Greensboro Daily Photo

Time to Harvest Squash in the GDP Garden 2022

Squash in growing in the the Greensboro Daily Photo yard. We planted a little late and just got our first mess to eat this week. And, oh it was yummy. In Greensboro, you can plant squash several times; however, the later you plant in the season, the worse the bugs are. According to the botanical classification, squash is a flower and in the same family as pumpkins and zucchini. When it is on our dinner table, squash is a vegetable. You should be able to get squash in all of the farmers markets this weekend. If you like to visit farms directly, here is a website that tells you which farms have U-Pick options and what they are offering at the moment (see HERE).  You can really get to know Greensboro by visiting the various farms, and farmers markets. You might want to have this southern squash casserole recipe handy in case you bring some home with you. If you want to be part of a community garden, it is a little late in the season, but places like the Keeley Community Garden (McLeansville) are great places to start. At Keeley, you can learn a lot from other gardeners. Most are generous with their knowledge, and often with their produce.

In a couple of weeks, your friends will be offering you zucchini bread! If YOU are the bearer of "all things zucchini", here is an informative segment on zucchini from Southern Living.

Happy gardening and happy last day of June!

Glorious Sunset over Greensboro- No Filter Needed!

Last night's sunset was nothing short of glorious. The above photo was taken off of Carlson Dairy Road, after the rain and as the sun was low to the horizon- at about 8:30 pm. The temperature  yesterday ranged from 67- 86º. We hope your part of town got some rain yesterday, as there is none predicted again until Saturday. Here is an explanation of factors that contribute to making a colorful sunrise and sunset. You can't always predict when the sunset will be spectacular; however, we found a photographer's blog that helps explain. First, the sun must be shining and low to the horizon. Then,  Stephen Bay, points out you need high clouds to catch the sun's rays, and a clear horizon so sunlight is not blocked. Those two factors are visible in the above photo 1) far-reaching clouds and 2) a clear horizon. We always post photos with a landscape orientation. However, yesterday's sky would have been even more interesting from a portrait orientation to showcase those lovely blues.

Happy Tuesday! May our summer days be filled with spectacular events, including vibrant sunsets!

Happy Pollinator Week!

Happy Pollinator Week. It is an initiative started by the Pollinator Partnership, an international organization that endeavors to protect pollinators. While their scope is international, they are based out of San Francisco, CA. The pollinator in the above photo was seen this week in our Greensboro backyard. It is a hummingbird moth. It flies and moves just like a hummingbird. This one was suspended at a flower and you can see its very long tongue. This one is visiting their bee balm. The female lays her eggs on the underside of leaves and the caterpillars crawl down under the leaves to spin their cocoon. So, if you rake all  your leaves, you are likely raking away pollinators.

At any rate, happy pollinator week. If you are interested in helping pollinators in your yard, read up on the whole process. The insect/nature balance is a pretty delicate one. Syngenta, a company with local roots, has a pollinator program, too. Their US headquarters is on Swing Road. We featured the company on GDP in February (see here). Greensboro Beautiful is another great organization to support locally if you want to see more pollinators. And then, there are some pretty great individuals, like Mr. Mullins who faithfully brings his honey to the Greensboro Farmers Market on Yanceyville Street. We featured him 13 years ago on Greensboro Daily Photo. Now, his is a business to support if you like pollinators and you like to support local businesses!

Summer Solstice 2022

Yesterday was the summer solstice, bringing summer to the northern hemisphere. While there wasn't a spectacular sunset over Lake Higgins in Greensboro, it was a beautiful day. Yesterday was sunny and the temperature ranged from a low of 60º to a high of 90º; at sunset, it was 82º. Sunrise was at 6:03 am and sunset at 8:39. The above photo was taken around sunset at Lake Higgins on the longest day of the year, with about 14 1/2 hours of daylight. Contrast that with December 21, 2022, the winter solstice when, in Greensboro, the sun won't rise until 7:26 and it will set at 5:09, giving us about 9 1/2 hours of daylight.

May we all use this extra 5 hours of daylight wisely. Lake Higgins is open today, and it will be a warm, sunny SUMMER day, perfect for kayaking or paddle boarding on the lake. Both are available for rent there. Look for us paddling the day away. Last night we saw an otter swimming along when we were out taking this sunset photo. Wonder what we will see today!

Eastern Swallowtail Butterflies, Farmers Markets, and Porchfest in Dunleath!

The eastern swallowtail butterflies are back! The above photo features one of the butterflies in our back yard in Greensboro. The red zinnia in the photo was purchased at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market in early May. Now, the plant is in full bloom and attracting butterflies and other pollinators. They do seem to be partial to the red flowers. If you head to one of the local farmers markets today, you can still buy flowers to plant and attract butterflies and other insects to your own yard. If you go to the farmers market on Yanceyville today, after it is over, you can drive through the Dunleath neighborhood and hear some great music. Today is Porchfest!

Today, the Greensboro community is invited to listen to some original music in Dunleath where neighbors offer their porches as music venues. Musicians play at various houses, with most sets lasting 45 minutes; then at the end, everyone ends up at Sternberger Park to conclude Porchfest. Here is the link to the 50 groups/performers participating this year. If you attend, please park at Swann Middle School and bring a lawn chair. The event will last from 12 noon- 5pm, with the last hour being at the park. Porchfest is such an outpouring of family, neighbors, friends, great music, and, likely, a butterfly or two. Every year the event continues to grow and this year promises to be spectacular! Hope to see you there.

Happy Saturday!

Deep River Flower Farm

On Saturday, at the Corner Market,* we met the very talented organic flower farmer Nicole Rosenberger of Deep River Flower Farm. Nicole and her husband live in a house on the Deep River in Franklinville, NC, about 40 minutes south of Greensboro. For just over a month now, Nicole has been coming to Greensboro to sell her flowers and her very carefully constructed turkey wing brooms. While the flowers are of nature's making, the brooms are carefully crafted and knotted by Nicole. Nicole, originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, majored in anthropology. While she attended college in Towson, Maryland, she also had the opportunity to attend Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, NC. We're betting this love of flowers and organic farmer was fostered in Warren Wilson College (WWC). We forgot to ask Nicole if she worked on the farm, garden or landscape crew at Warren Wilson and perhaps honed her flower growing skills at WWC.

Nicole grows most of her flowers from seed on her quarter acre farm on the Deep River. We're so glad she makes the trip to Greensboro to sell her flowers and brooms. Please stop by and support Nicole, and the other vendors at the Corner Market, and other local markets in Greensboro. We just may make Nicole's tent a weekly stop on our farmers market jaunts and bring a little of the outdoors in. Here is an article about Nicole from the Chatham News & Record.

Happy Monday! Take time to stop to smell the roses, sweet pea, lilies, lavender, and just about every flower but, perhaps not the marigolds!

 

*the farmers market at the St. Andrews Episcopal Church parking lot on West Market at Kensington.

Happy Earth Day... Pull Up a Chair!

Happy Earth Day! Let's celebrate together! A couple of weeks ago, we published a photo of a Deodar cedar tree in the center of the cul-de-sac on Clement Court. It was planted in 1970 by (then) County Manager, John Witherspoon. Today's photo shows life under the tree planted 52 years ago. Look at the cozy seating where neighbors can gather for fellowship and fun. Think if you plant a tree today how wonderful it will be for future generations. Imagine the wildlife that lives above in this tree. Greensboro has some fabulous, mature trees and this is one of them. Let's do what we can to keep our trees healthy. How will you be spending Earth Day? Do you have a special place to sit and converse with neighbors?

If you are looking for something to do today, there is an Earth Day Celebration at Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Branch Library at 1420 Price Park Road from 3:00- 4:00 pm. They will talk about Earth Day and the importance of taking care of the planet. It is a family friendly program. There will also be an Earth Day Bug Safari at 6068 North Church Street from 3:30- 5:00pm. This is an initiative of the NC Arboretum.

Here's to celebrating the planet- every day and especially TODAY! Happy Friday!

Towering Cypress Tree On Clement Court

John Witherspoon moved to Greensboro in 1968 to assume the position of Guilford County manager. The Forest Valley neighborhood off of Hobbs Road was being developed at the time, and it was where the Witherspoons settled, a nice neighborhood for John and wife June to raise a family. In 1970, he planted a Deodar cedar tree in the center of the cul-de-sac at the end of the street. Over the next 2+ decades during the family's time in Greensboro, they watched the cedar grow. At Christmas, the family would decorate it, even when they had to bring in special equipment to get the lights on the top. Now, after 50 years, the tree is probably too large to decorate, but it still gets plenty of use. While it is hard to see from this angle, under the tree, residents of Clement Court have placed a swing, a bench, and some other seating. It is really a great gathering spot for the families on the street.

While Mr. and Mrs. Witherspoon moved on after his 23 years of service to Guilford County, the tree stands strong, serving as a visual legacy of his impact on the community. Of course other things came to fruition locally during Mr. Witherspoon's tenure with the county; including the consolidation of the courts, construction of a new courthouse and offices, the creation of an ambulance service, the establishment of countywide zoning, and more.* Mr. Witherspoon always loved the people of Guilford County, as well as the natural beauty of the area. His cypress tree adds to that beauty. As Arbor Day (4/29)  and Earth Day (4/22) draw near, let us all follow Mr. Witherspoon's lead and plant something that will contribute to the beauty of our community. 

 

*reference and more information.

Happy Spring Brought to You Today by the Forsythia!

As of yesterday, it is officially spring and today should be another beautiful day in Greensboro. The temperature should get to 70º.  At least once a year we like to post a photo of forsythia, an iconic harbinger of spring. They are a popular spring plant, one of the first to bloom. They are originally from Asia and are in the olive family. This forsythia is located in our side yard and took us by surprise, seeming blooming out of no where. Fortunately they held off until after that cold snap last week. Thanks to that weather, we're having to replant our cabbage.

As we looked around the yard and neighborhood, we noticed that the cone flowers are starting to pop out of the ground. The lenten roses are still going strong. Blueberry bushes are starting to show blossoms and dogwoods are almost ready to bloom. Greensboro is about to be at peak beauty. Our local, public places like The Greensboro Arboretum and Tanger Center Bicentennial Garden are great places to visit to enjoy spring plantings. What are you favorite places to go around town?

Sunset tonight will be at 7:32 pm. Just like that, the days are getting longer. Happy Monday!

Spring on South Elm Street

Spring is so beautiful in Greensboro. The above photo was taken downtown on the 300 block of South Elm Street. Many trees are in blossom this week! If you want to see them, the time is now! In the background of the photo is a mural painted in 2016 by performing and visual artist Kim Kennedy. The center panel features her musician friend Joey Barnes. This mural is withstanding the test of time and still looks as fresh as it did when painted six years ago. It was painted on the south end of a parking lot on Elm, on the building where Design Archives is located. 

When writer Anne Lamott spoke at Tanger Center on Tuesday, she mentioned a writing strategy she shares with her students. She encourages them to take a 1" frame, look through it, and write about what they see in that postage stamp sized view. At GDP, we don't use a 1' frame, but, when framing a photo, we do find great joy in  blocking out everything but what we see through the lens. No matter what is going on in the world, or what around you may not be pleasant, for the brief moment a photo is being taken, it becomes a world unto itself. Photos also capture a moment in time. This little view was of South Elm on 3/16/22 at about 5pm.

Lamott also suggested supporting the indie bookstores. If you are in the 300 block of South Elm, you are at downtown's fabulous indie bookstore, Scuppernong Books. Please shop local for your reading needs. Happy Thursday!

Star Magnolia; Spring in Greensboro is Spectacular

Happy Monday! We were downtown for First Friday this past Friday and had to stop and admire this tree in front of the Cultural Arts Center (CAC) on Davie Street. We think it is a star magnolia and it looked absolutely beautiful at dusk. The CAC was pretty quiet during First Friday. Green Hill has an exhibit with water as a theme, appropriately entitled H2O, but, it didn't open until Saturday.  The Center for Visual Artists (CVA) was open and we got to see some interesting art there in an exhibit called "The Eve Gene" with all of the art in some way tied to felinity and womanhood, in honor of Women's History Month (see Yes Weekly article). Even on a quiet night, the CAC is a great place to stop and refuel at Café Europa and to see a little art before heading to the events at the city parks and then heading downtown.

The above tree should still be in bloom. If you get a chance head to the north end of town and explore all of the great resources there, from the CVA to the Greensboro Central Library to the parks, the History Museum, the Children's Museum and more. More places tend to be open on Tuesday than Monday; however, the above beautiful scene is there waiting for you. Also, this week is a good one to explore Greensboro as most of the institutions of higher education are on spring break and traffic is lighter.

 

Happy Monday!

Night Sky over Greensboro in March

Happy March! Today's photo of the twilight sky is from one more walk around the golf course at Carlson Dairy. It was taken at about 7:00 p.m., evidence that the days are getting a little longer. On March 13th, the clock moves forward an hour, plus the days keep getting longer. March will show spring breaks at the local colleges and universities. Also, the spring equinox is on March 20th. Here is the planting calendar for Greensboro; yes, it is time to start seedlings and time to get the cold weather crops in the ground. 

We love the way the lights at the parking lot at the Greensboro Country Club cast a golden glow on the trees. This time next month, there will be leaves on these trees. For now, the bare branches add to the drama of the scene. We're not sure what all the white dots in the sky are, but at least a few are stars. Last night was a very clear night.

Here's to a great week and a great month for everyone. If you live along Horse Pen Creek Road, here's to making great progress on road construction. 

Sunday Walks, Reflecting on the Week

Happy Sunday, Greensboro Daily Photo readers! For some, today is the Sabbath and a day of rest. Even for those cho aren't Christian, often Sunday is a slower paced day. There is less traffic on the street. Some businesses are closed. It is a time to reflect on the past week, or the week ahead. The above photo reminds us of what meditation is like if we described it with pictures, as opposed to words. We love to walk near golf courses because they are vast open spaces. Such is the case with the Farm Course for the Greensboro Country Club, which has been a golf course since it was transformed by Ellis Maples in 1961. In 2009, the course was updated by Donald Steel. It is the longest course in Guilford County and one of the longest in North Carolina.*  One need only to look at the above photo to realize just how beautiful the views are around the course, even from the street.

If you have a chance today, head outdoors and take a walk. Bundle up as the high will only reach about 49ºF in Greensboro. By afternoon, the rains will stop and puddles on wet streets always make for interesting photos. Puddles can reflect the sky almost as nicely as this water feature on the golf course. Any day and any place, and especially on Sundays in Greensboro, nothing is more peaceful than a walk around an open field.

We are on the back end of winter here and trees and bulbs in the ground are already hinting that spring is right around the corner.

 

* Reference and more information.

 

Hellebores In Full Bloom

Hellebores, also known as Lenten roses and  Christmas roses are not actually related to roses. They are a herbaceous, flowering perennial. Hellebores love and do well in cold weather. They are always one of the first flowers to bloom in the dead of winter. We acquired ours from a persona friend, plus a few from the Greensboro Farmers Market on Yanceyville Street. Once established, they are known for being hardy. 

Local Gardner, Janice Nicholson is known as the Hellebore Lady. She runs Gethsemane Gardens Nursery, just north of Greensboro on Highway 150. The nursery was started on a farm that formerly produced tobacco. While hellebores aren't always available, when they are, Janice brings them to the farmers market. We really like this deep, reddish purple of our plants; however, there are so many varieties, it would be fun to grow more. Speaking of growing, it is almost March and it is getting to be time to think about gardening.

Happy Thursday!

Spring is Just Around the Corner

If you were out driving on the north end of Glenwood on Haywood Street, behind the Kaplan Center for Wellness, you would have seen this landscaping crew hard at work. In this day and age, the internet if full of people complaining about others. Our post today is something along the lines of "caught being good"! As we drove by, we noticed everyone on the crew was working quickly and efficiently as a team. We stopped to ask if they were mulching or making major changes; they let us know they were mulching. We drove by their truck to and saw that this crew was truck 23 of Bland Landscaping Company. 

Bland is a full service landscaping company established in 1976. They serve the whole Piedmont area and the Costal Carolinas. Bland doesn't appear to have an office in Greensboro, but they service the area and have some big accounts here and we can see why. Whether you are going to do your own yard work, or if you are going to hire a landscaping company, today's photo reminds us it is time to start scheduling the work

Happy Wednesday!

Beautiful Sky Over Lake Higgins

In Greensboro, the sky was so beautiful this past week.The above photo was taken at Lake Higgins just a few days ago. As you can see, even when trees are still without leaves, with the sun shining, winter days can be as glorious as summer. Lake Higgins is a great option if you want to hike a trail or launch a kayak or fish- or, all of the above. In January, the Lake Higgins trout supply was replenished for winter trout fishing; boats are available for rental; and there is a beginning birding class happening from 10:30- 12 noon (see here). This 226-acre municipal waterway always seem to have something happening.

If you don't want to spend the day in nature, consider visiting one of the many farmers markets. Another option would be to head downtown to the Free Market at 1201 Bellevue Street from 11am-3pm. Everything there will be free. There will also be nausea there checking glucose and blood pressure. They will also be giving flu shots. Feel free to bring any useable item that you do not want. Maybe you will see something you want to take home. These "everything free"  events really build community. You will meet new people if you hang around the free market a while. It is located south of Gate City Boulevard, and a few blocks east of Elm Street.

Hope to see you there. Happy Saturday!

Heavy Winds Anticipated in Greensboro

Given the anticipated heavy winds today, we thought it would be appropriate to share this seen on Tremont Drive, just south of Sylvan Road. One of the homes was having trees removed by DC Tree Service. Their motto is "We will go out on a limb for you."  Some trees need to come down, especially if an arborist determines that there is decay inside. However, it is always sad to lose a mature tree, because we will never see anything mature in its place in our lifetime.  This part of town, between College Park, Lindley Park, and Sunset Hills, is known for their tree lined streets. Hopefully, something will be planted that will eventually add to the canopy. 

What an interesting week it has been. It started with Valentine's Day. There was a full moon. Today, there is a two-hour delay at the schools given the potential damage and downed power lines from the winds. Plus, some school students are out waiting for busses very early in the morning. It is best to keep them safe if there are high winds. As we are writing this post, we notice there don't appear to be any above ground wires on Tremont. We're wondering how it is that they have buried lines and some neighborhoods to not. 

Have a great weekend and may you, your friends and loved ones, and your home be safe. If you need a tree removed, branches removed or some firewood, DC Tree seems to be a great option. (See their website, HERE).

Crocus Time

Well, this past weekend saw warm weather and then on Sunday and Monday, it turned cold. For Greensboro, yesterday, it was drain-your-car-battery cold, in the 20s. But on that warm Saturday, being outside, it was easy to see signs of spring. The hellebores and crocus were out in full swing- even though spring is a month away. The crocus in a perennial in the iris family. They are low to the ground without much evidence of a stem. The above crocus was spotted in northwest Greensboro. When the sun was shining through it, the flower looked like it was glowing. The saffron spice comes from the species Crocus Sativus and the word "crocus" is derived from the word "saffron."  The above plant is not the variety that produces saffron, but it is definitely a saffron color.

In preparing this post, we learned that the crocus is protected from frost by a waxy cuticle, so we're pretty sure the plant will make it- even thought it was in the 20s on Monday eve. We'll have to go back and check on it. These are the fun things to notice when out for a walk. As you go out to get plants this spring, know that Greensboro is in the USDA's 7B hardiness zone. The crocus can grow in zones 3-8, with a preference for a cold winter- which it is getting this week!

Happy Tuesday!

Magnet Application Time Is Upon Us!

If you have children of an age where they are attending school, and you live in Guilford County, you probably are well aware that it is magnet application time. It you have children already enrolled in a program, you are helping your school recruit students who will be a good fit for the theme of the program. If you are looking, you have likely found the schools that are the best fit for your children. The Guilford County Schools are known for their school options at every grade level. The above photo was taken at Brooks Global Studies Magnet School. The Sign "Brooks Your #1 Choice" is an impressive advertisement for the school. As you can see from the more permanent sign, donated by Gate City Rotary, reminds us that the magnet application period runs from January 14th to February 21st.

Brooks Global is a year round school, which means that it is on a different calendar than the schools on a traditional calendar. Exciting things are happening at Brooks Global because land has been made available and plans have been drawn up for an all-new, state-of-the-art facility. As wonderful as Brooks is now, it will be even more spectacular when the new building opens. The new location backs up to the arboretum so the new lot will be as wooded as this one. We hope you have a great weekend, and, if you looking at the magnet schools, we hope you find one that is just right for your child.

Happy Friday, some schools are offering virtual sessions today!

Vintage VW at Greensboro Farmers Curb Market

Today's photo was taken on Saturday after another weekend snow.  This vintage Volkswagen was parked outside the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market on Yanceyville Street while its owners were inside shopping. The farmers market is on the east side of Greensboro, just north of NC A&T University. If you look in the background, you can see the JP/LFG building, Greensboro's iconic landmark.

If you are from North Carolina, you recognize that the car is painted Carolina blue for UNC Chapel Hill. No, that is not an original VW color, but it really fits the vintage car and its owners. We are thinking it is a 1970-ish Volkswagen square back. The VW may be small, but it looks like it could hold a lot of fresh produce. While some times of year, the farmers market is open on Wednesday, it will not be open today, you'll have to wait until Saturday. Do you think the VW will be back? Eating healthy is so addictive and the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market is a great way to do so! It has bringing us great, local food products since it was founded in 1874!

Happy Candlemas! Happy Groundhog Day! We're headed out to see if the groundhog sees his shadow. 

Winter in Greensboro

This is what winter in Greensboro looks like: A silhouette of deciduous treen and pines. The lacy reach of tree branches against an art of light to dark color at the horizon. Tonight, sunset will be at 5:41 and days are slowly, but noticeably, getting longer. We usually let the camera guide us to lots of bright color; however, there is something about the blue and black of a winter evening that has its own magic. Today's temperature will range from 19°-49°. January is traditionally one of Greensboro's coldest months, so this is not unexpected.

On another note,  January is a big month for magnet applications for the local public schools. The magnet school application window is open in the Guilford County Schools. There are 66 magnet and choice programs across the district. Literally, there is a program for every student's interest. GCS is a leader, nationwide, in schools of choice. Here is a link if you know a school age child. If you do not live in Guilford County, look at this beautiful sunset in northwest Greensboro and consider moving here. Happy Thursday!

Happy MLK Day... First Snow 2022 Yesterday

Well, it happened. We got our first snow of 2022 on January 16th. The snow started about 6:30 am and an accumulation of snow and ice continued throughout the day. People sent rumors that Jim Cantore from the Weather Channel was headed to Greensboro. To our knowledge, he was only in Asheville. The snow and ice continued into the evening. Today is predicted to be sunny. According to Accuweather, 71% of Greensboro received 1-3" of snow with 1% receiving 6" and 1% receiving less than 1%. In the early hours of the morning, the snow was really light and fluffy; as the sleet and ice came, the snow got wetter and heavier. During the day, temperatures hovered in the 20s and actually warmed into the 30s after dark. 

We heard from so many people in Greensboro who spent much of Saturday cooking up a storm... or, that is, in anticipation of a storm. The above photo was taken in northwest Greensboro as we were out on a morning walk. It is alway fun to get out and romp in the snow; less so, of course if it is work related. Speaking of work, we are one of those holdout families who receives home delivery of the Greensboro News & Record. Our Sunday paper yesterday was double bagged and actually delivered to our doorstep. We love supporting the community paper and are grateful the delivery drivers are willing to brave the elements. Thank you to everyone who is working through the storm.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is intended to be a day of service. It looks like this year, the MLK Day of Service through the Volunteer Center at the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State's Student Center will host this event, open to the public, next Sunday, January 23rd from 3-5pm (see HERE).

Happy Monday and stay safe regardless of what you decide to do.

Sunset on Gallimore Dairy Road

Happy sunny day, today, Greensboro. This photo was taken this past Sunday at the corner of Gallimore Dairy Road and the access ramp to I-40. We were struck by the vantage point and being able to see the sun as it was setting in the western sky on one of the shortest days of the year. This strip of road and entrance/exit ramps looks so expansive, especially when you are the only car. For once, we weren't anxious for the light to turn green, but could have stayed for a good while watching the changes to the winter sky. 

There is so much history tied to this part of Greensboro. near the N.C. 68 corridor in the western end of town and northern end of High Point. At one time dairying was the number one industry around here. That's why you have Gallimore Dairy Road, it was built on landt that used to have a dairy farm. While dairy farming declined here in the late 1960s, it was all but gone by the 1980s with much of the grazing land replaced by houses.*  Like they say, time marches on and changes are made as demographics change. But, for one brief moment the other day, we were on Gallimore Dairy Road, looking at the sun set and it was almost as if we were in a cow pasture at the end of a long day on the farm. Then, as you can see above, the light turned green and off we went.

Happy Thursday, the night before the night before Christmas! 

* reference and more information HERE.

Goodbye, Fall Colors

The above photo was taken earlier in the week on Walker Avenue on the westernmost edge of University of North Carolina Greensboro. The leaves are still beautiful on a day when the sky is blue. The photo in the foreground is a Japanese maple that has been especially showy this year with a combination of red and orange leaves. The UNCG campus has a wide variety of beautiful trees. While Greensboro has just about reached the end of the fall color, it is still not too late to head outside and see the lovely happenings of fall. The squirrels are having a field day with all of the acorns this year. If you are looking for a project with children or students, growing oak trees from acorns would be fun and helpful to the environment.

On another note, if you like sun, earth, moon, and star events, tonight at about 3:00 am,  there will be a deep, partial lunar eclipse. Hopefully, Greensboro will be clear with good visibility. It will also be a full moon. The November full moon is called the Beaver Moon.  The November moon gets its name because this month is when beavers usually build their winter dams. Let us know if you see the eclipse.... or a beaver dam! 

Beautiful Fall Day in Midtown

After a cold snap and our first frost, yesterday was a glorious fall day with temperatures rising above 70 degrees. As we were out on a photo shoot yesterday on Westover Terrace in Midtown, this convertible stopped at the stoplight near Hardee's and asked us to photograph them. They are students at UNCG and were out driving around on this sunny day. Final exams are coming up soon, so how wonderful  they carved out a little time for a joy ride. It was such a joy to interact with them. It is so easy to interact with people in public and to be nice to each other. They made our day with their joy and and enthusiasm.

If you like to see fall colors like the one above, this week is probably about the last of peak. Head out and see for yourself with or without a convertible. Happy Wednesday!

Southern Magnolia

The southern  magnolia is an evergreen tree with large, white, showy and scented blossoms in the spring. Now, the flowers are long gone and this is the time of year when the magnolia tree berries are in their prime. They are ripe for all of the animals to devour, and the seeds inside are perfect for cultivating. You have to get them while they are fresh, they cannot dry out. Also, the process of growing a tree from a seed is rather laborious. Read about it and consider trying to grow a tree from seed (see HERE). The better bet is to find a seedling growing under or around your tree. It is so fascinating that this genus evolved before there were bees, which is why they are pollinated by beetles. If you have a magnolia tree in your yard, you probably see a lot of beetles in the spring. 

The magnolia is beautiful and you can use parts of it almost all year long. The leathery leaves are always beautiful in an arrangement. The flowers are heavenly, and when the pods dry, people also incorporate them into wreaths and other December arrangements. If you want to brighten your day, listen to the Tex-Mex, Americana singer Tish Hinojosa's song about the magnolia tree (HERE).

We think a possum lives in our magnolia, at least we think that is what is scampering around the magnolia tree at night. Happy Thursday!

Frogs and Winter

This past Sunday, even the frogs in Greensboro were getting ready for winter. Soon, these Southern Leopard Frogs* will find their hibernating space for winter. Then, in early spring, these cold blooded creatures will emerge to mate and, even if we don't see them, we will hear them. These frogs are native to eastern North America. They eat bugs and beetles so they are really good to have around in the yard. Remember, if you use insecticides, they are traveling up the food chain through the frogs. This one could have been looking for a place to hibernate among the leaves and silt in the potted plants. They need to be protected from extreme cold and in a place where they won't dry out.

What are you doing to get ready for winter? With these cooler temperatures over the last few days, it is beginning to feel a lot more like fall. And this little froggie knows it. Happy Wednesday!

*at least that's what we think it is. It could also be a Pickerel frog. Do you know?

Here, Here!

This photo of yesterday's orange sunset here, here in Greensboro only hints at how lovely the sky actually was. The title of today's post, "Here, Here," is a nod to the book, "There, There," by Tommy Orange. Orange's book was selected to be the "One City; One Book" event in Greensboro this fall. In his book, Orange quotes Gertrude Stein who said,  "There is no there, there" in reference to the fact that the Oakland, CA of her childhood had changed so much that everything that used to be there was no longer there. One of Orange's characters likens that quote to exactly what happened to Native people (pp. 38-39). Perhaps here, here is the opposite of there, there.

Orange will come to The Terrace at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex at 7:00 pm on November 18, 2021. There will be many other events related to the One City; One Book event. This News & Record article gives more details about the events and also the book. North Carolina has eight Native tribes; so, the book is especially relevant to our state. Our community is so lucky that the City of Greensboro and the public library system offer us such a rich literary opportunity. You've got about a month to read the book. We got our copy at Scuppernong Books downtown. The library has copies for loan- if they aren't all checked out. We can't wait for Orange to come here to talk about there, there.  Hopefully Tommy Orange will have a chance to see some of our bucolic views, like the one above. Happy Thursday! 

Cooling October Days

Today's photo was taken earlier in the week on Brass Cannon Court, a residential street tucked neatly at the end of the neighborhood that wraps around the Greensboro Country Club Farm Course. While there are houses to the right and left, if you look due east, there is a relatively unobstructed view of trees and big sky. It also shows how glorious the afternoon can look with the sun closer to the horizon and shadows stretching along the way. The crepe myrtle to the left has just started taking on some fall color. Indeed, Greensboro is on the cusp of the transition to fall. L.M. Montgomery, author of "Anne of Green Gables," wrote, "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."  

While Montgomery lived in Canada, where fall comes earlier, the quote is so fitting for Greensboro. We live half way between the beach and the mountains. October is one of the busiest months for North Carolinians to get to the beach. There are fewer tourists from elsewhere and we can get there in just a few hours. Also, from Greensboro, the mountains are a short day trip away, making it possible to head up to apple orchards and to see fall a richer color palate ahead of ours, due to being at a higher elevation. The anticipated temperature range for Greensboro today is from 57º to 77º which means sweater weather! Grab a wrap to keep warm early morning and evening, but during the day, when the scene looks like the one above, you can tie that sweater around your waist and keep walking. Have a great Wednesday and may you find a way to celebrate the season. Even the animals are scurrying around taking advantage of the October weather.

Fall Is Pumpkin Time

Pumpkin season is upon us. Youth groups will be selling them all over town. Remember when pumpkins for fall and Halloween were mostly orange? Well, for several years now, it has been almost as easy to find an ornamental pumpkin as it is the more traditional, orange one. The above assortment was for sale at Sprouts on Battleground Avenue. Not only the grocery stores but the farmers markets and local farms will be selling them. This will be a good weekend to get one while the selection is still good, and, if you don't cut it, it will last through the end of October and longer.

If you want to plan ahead and go out for pumpkins this weekend, here is a list of pumpkin patches by county in North Carolina. Fall is also a time for corn maizes and spooky woods. If you want a super fun event less than an hour south of Greensboro, consider attending "Boo at the Zoo". The first one will be October 16th from 9:00 am- 4:00 pm. See here for details. If you love fall and want to plan a trip to the mountains to see fall colors, here is a map. If you like pumpkin spice flavor.... well, let's just say your options are limitless. From Dairy Queen's  Pumpkin Pie Blizzard to all the the pumpkin spice possibliities at your local coffee shop, you will have no shortage of fall flavoring. We wonder just which companies use flavoring from Greensboro's very own Mother Murphy's. Happy Wednesday! Happy October! Happy Autumn!

Pumpkin Time

Pumpkin season is upon us. Youth groups will be selling them all over town. Remember when pumpkins for fall and Halloween were mostly orange? Well, for several years now, it has been almost as easy to find an ornamental pumpkin as it is the more traditional, orange one. The above assortment was for sale at Sprouts on Battleground Avenue. Not only the grocery stores but the farmers markets and local farms will be selling them. This will be a good weekend to get one while the selection is still good, and, if you don't cut it, it will last through the end of October and longer.

Blue and White Sky over Northwest Greensboro

Yesterday's weather and sky evokes an Ann of Green Gables (Lucy Maud Montgomery) quote. "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." In October, the air takes on a crispness unique to this time of year. The sky yesterday was full of clouds that usually only seem this voluminous when one is high in the sky in an airplane. The October air is clear and the summer constellations are still visible. If you want to learn more about October stargazing, on October 23rd, there is a field course offered at Gransfather Mountain (see details, here). Grandfather is about 2 1/3 hours due east from Greensboro.

The above photo was taken on Carlson Dairy Road, almost at Pleasant Ridge. This farm on the right is so charming and reminds us of the rural look that used to dominate this area. The sun will set tonight just about 7pm. If you can find an open space with an unobstructed view of the sky it might be fun to go watch. There will be some rain tonight, but rainy skies can be beautiful, too. Yesterday's clouds have just been waiting to drop this water. It would be a good week to aerate your lawn Happy Tuesday!

From Caterpillar to What?

Now is the time when nature begins to go through rapid change. From leaves turning colors and falling to the ground to animals getting ready for the cold, dark days ahead, it is as if we can see these changes before our eyes. One local friend has a monarch butterfly chrysalis on the brink of becoming a butterfly just in time to join the other monarchs on the journey to Mexico for the winter. The above fuzzy caterpillar, definitely not destined to be a monarch butterfly, was seen a few days ago crawling along on our door frame.

Thanks to the limitless resources on the Internet, we think this caterpillar is a banded tussock moth caterpillar. We found a site that lets you search by state and this is the one that most resembles the above creature. They are in the tiger moth family and they eat the leaves of hardwoods. There are hardwoods nearby where we found it. This creature was first described in 1787 by J.E. Smith. In the U.S.south, two or more generations are found per year. According to Wikipedia, the pupae overwinter in gray cocoons that have larval hairs on them. They are late season feeders, so seeing one this past week in Greensboro makes perfect sense. Nature is so fascinating. The more you study it, the more you see how animals are attracted to the plants and other animals that contribute to their well being. It is awe inspiring to be sitting in Greensboro looking at a moth that an entomologist in the late 18th century was also studying.

If you see a strange bug or other creature this fall,  take a little time and learn about it. To be sure, it will lead you to understanding the plant life around you. As for us, we have a banded tussock moth caterpillar because we have hardwoods. We have beetles because we have a magnolia; that latter relationship, however, seems more dynamic in the spring. Happy Monday, happy exploring the flora and fauna around you. Let us know if you've ever seen one of these caterpillars.

Lovely Fall Day

The above photo, taken at Bur-Mil Park,  which the City of Greensboro has owned since 1989. The scene reminds us of the beauty of nature. We're not sure why the roots on the trees have formed like this, but they add so much intrigue to the water's edge. Bur-Mil Park features golf, tennis, biking and hiking. While the swimming pool is no longer open in fall, there is plenty to do in the 250 acre park. Actually, the above scene is just down from the Wildlife Education Center, on Lake Brandt. Fishing is available during the day. Throughout the year, Bur-Mil is  only closed Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year's, and Thanksgiving.

The Owl's Roost neighborhood has grown up around Bur-Mil. While there aren't stores or churches there, just about anything one would need is available within a few mile radius.Today should be a lovely fall day with the low in the 60's and high in the 80s. Have a good one and try to spend at least some of it out of doors. Greensboro is just so beautiful this time of year. Happy Sunday!

Spray of Clouds

We love to brag about how beautiful Greensboro is in the spring, with all of the azaleas and dogwood blooming. However the crisp fall nights this week have been pretty spectacular. At 3:00 a.m. this morning, the temperature dropped to 63 degrees, which qualifies as sweater weather. It is also possible to sleep with the windows open, or go camping. The above photo features the sunset last night. We happened to be out walking near Carlson Dairy Road and the sky was filled with a spray of clouds that looked like it was radiating from Lake Higgins. What could make clouds take that form? It seems like it must be winds coming from the west. 

If you look up in the tree tops, you just may notice butterflies migrating south. They fly higher when migrating. While the butterfly sightings are best in the North Carolina mountains, you can still see some around Greensboro.* If you want to learn about the monarch migration, here is a link to the group that actually tags them so they can gather data. It is hard to believe that something that weight less than a paper clip can be tagged and tracked. Happy Wednesday and, whatever you do, carve away a little time to get outside. We'd like to think there were butterflies floating along in those clouds last night.

 

* more about migration of butterflies in North Carolina Here.

Autumn 2021

Happy fall; it is the first day of autumn. We leave the summer behind and edge into the cooler weather and fewer hours of daylight. The above photo, taken in northwest Gre3ensboro shows a doe trying to decide where she should rest for the night. Local deer hunters will know that Guilford County is currently in the season to hunt deer with bow and arrow, and males only. The females are still tending their young. We are in the central deer zone.

Many people feed urban deer and even try to keep them as pets. Wildlife experts advise us that the deer are actually better off if they have to forage on their own and they eat a diet that is healthier for them. Fawns who are fed on urban lawns don't learn to forage- a survival skill. It is not legal to keep a deer as a pet. So, they are best admired from afar. They are such beautiful creature. Happy Wednesday. Happy deer hunting, our favorite way; with a camera! Happy autumn. It is a beautiful season in Greensboro.

Ode to Kudzu

You know it is late summer in Greensboro when the kudzu plants are in full bloom and some of the pods have gone to seed. They say kudzu is the plant that ate the south as it is especially fond of our climate. In early summer, has tenacious roots and can grow up to a foot a day!  If you visit the Wal-Mart on North Battleground, you can see the kudzu covered trees. Some patches of the trails along Atlantic & Yadkin Greenway at Lake Brandt are covered with kudzu- which is where this photo was taken. At least the blossoms are fragrant, smelling something like wild grapes. We wonder if some civic groups could get volunteers to go out and tackle the kudzu. Or, is it just here to stay? Kudzu takes over vegetation by blocking out light. 

If you want to learn more about kudzu, read here. If you want to see kudzu, head out for a hike. Some people make baskets out of the woody, mature vines; and, some people make jelly out of the flowers. So, if you want to forage for some free food or basket-making material, head to your nearest kudzu patch. Oh, and by the way, there really is at least one ode to kudzu. See here!

Happy Saturday. For those of us who aren't at the beach, in the mountains, at Hoppin' John at Shakori Hills, or Merlefest, let's hit the trails and explore Greensboro!

Almost Fall in Greensboro

So, this is what early September looks like in Greensboro, North Carolina. The lives on the trees are holding on tightly and they are green. The air is hinting that cooler days are coming. Perennials and annuals still have flowers. However, before you know it, fall will be here in its full glory. The above yard is in northern Greensboro. The owners are trying to decide how they should landscape to have less grass. What would you do to make this yard look more like a retreat?

Look at the sky. Those clouds are so beautiful against the blue sky. While it might rain in parts of Greensboro today. Every indication is that it will be nice and sunny for the NC Folk Festival.  We hope you are planning to spend as much time as possible out of doors this weekend. This time of year is the absolute best for enjoying the outdoors in Greensboro. And see all of those mature trees? They are what keep the "green" in Greensboro.  Look at how many shades of green there are in this photo... Happy Thursday!

Labor Day 2021

Happy Labor Day 2016. We hope you are lucky enough to have the day off. The purpose of the holiday is a day to celebrate "the social and economic achievements of American workers." Many Greensboro businesses will be closed, so call before you head out somewhere. Even better, take a day to just spend at home. We plan to take another hike on one of the trails around Greensboro. The above mushrooms were seen recently on the Laurel Bluff Trail. If you like to hike, the Laurel Bluff Trail is very nice because it is for pedestrians only. You won't have to share the trail with bikes. Be careful if you walk it, as there are lots of exposed roots, a couple of trees across the path, and some kudzu to tackle.* The Laurel Bluff Trail is 3.5 miles long and it takes you through woodland along the edge of Reedy Fork Creek from the east end of Lake Brandt to Lake Townsend.

The mushrooms in the center of the photo are about the size of a small adult hand. If you look to the left at the small white circle, that is actually more mushrooms and we're betting they'll be about the size of the ones in the middle of the photo by today. Although mushrooms are fungi, they have more in common with humans than with plants. Their DNA is similar to humans and they can produce vitamin D when exposed to sunlight.** However, please do not harvest the mushrooms. Leave them alone, as the forest needs them. We are so lucky to have a great trail system in Greensboro and it is great to have time to get out and explore them!

* Greensboro Trail System

**reference and more mushroom information, here.

Hello September!

Happy September, the 244th day of the year. In Greensboro, this month brings First Friday  (Sept 3rd) and the Folk Festival (September 10th-12th). The 22nd brings the first day of fall. In September, in Greensboro, the average high temperature is 81° and the average low is 61°, so we will start to feel it cooling off a little. On average, there are seven days of rain. Let's hope we are all spared extreme weather events.

The above photo was taken in August in the garden center at Lowe's on Battleground Avenue. Imagine our surprise when a Hummingbird Clearwing moth was fluttering around the flowers on the parking lot. We wonder if was just eating or also laying eggs. It was pollinating up a storm the day we watched it. It is a migratory species; perhaps it was storing up food for a long trip.  We hope you have a great month and that you take advantage of all of the events Greensboro has to offer, especially the ones outdoors. The event calendar maintained by Downtown Greensboro is a great place to start to keep up with happenings around town.