will want to visit Körner's Folly at 413 S. Main Street in Kernersville. The intriguingly quirky brick house is full of surprises in every room. Plus, local decorators have been called in to compete for "best of show" since a different design team has decorated each room.

Julie Gilmer Körner built the house in 1880 and some rooms in Körner's Folly look more typical of Victorian homes. Other rooms are long and narrow with 5 1/2 ft. ceilings. Many paths to the next level in this 3 1/2-story home consist of two and a half ft. wide stairways. The grand finale is an in-home theatre on the top level, believed to have been the first in America. While you are there, don't forget to vote for the room with the best decorations. And remember, the foyer and the theatre are breathing, but there are other spectacular views, like the one above, sandwiched in between the first and last rooms. Even children have a good time as they look down in the stairwell, participate in the scavenger hunt, and take a spin on the stage! 

Thanksgiving 2019

Finding Thanksgiving "spirit" houses is not nearly as easy as finding yards celebrating Halloween and Christmas. However, there is one great home on the westernmost edge of Kirkwood at 2306 North Lawndale Drive. These houses, just north of Rosecrest Drive have made a real effort to create a sense of community. The above single-family home was built in 1947.

Today, we hope you have a chance to gather and celebrate family, friends, life, and fellowship. May you have a great Thanksgiving, and, if you drive along Lawndale drive, look for the single family dwelling with a yard full of thankfulness.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Dunleath Neighborhood

The Dunleath Historic District is so diverse. You can find people in all walks of life at this neighborhood, formerly known as Aycock. The above photo, taken a couple of weeks ago is of a resident cooking Cajun food on a grill on the front lawn and, oh how great it smelled.

Hopefully, you will have a little time to drive around and enjoy the beauty of Greensboro this weekend. If you are at the Greensboro Curb Market on Yanceyville Street, take a little detour around the Dunleath neighborhood. To be sure, people are friendly and they take a lot of pride in the neighborhood. Read the fabulous history of the Dunleath neighborhood, here!

Park Avenue Beauty

Today's sweet little home is located on Park Avenue in the Dunleath neighborhood (Formerly Aycock Historic District). The Park Avenue/Yanceyville area is just a block away from the Greensboro Curb Market and the old War Memorial Stadium. According to online real estate sources, this three bedroom, two bathroom home was build in 1996. That turquoise house is such a pop of color if you aren't expecting it. It was especially beautiful this past Saturday when the sun was out and shining brightly.

Many of the homes in this historic neighborhood are over 100 years old. Likely, this home has been rebuilt. Over the last few years, this neighborhood has really increased in price. A one-story home like this one is very appealing, especially for people who want to be close to town.

910 Walker Avenue

This house at 910 Walker Avenue, between Tate and Mendenhall Streets is a vintage beauty. For having been built in 1906, it still maintains quite a bit of charm over a century later. Although it has a yard that looks overgrown, as you walk by, the yard has the feel of a micro-prairie. Not all cultures and not all decades favored the manicured lawns that are expected in many neighborhoods today.

Urban micro prairies are valuable green space because they attract native insects and pollinators.* As Greensboro and Guilford County lose more and more land to housing developments, it is crucial that we be purposeful with flora to help fauna. The more prairie-like spaces with wildflowers, shrubs, and trees, also help with erosion and help lower temperatures in the summer. As fall rolls in, if you are considering planting, consider adding some native plants to your yard. If you want inspiration, seek out yards like 910 Walker Avenue and see them close up. Hurry, before old-man winter keeps us inside!

 

*reference and more information here. Also, NC State and NC A&T can help with making lawns attractive without over-relying on grass (see, here).

Music Porch on North Mendenhall Street

As promised, today is the close up of yesterday's photo of music on the porch at 405 North Mendenhall Street in Westerwood. The 1922 Craftsman style home has a front porch that works well for playing music for the neighborhood. The above quartet of saxophones played everything from "I'll Fly Away" to "I Like to Be in America" from West Side Story to classical/jazz. Anyone who walked by was treated to a free concert. And many people stayed for a whole set.

It is people who make a neighborhood great and music is known to be therapeutic. Westerwood has great people and talented musicians; this neighborhood is, indeed great. May the concerts continue and the people continue to be welcoming! Happy Tuesday! 

Tomorrow is the Art and Sole Artists' Event in Westerwood!

Tomorrow is the first Saturday in October, which means that it is time for the annual Art & Sole art event in the Westerwood neighborhood in Greensboro. Located between West Friendly Avenue, North Josephine Boyd Street, and Benjamin Parkway, Westerwood is a neighborhood filled with artists and people who take great pride in their neighborhood. The above house is an example of both. The architecture and landscaping is stunning and, as you can see in the front yard, this house will be a stop on the self-guided, walking art tour this year.

Thanks to potter, Ann Lynch, for ten years, artists of Westerwood have opened their studios to the public. This year, about 20 artists will participate. If you're in the market to purchase pottery or original art, or to just get out for a stroll in a neighborhood that has been charming since its construction in the 1920's, this is the event for you. See you there sometime between 10am and 5pm! You can find the stops under westerwoodartandsole on Facebook. 211 Hillcrest Drive is listed as stop #1. Start there, or, just to to Cortland Street, Fairmont Street, North Mendenhall, or Crestland, and you will be well on your way! 

La maison française

Driving around the neighborhoods of Greensboro is so much fun. The above house is located on Robin Hood Drive, in the community between EarthFare and Bryan Boulevard. This house, a typical design for Greensboro in the 1990's, has been dubbed the French House. As you can see, the French flag is prominently displayed. Also, the shutters are painted the same blue as the top stripe on the French flag- identified with Saint Martin. Then their is the white painted second floor, and the bottom red brick represents the red on the stripe, for Saint Denis. 

Surely there is a back story here. Perhaps the owner was born in France, teaches French, or simply a francophile, loving the French language and culture.  first time we see someone out working in the yard, for sure we will stop and ask them. The Robin Hood tale is associated with England, so we're guessing the name of the street does not hold a clue. Our homes say so much about us; some more than others. What does your "maison" say about you?

Tiny is the New BIG

Tucked into an unassuming lot at 4120 Causey Street in the Pamona neighborhood of west Greensboro are six tiny homes, A-F. This is the first tiny house community that the City of Greensboro has approved. In the era of large suburban homes, this little community reminds us that, at the end of the day, all we really need to live is a roof over our head, a place to fix warm meal, a way to get in out of the elements, and a place to sleep. As shared on their website (tinyhousesgreensboro.com), each has a living area, a kitchen with full sized appliances, one bedroom, and a bathroom. Five of the homes are 288 square feet and one is only 180 square feet.

The tiniest of the houses is the one on the right. It has the word "Weaver" on the door, because it was built by students at Weaver Academy, a Guilford County School. Students raised the money for the material, designed the home, and built it in one semester. What a great way for students to learn the engineering process, perform community service, and oversee a project from conceptualization to completion. Residents are excited because these houses represent a means of ensuring they not only have an affordable housing option, but one that is permanent. The thriving, community garden at the front of the lot that reminds us that while housing security is important, quality of life is made even better when there is a sense of community.

The City Daily Photo theme for August is black. The black trailer reminds us that there needs to be a way to get each home from the sight where it is built to here. See more theme day photos from around the world, here.

 

2412 Sherwood Drive

The above house was the last one on the Lindley Park Walking Tour, hosted by Preservation Greensboro this past Wednesday. It was one of the smaller homes, but it holds faithful to the original requirement of the neighborhood for houses be set back from the street. Built after World War II, when Greensboro, like many cities in the United States, was experiencing a housing boom.

The facade of the house features Japanese influences, evoking the sense of a Japanese tea house. During the tour, a woman ran up to the door and knocked. We soon learned that her friend lived there. The friend didn't appear to be home. But then again, what would you do if someone knocked on your door and there were fifty people outside? If only we'd practiced a song, we could have started singing. It was a lovely evening and a fantastic tour. By the end of it, this group of people- united with the singular interest of getting to know more about our great city- just might have been willing to burst out in song. Happy Saturday!

Preservation Greensboro: Tour of Lindley Park

Preservation Greensboro offers free walking tours of historic neighborhoods in Greensboro. The above photo features the starting point for the tour of Lindley Park. On these tours, a docent gives a brief introduction to the history of the neighborhood, sharing its significance, lore, and most interesting points, and then commences to walking and talking. Homes with historical and or architectural significance are pointed out.

The Wednesday night tour drew almost fifty people, most of whom were not from Lindley Park. Many participants had been on one of the tours before. Standing on the bench on the right was Rebecca who did an excellent job of bringing the history of Lindley Park to life for the group. Learn more about Preservation Greensboro and their upcoming neighborhood tour schedule, here.

The Beautiful Westerwood Neighborhood

Today's photo features the westernmost entrance to the Westerwood neighborhood. The charming brick bungalow-style home with the generous front porch is perched at the corner of Westover Terrace and Fairmont Street, just up from Lake Daniel Park. Of course it is the people who make Greensboro beautiful, but it is also the people who make the urban landscapes and their homes beautiful.

The photo shows how green and healthy the plants in this yard are. What is a little harder to see from this distance is the fact that there is a hummingbird feeder that gets plenty of visits from the tiny birds. Also, to the right of the sidewalk is an urban garden full of edibles and wildflowers. This yard is beautiful and all of the plantings, trees, hedges, etc. help keep the need for manicured grass to a minimum. To be sure, this yard and home make a very inviting introduction to the Westerwood neighborhood.

Pinecrest Road

Pinecrest Road is a quiet street just off of Friendly Avenue in Sunset Hills. It is one of the streets on the route for the "Running of the Balls" walk/run in December. The above house, located on Pinecrest, is a beauty. While not all of the homes in the neighborhood are 2+ stories, the trend is for the smaller homes to get additions once they are sold. The location of this neighborhood, the ability to walk around the block, and talk to neighbors along the way, make this a great place to live.

To be so close to shopping and the hospital, the neighborhood is surprisingly quiet and there isn't much traffic, until, that is, the magical month of December, when the streets are glowing with those giant light balls in the trees.

Friendship Friends Quaker Meeting

The Friendship Friends Quaker Meeting is located in a former private residence at 1103 New Garden Road, directly across the street from the Frank Family Science Building at Guilford College. It is also located in Quaker Acres beside the Friends Home Senior Living Community. On the edge of the property, you can see the little path that has been forged by the senior Quakers who can walk to the meeting house. 

The room where services is held is filled with chairs around the perimeter. In traditional quaker worship, "(a)ttendees are encouraged to speak once "the Spirit finds you", thus meaning one should only speak if the message is good for the community and beneficial to the meeting. A traditional Quaker belief is everyone has "that of God" inside, and everyone's inner light and spirit can be shown."*

There is over 250 years of Quaker presence and influence in Greensboro. Quakers have been a vital part of the local community and were believers in the inherent worth and dignity of all humans and civil rights, from the beginning. They meet at the 1103 New Garden property at 10:30 on Sundays, if you are interested in being a part of this inclusive, spiritual community. Happy Sunday!

*Wikipedia, "Meeting for Worship" visited June 15, 2019.

300 Cornwallis

 

This Old Irving Park house, located at 300 Cornwallis Drive is so full of southern charm. From columns, to topiaries to large front porch, to a great lawn, the property has so much street appeal. It was built in 1961, has over 5,000 square feet of living space, and a full basement. There is no shortage of space indoors and out.

When we feature homes in Greensboro, we often feature bungalow-esque properties or ones that maybe have fallen into disrepair, and may not be long for this world. However, especially to those from elsewhere, we don't want to misrepresent Greensboro. There are some breathtaking homes here. Greensboro residents take great pride in maintaining their green space. Our city comes by its name honestly. The above photo is representative of homes you will see as you enter Old Irving Park. Some are larger, some are smaller, but almost all of them make you want to grab a jug of sweet tea and a homemade pound cake and sit on the porch for the afternoon, chatting with dear friends.

Happy summer!

Summertime on Katie Drive

Katie Drive is located in northwest Greensboro, accessed from Carlson Dairy Road. The above photo shows a typical house and lot; a midsize-large house of recent vintage; nice landscaping with a woodsy back yard. The wooded areas in the back are a nice buffer from North Battleground Avenue. The neighborhood is filled with families of all ages and stages. Usually there is one house or two for sale, at most,  in this neighborhood located at the entrance to the clubhouse of the Greensboro Country Club, Farm Course.

Most of the houses on Katie Drive have a well-manicured front lawn. The above lawn is mowed with a diamond/ checkerboard pattern. This level of detail, in making a lawn look presentable, is indicative of the pride the residents take in their neighborhood. Yet, families also use their lawns, on these warm summer nights, you see parents out playing with their children, especially playing basketball or riding bikes.

It would be nice to know how Katie Drive got its name. Surely, the developer had a loved one named Katie. If you know, please share the answer in the comments!

Charming House in the Glenwood Neighborhood

This three bedroom/one bath home in the Glenwood neighborhood is located on Highland Avenue near Hertford Street. This house, built in 1928, has the feel of a charming cottage. As you can tell from the entrance stairs, the house is built on a bit of a hill. Not all of Greensboro is flat! The front porch is charming and with the entire front of the house having a wall of windows, it must be nice and bright inside.

The Glenwood neighborhood is incredibly diverse. From college students, to urban farmers, old-time musicians, non-profit workers, single-parent households. two-parent households, to the homeless, Glenwood is a neighborhood where people seem to take great interest in the neighborhood. Residents work hard to help each other. The churches in the neighborhood also do what they can to help the community. Several new amenities have come to this side of Gate City Boulevard. As one example, the Bestway on Walker Avenue has opened a second location on the Northern edge of Glenwood. It is an easy place to bike if you are looking for something to do on this Memorial Day weekend. Let the adventures begin! 

On Bunch Road

Bunch Road is one of those roads that used to be rural, but now has more of a suburban feel. It connects the Northwest High School area to Oak Ridge and Summerfield. The above photo features an older, modest home on the road.  And the mature trees in the yard tower over the tiny house. Look at how beautiful the yard looks on the cusp of everything blooming.

The photo was taken this past Saturday, after the skies were gray for much of the day and then early evening, the sun came out to make everything look fresh and clean. Truly, this house and property is a peek at the Greensboro of yesteryear, back in the day when a small, single story home was enough.

New Structures on Stanley Huff Road

Stanley Huff Road is undergoing quite a bit of change. What was formerly farmland with horses and cows is starting to get housing developments. The above photo shows one of the homes on the 5850 and 5840 lots with structures being built by Greensboro builder Gary Jobe. We're betting they are going to be ultra modern, and built to respect living sustainably; perhaps even LEED certified. The angles and placement of the glass hint at passive solar heating. 

When land that was previously rural farmland gets repurposed for suburban living, it is always nice if great thought is put into the homes. Gary Jobe has a reputation for building quality homes and the landscaping is being done by Green Visions, an indication that "green" is a key concept in the project. Fingers crossed! Hopefully, they will have an open house!

Time to Plow the Fields

If you are so inclined, and you haven't already, it is time to plow the fields! Greensboro has had so much rain lately, it is kind of hard to fit in a planting. So far, it hasn't heated up excessively and cold weather crops are still thriving.

If you love seeing slices of rural America and live in Greensboro, consider taking the back roads to Kernersville or Burlington and you will see many scenes, like the one above, along the way. The above photo was taken on a recent venture to Kernersville. With all the add-ons, this house is actually larger than it looks. And, by the looks of the fields surrounding the house, they take their farming very seriously. Have a great Saturday and, if at all possible, plant edibles and support our local farmers!

Country Roads

The above photo was taken this past weekend on a back road between West Market Street and Kernersville, that area where you can't be completely sure whether you are in Guilford or Forsyth County. This is rural North Carolina at its best; the way things used to be. From the looks of the home, it might not be around much longer. However, the horses look well cared for and happy on the property. 

Greensboro and the surrounding areas have a lot of horse farms. Scenic country vistas, like this one, are quickly being replaced by apartment complexes and Sheetz gas stations. Growth is inevitable and progress is, well, progress; however, there is something special to driving down a country road and enjoying nature in the abundant silence of a warm spring day.

Blue House and Redbud Tree at the Corner of Scott and Walker

This past weekend, the blue house, at the corner of Scott and Walker Avenues, was in its early spring glory with this redbud tree bursting with color. This Lindley Park house is just down the street from Lindley Elementary School and is a prime example of the beauty of a well maintained older home in a well-established neighborhood. The people of Greensboro love their yards and many take great pride in landscaping. Just the right plantings in just the right place can really add beauty to a yard. The blue paint and white trim on the house make that pink tree pop!

The native eastern redbud is one of the first trees to flower in North Carolina, and it is a hardy small tree that can thrive in full sun or light shade. Once the tree is done blooming, heart-shaped leaves will be a vibrant green through the summer and take on beautiful color for fall. Redbud trees stay small and like to volunteer to grow, which means they are hardy and FREE! Let's hope the threat of ice today doesn't damage these glorious blossoms!

The Wishing Tree

The 300 block of East Bessemer Avenue has a wishing tree. Just outside this brick duplex is a trunk of a tree with a sign, inviting you to make a wish and leave something behind. The tree could benefit from a little sparkle and bling. Perhaps if you get some Mardi Gras beads or find an old chandelier prism, you could make the tree look a little more sparkly. Even more important is for you to make a wish and keep your hopes alive.

Have you ever seen a wishing tree? Would you consider creating one? How would you react if your neighbor established one? This household also has one of the bottle trees that is a fundraiser for Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes. It seems like this would be an interesting household to get to know. Have a happy Tuesday, and... make a wish!

Homes of Greensboro: Shannon Drive

Greensboro has had some great, sunny, winter days. The above photo was taken earlier in the week, on Shannon Drive at the corner of Golden Gate Drive. The brick home, built in  1955,  is right across the street from Golden Gate Shopping Center; however, it looks like it could be in rural Guilford County. The cul-de-sac, just a couple of blocks from Page High School, is lined with trees and has plenty of greenery- even in winter. 

There was a time when people were leaving these houses, smaller  than 1,000 square feet, for bigger homes in the suburbs. Today, with the appeal of living closer to urban areas and the tiny-home, less-is-more movement, these little homes, with such great bones, are good as gold. This particular home hasn't sold since 1981. We're betting the owners are pretty happy with it.

Along South Chapman Street

Yesterday was a glorious, winter day in Greensboro.  Temperatures were in the 60s and the skies were a palate-cleansing blue. This monochromatic look is so appreciated in January after a highly-decorated, colorful December.

The above photo features a bend in the road in the 300 block of South Chapman Street, very near Our Lady of Grace church. The trees are bare and the sky is even more pronounced, looking so crisp between the branches. You can tell the neighborhood is well established by the size of those trees. Nature is pretty glorious, and Greensboro is a pretty city- even in winter!

 

 

Purple House with Green Door on Beverly Place

The snow is long gone in Greensboro. However, today's photo was taken last week after the snowstorm. Located on the Market Street end of Beverly Place, this house captivates most who drive by. It isn't every day one sees a purple house with a lime green door. The Christmas wreath is the icing on the cake. A house painted in secondary colors really stands out in the snow.

Other than the colors, the house is pretty typical floor plan of many homes in Greensboro. Perhaps the owners were mindful of feng shui. This design concept recommends green or brown for east facing doors. The home is very close to the Greensboro arboretum. Perhaps the owners were inspired by the greenery there. Here's to a great rest of the week, Greensboro (and beyond).

House on Mimosa Drive

This house on Mimosa Drive in Westerwood is right across from the Lake Daniel Park. Built in 1938, it is younger than many of the homes in Westerwood. However, it represents the character of this urban neighborhood. The painted brick home is well maintained, cozy, with charming landscaping. The house hasn't sold for over a decade. When houses become available in this Westerwood, they sell quickly.

If you had been to the chili cook off across the street from this house over the weekend, you would see why. Westerwood is a place where neighbors not only know each other, they enjoy socializing with each other, and work together to keep the area beautiful. 

Lotus Center on Lawndale Drive

Lotus Center is a facility with healthcare professionals who practice holistic medicine on Lawndale Drive near Target. According to their website,* the center houses a pharmacy of over 500 herbs and 200 prepared pills and tinctures. In the front yard, you will notice a tree that was likely uprooted during Hurricane Michael. 

If you notice, these professionals, who are grounded in natural, earth-friendly practices, have taken the tree and are sawing the wood in three inch planks that are about 2 1/2 feet by 7 feet. The wood looks like oak. It is solid, beautiful, with a nice grain. It will be interesting to try to find out what they are going to do with the wood. Whoever is cutting it is doing a fabulous job. The cuts look perfectly level.

*reference, here.

Rankin Place Beauty

Walking around College Hill after Hurricane Michael, it was surprising to see all of the big trees that weathered the storm. This blue and pink beauty at 804 Rankin Place has this giant tree on the left that amazingly held up during the high winds. The house was built in 1905, the tree may have been planted around the same time. Both are going strong. How wonderful. Greensboro has so many lovely places and College Hill is one of the oldest neighborhoods. Somehow this house just looks like it should be painted pink and blue. 

Happy Wednesday. We hope you find time to get out and enjoy the lovely homes of Greensboro before the weather turns and the days becomes short!

House on Meadowbrook Terrace

This house, built in 1925,  on Meadowbrook Terrace in Old Irving Park is a beauty. At over 6,000 square feet, this five bedroom/five bathroom house is much larger that it appears to be when looking at the street view. Those angles add such a distinctive element. While, according to Zillow, it is valued at near the $2million mark, there is not indication that this nearly-100-year-old home will be for sale anytime soon. 

This home is so charming and typical of the combination of elegance and a touch of uniqueness that makes the neighborhood so special. Another bonus, if you are a golfer or one with a robust social calendar,  Meadowbrook Terrace is located close to the Greensboro Country club. Those trees are hinting at fall colors. This yard with mature plantings will be fun to watch as the season changes. Let's hope it didn't suffer any damage from Hurricane Michael. Happy Saturday, from Old Irving Park and beyond!

Halloween at Santa's on Chapman Street

If you are local, you probably remember for decades that Jack True Senior, the Santa of Chapman Street, would sit on his porch and children from miles around would drive by to see Santa. In Greensboro, Santa was real. Mr. True, the True Santa,  left us in 2003 and he is missed greatly by his family, friends, and the children whose lives he brightened. The family has a sign in his honor and son Roger continues to decorate for holidays to keep his dad's memory alive.

If you have time this weekend, drive by and see a little bit of Greensboro's holiday history (on the Spring Garden Street end of Chapman). Somehow, the scene is more impactful at night, when darkness envelops the little white house and the light-up decorations are aglow.

In the 1980s, the community rallied to help the True family continue to afford to live in the house. The gesture was in deep appreciation of the love Mr. True extended to all who believed. Helping others and giving back to the community is deeply ingrained in the spirit of Greensboro. Community service has been a tradition here for as long as anyone can remember.

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.

Tiny House Living

Elizabeth and Adam Paashaus can barely contain their excitement. This past weekend, they had a giant yard sale to minimize their possessions. They are selling their Lindley Park home, leaving brick and mortar jobs, and traveling the United States in their tiny home. They will home-school their two children and work remotely through the Internet. Here you see them in the kitchen area of their 40' long Thomas school bus that has been redesigned as a 270 square ft. home. The transformation took over two years with the couple doing the work. The beautiful wood countertops and walls are covered in wood harvested from a farm on North Church Street.

Elizabeth loves to cook and bake, so the couple dedicated ample room to the kitchen space. The bathroom and sleeping areas are behind the white door. Forward, there is a seating area, and just out of sight is a wood burning stove, an especially cozy feature that Elizabeth loves.

Elizabeth, a lifelong Greensboro resident and Grimsley grad, and Adam, first New York and then High Point, will be launching this new lifestyle by mid-October.   They love adventure, outdoor sports and living life to the fullest.Hats off to them for living their dream.  If you want to follow their adventures of living the good life on the road, follow them on Instagram at Deliberatelifebus and read Elizabeth's blog.

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!

 

 

This Old House

Over the last few years, change has been evident in Greensboro. From the widening of Horse Pen Creek, to the opening of more miles of the urban loop, to the new face of midtown, with the addition of all of the new murals, to the changes on South Elm Street, this is not the Greensboro of previous decades.

The above photo is one of the homes closest to the Robert G Shaw Piedmont Triad Farmers Market. It has seen its betters and does not look like it will be long for this world. It will be sad to see it go; however, it will be interesting to see what crops up in its place. This is a prime piece of real estate and will not stay vacant long. Do any readers know what will replace this old house?