Greensboro Daily Photo

It Is Iris Time in Greensboro.

Easter weekend is upon us. It is time for flowers and floral dresses. We had the best time walking along Walker Avenue, taking the time to notice nature. Guess what? Irises are blooming. We saw these yellow lovelies and also learned that we have a friend who will volunteer to come and help people thin their iris beds; something that should be done every few years. She helps friends for free and since she is the third generation of people in her family to do so. She has agreed to help us in the fall. When she comes, we'll have to feature her on Greensboro Daily Photo. How wonderful life in Greensboro is, especially when it comes to friends helping friends and neighbors helping neighbors. 

Irises don't bloom for long, and each bloom only lasts a day; however, in their prime, they are stunning and the scent is delightful. Here's to everyone having a great weekend. Oh, and at the end of our walk, we landed at Bestway on Walker and found enough goodies to fill Easter baskets for the family. One of the highlights was PARTY CAKE Easter Peeps. Yes, Bestway has party cake flavored peeps. And, by the time you have read this, we just may have busted into the package of peeps.

Happy Saturday!

City of Greensboro Orchard

Greensboro is so lucky to have a public orchard on the greenway at the corner of West Smith Street and Prescott Street, between the western edge of town and the Westerwood neighborhood. On Sunday, in conjunction with the City of Greensboro, the Greensboro Permaculture Guild held an informational session in the first public orchard in Greensboro. Above, guild member and horticultural specialist , Aubrey Cupit shares his expertise with a group. The event was free and open to the public. Aubrey explained how agricultural ecosystems can be sustainable and self-sufficient when people work with nature as opposed to against it. In the session, we learned that a grass mowed lawn with a tree stuck here and there is not a sustainable ecosystem.

In the above photo, you can see that multiple fruit trees have been planted, in what is now a healthy and productive orchard. Fruit trees that do well in Greensboro are plum, cherry, paw paw, persimmons, and figs. If we remember correctly, all of those fruit trees are planted in this space along the greenway. Fostering biodiversity in public spaces and setting up private permaculture spaces is an idea that is gaining traction in Greensboro. If you are interested, go to the Greensboro Permaculture Guild's website, or follow them on Facebook. They do meaningful, community-based activities. As an example, their members have been working to help this orchard thrive. It is a great group of people with a wealth of knowledge, committed to earth care, people care, and fair share!

Happy Tuesday!

In Greensboro, Dogwood Season Is Upon Us

If you live in Greensboro, you know that dogwood season is upon us. Spring is such a lovely time of year here. We have to enjoy every day with these beautiful trees as they will only last a couple of weeks. In Greensboro we have a combination of white and pink dogwoods, and Kousa dogwood and native American dogwood. This year, with Easter being on the late end of the season,*  many plants have already started blooming. 

On sunny days, driving around the older, established neighborhoods in the city, the landscaping will take your breath away this time of year. Old Irving Park, Sunset Hills, Westerwood, College Hill, Hamilton Lakes, and Lindley Park are just a few of the areas that are well worth your while to drive through or even take a walk. The Greensboro Arboretum, Tanger Bicentennial Gardens, and Gateway Gardens  are also a great place to admire nature and to take those special prom photos.

 

*based on the way it is calculated, after the first full moon after the spring equinox, the latest Easter can be is April 25th.

Lady Banks Roses

It is time for our annual photo of Lady Banks roses. The above bush is located at our friend's house in Sunset Hills. We anticipate its blooming with every visit in the spring. It is an heirloom rose that is fairly. hardy and known for being nearly thornless and having hundreds of miniature, buttery yellow blooms. This is the first year we noticed the lovely scent, reminiscent of violets. They love full sun and well-draining soil. It only blooms once in a season, but leaves behind canes of rich green foliage once the blooms are gone.

We may love to look at these roses; however, they are one of many culprits leaving pollen in Greensboro. The count is particularly high now and, if you look at this National Allergy Map, you can see we're in the red. One only needs to look on the cars to see, actually, we're in the yellow. Indeed, car washes are busy now. We hope you aren't too bothered by the pollen and are able to enjoy the abundant beauty around us.

Happy Tuesday! Happy April 1st! 

Spring Sunset In Northwest Greensboro

Yesterday, we got a nice sunset photo in Greensboro and thought we would share it today. However, about 8:15 p.m., we were returning from a walk and saw this view over the golf course of Greensboro Country Club Farm Course. The twilight glow last night was extra special. Somehow the reflection of color in the water feature is so much more vibrant than the actual sky. As spring progresses, this view will change dramatically when as trees leaf out. Not long after this photo, stars were visible. The moon phase was waning crescent at only 28% illumination. Perhaps having less ambient light helped intensify the colors. At any rate, Greensboro is beautiful this time of year and you will likely see lots of photos of nature. It is hard to top.

Happy Tuesday!

Saucer Magnolia

The saucer magnolia is a deciduous tree that blooms early in the spring. They bloom before the leaves emerge. It is a hybrid plant originally bred by the French plantsman Étienne Soulange-Bodin in the early 19th century. They are very popular in Greensboro and are at peek this week. March 20th is the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere and the saucer magnolia is almost always out by then. Greensboro is a breathtaking sight to behold in spring. If you get a chance, please head out and enjoy the landscape- especially in the established neighborhoods.

(We are sorry about the late publication. With no warning, Typepad was down. We were worried, we'd lost 17 years of daily posts!).

Happy Monday!

Saucer Magnolia

The saucer magnolia is a deciduous tree that blooms early in the spring. They bloom before the leaves emerge. It is a hybrid plant originally bred by the French plantsman Étienne Soulange-Bodin in the early 19th century. They are very popular in Greensboro and are at peek this week. March 20th is the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere and the saucer magnolia is almost always out by then. Greensboro is a breathtaking sight to behold in spring. If you get a chance, please head out and enjoy the landscape- especially in the established neighborhoods.

(We are sorry about the late publication. With no warning, Typepad was down. We were worried, we'd lost 17 years of daily posts!).

Happy Monday!

Lenten Roses on the Last Sunday before Lent

Tis the season for Lenten roses, or hellebores. This evergreen, flowering perennial is one of the earliest bloomers, coming alive in late winter. They  bloom from late November until May, depending  location, species or hybrid. Their leathery leaves provide ground cover year-round. White is the most dominant color in the Greensboro area, but they come in a variety of colors. We have friends who take great pleasure in seeing how many varieties they can grow: Striped, yellow, the deep purple, almost black, spotted, some that have a slightly metallic highlights, and double flowers. We get ours from friends when they are thinning their herd. Also, locally, Gethsemane Gardens and Nursery specializes in them. If you want them to proliferate in your yard,  remember most hybrids are sterile.

Hellebores like organically rich soil and grow well under trees. They don't seem to be of interest to deer and rabbits, which is a big consideration in many parts of Guilford County. While they are beautiful, they are toxic to humans, cats, and dogs. They are called Lenten roses because the often grow during the Lenten season. Lent this year is from Wednesday, March 5th to Thursday, April 17th. So, the above crop, thriving in our yard,  is right on time. As you are out and about, or on your way to church today, see how many clumps of hellebores there are along the way. 

Happy 1st Sunday in March!

Night Sky Over Greensboro

Last night, we went out walking at sunset to try to find a clear view of the southwest sky since tonight, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune should be visible after sunset. The Cline Observatory in Jamestown is open to the public on clear Friday nights (see HERE). If you are interested in seeing this parade of planets, we suggest you get access to a telescope. It should be a night to remember.

This is the last day of February. Can you believe tomorrow is March! March is always a great month in Greensboro. March 5-9th the ACC Women's Basketball Tournament will be at the Greensboro Coliseum.  Frida, March 7th is First Friday, March 9th is when clocks roll forward an hour for daylight savings time,  and March 20th is the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. Perhaps best of all, signs of spring are popping up everywhere. By the end of the month, the city will be turning green again.

Happy Friday!

Winter Jasmine

This afternoon, we were out urban walking on Highland Avenue, off of Gate City Boulevard. When we saw these flowers, we knew they were too small to be forsythia. But, they are the same color and a similar shape. Using our iNaturalist and Seek apps, we saw that this is winter jasmine. Winter jasmine is a deciduous, perennial shrub. Originally from Tibet and Central China, it is a member of the olive family.  It reminded us that Greensboro plants in Greensboro are about to start blooming. We like to refer to this bloom calendar for North Carolina (see HERE). 

You know we will be out walking and seeing what is in bloom, where, in Greensboro. Up next in February is Columbine; and then a lot will look in March. Try those apps. It is so much fun to increase expertise on plants around us, not only their names, but their origina.

Happy Saturday!

Big Beautiful Night Sky

February has been quite the month for fabulous sky views.  With the cold, clear nights, extended hours of darkness, trees still without leaves, and the planetary alignments, Greensboro has had some spectacular views this month. The above photo was taken a couple of nights ago. The moon wasn't quite full, but it was highly visible. The vapor trails from air planes coming and going from PTI Airport crossed the moon at just the point to make it look like the trails were moon beams. 

According to the sunrise-sunset calendars, Friday, February 14th, Valentines Day, is the last time until November that the sun will set before 6:00 p.m. in Greensboro. Our city is beautiful in every season, and winter is the time to see snow; however, this has been the winter of the big, beautiful, night sky. Find your special, low-light-pollution area to star gaze and have a blast.

Happy Wednesday!

Stars and Planets in the Night Sky

This is a fabulous week for viewing planets in the night sky in NC. Saturday night, several planets were visible in the night sky, the air was calm and crisp. Cell phone photography is not the best for night photography; however, we felt the above photo provides an idea of what the sky looked like on Saturday night in the Piedmont region of North Carolina after that cleansing rain we had on Friday. We weren't as interested in seeing planets as we were marveling how well we could see the start. 

Here is a LINK to a website that tracks planets visible in the night sky in Greensboro and the times they will rise and the extent to which they will be visible. This last night,  here was the reading: Mercury, very difficult to see; Venus, great visibility, Mars, perfect visibility; Jupiter, perfect visibility; Saturn, average visibility; Uranus, average visibility; Neptune, very difficult to see. If you want to visit a planetarium,  UNCG, the Greensboro Science Center, Guilford College, GTTC Jamestown, and High Point University all have planetariums and most publish times when they are open to the public. If you keep your eye out, sometimes there are pop up events around town, too. We owe it to those ancient mariners to be able to look up in the sky and to at least identify some of the major constellations. 

Happy Monday and happy stargazing.

Reflecting on Winter Sunrises in Greensboro

Sunrise is at 7:30 today. Driving around Greensboro, on sunny, winter days, you may notice that it seems as if the sun is always in our eyes. In the northern hemisphere in the winter, the earth's tilt is away from the sun, creating this lower position of the sun on the horizon. This photo shows this intensity. It was taken at 8:30 am, prime rush hour! Sun in our eyes, snow, and cold weather; alas, winter has arrived. According to WFMY News, as of 5:00 am on January 11th, Greensboro had 2.1 inches of snow. Just a little bit north of us (Mayodan, Toast, and Mt. Airy) received between 4-5 inches. Equally challenging were those cold temperatures and winter weather usually lasts through February.

On Friday and today, Guilford County School teachers are teaching remotely, a plan that hasn't been utilized since the COVID Era.  To be sure the central office administrators are doing what they think wisest for the district, making decisions with "an abundance of caution."  And yes, there are GCS employees checking at 3:00 am in various parts of the county to determine road conditions.  We are a big district. While school closures affect businesses and families, at the end of the day, keeping children safe is a top priority. What will the rest of the winter bring? We hope you are safe, warm, and have an understanding boss if you have children at home today and need to stay home with them.

Happy Monday!

Winter Golden Hour

Yesterday,  it was a rather dreary, rainy, overcast day all day in Greensboro. Then, at about 4:00 p.m. the sun came out.  The rain washed the air clean and this was the view when we were out walking. If it hadn't been so dreary, the pre-sunset,  "golden hour" glow up might not have caught our attention. The sun was low to the horizon, giving the dormant brown grass, and the lingering brown leaves, a warm hue. It was just so special and reminded of us of just how beautiful nature is in Greensboro.

The photo was taken at the farm course of the Greensboro Country Club, off of Carlson Dairy. We just had to stop and snap this photo.  Water features may not be so beautiful to golfers, but they are spectacular for photography. We should be back with some more over the top Christmas scenes this weekend or next week. But for now, a palate-cleansing scene like the one above is a pretty special gift.

Happy Thursday!

Let It Snow!

Above is a glimpse of the dusting of snow on the ground in Greensboro yesterday morning. Just like that, temperatures dipped into the 20s and with the cool air, a little snow appeared in the night. Don't be fooled though, the roads were icy. There were several accidents and some roads were closed. The call came in about 4:30 am for Guilford County Schools to be on a three hour delay. By 8:30, the decision was made to cancel school today. It was probably best to not have busses full of children on the roads or high school students driving. We'll see what today brings. Anticipated temperatures are between lows in the 20s to highs in the 40s with temperatures warming by Sunday.

In December, once it gets this cold, winter clothing and Christmas sweaters appear. The temperatures will certainly make it feel like Christmas for those who will be downtown on Friday evening for the Festival of Lights and on Saturday for the Christmas parade.

Happy Wednesday!

Fall, Post Peak in Greensboro

This is what post-peak fall looks like in Greensboro. As you start looking closer, beyond the fall colors in the leaves, you notice the imperfections in the leaves. In both the brown and the yellow and red leaf, something has been busy eating through them. Especially in the leaf on the right, you notice the hole in the middle and the lines on the left. We're not sure what bug made the lines. They look like the lines of leaf miners; however, leaf miners-- the larval stage of moths, beetles, sawflies, wasps, etc.- usually leave behind a leafy veil. It is fascinating to think that nature is hard at work all around us while we are busy buying groceries, doing dishes, and heading to and from work.

Recently, the City of Greensboro decided not to collect leaves blown to the street. They are encouraging us to rake leaves to beds and not bag them. If you need to get rid of them, it is necessary to use the containers supplied by the city. If there is overflow, special brown paper bags are acceptable. We are in a position to rake ours to the side of the lawn and derive great pleasure walking around seeing just what is happening in nature--  hidden in plain sight. We really haven't had a hard frost yet so leaves are still lingering on trees. Maybe they are waiting for a frost. Even collards like  cold temperatures to sweeten their flavor as the starches convert to sugar; another natural process happening all around us.

Happy Monday!

150 Trees Recently Planted at Bennett College

Do you see that young magnolia tree? It is one of 150 trees planted on the campus of Bennett College on November 2nd. In collaboration with with Greensboro Beautiful, volunteers planted these trees-- a combination of willow oaks, white oaks, cherry laurel, sugar maple, and southern magnolias. They were planted to help restore historic and native trees that have been lost over the years.  Bennett staff member, Dr. Anne Hayes, Executive Director of Global & Interdisciplinary Studies at Bennett,  coordinated the partnership with Greensboro Beautiful.  

Greensboro Beautiful is a 501 (c) 3 organization founded in 1968 with the purpose of conserving and enhancing the beauty and ecology of Greensboro. According to Christina Larson, Chair of Greensboro Beautiful's Executive Committee, there was actually enough space on the Bennett campus to plant over 200 trees; however, 150 seemed very special since this is the 150th anniversary of the founding of this historically black college for women in east Greensboro. Current Bennett students should take their photo with these trees, return to Founders Weekends in the future and monitor how much the trees have grown. They can show their children and grandchildren their photos with the trees over the decades.  Bennett College is a small, liberal arts college that provides students with many special experiences such as the tree planting, interaction with Fulbright scholars, and the She Wellness Pods we wrote about last week.  By the way, the green container is the back of the wellness pods.

Happy Wednesday, dear readers!

And Just Like That, It Is Fall

This past week, Greensboro trees have really started showing their fall colors. Every year, we love to stop and admire these photos on Westover Terrace,  where the road splits from Battleground Avenue, at Green Valley Road.  Thursday afternoon, we pulled into the parking lot of Ivybrook Academy to admire the fall color in the maple trees near the median and greenway. The long shadows are coming earlier and earlier these days.  

 Greensboro is such a beautiful community. We hope you are out enjoying the neighborhoods and all of the fall colors. If you are interested in experience fall color on the Blue Ridge Parkway, here is a link to see what areas are open. It looks like there are now opportunities to get out and enjoy some of the beauty of the western end of the state. See HERE.

Providence Farm

Providence Farm, located on Huffine Mill Road, is in the eastern end of Guilford County. It is a working farm that, on occasion, invites the public to come tour, see the animals, and learn about farm life. The above photo features one such event this past weekend. You also see the farmhouse, and in the distance, some vendors selling their arts and crafts. Ducklings, literally ducks in a row, are heading up the hill with a couple of children fascinated by their formation.

These ducks were added to the farm this summer at one of the camps held for children to get hands-on experience about farm life and regenerative agriculture. The ducks seem to like it here and have established their own routines. They are free-range ducks. It is kind of amazing the way animals stick around when they are well fed and cared for. Providence Farm will likely be at the Greensboro Farmers Market on Yanceyville this weekend. They sell meat, yarn, knitted items, goat  milk soaps, and whatever happens to be ready to take to market. This is the 150th anniversary celebration of the farmers market. Sesquicentennials don't come around very often, so head to the farmers market and enjoy the festivities. Maybe it isn't 150 years, but we seem to recall that this farm has been in the hands of the same family for at least 100. 

Happy Thursday, dear readers

Fall Is Pumpkin Time!

Tis fall and pumpkin season is upon up. It seems like every few years a new variety of pumpkin is trending. This year, it seems to be the striped ones. Traditionally, the first pumpkins of the season we saw were the ones at Centenary UMC on Friendly Avenue. Now that that congregation has been dissolved, the first pumpkins we've seen this year are at Fresh Market. They have a lovely display in front of both stores. The above photo was taken at the Jefferson Village store. The sky was so beautiful, we just had to capture a photo.

Unless they are already on shelves in Greensboro, pumpkins may be a little harder to come by this year. According to the NC Cooperative Extension, most of the pumpkin production in North Carolina takes place in the western counties where  disease pressure is lower (reference).  The you pick option is open for pumpkins at Rudd Farm and some of the proceeds from sales the weekend will go to Hurricane Helene relief. If you are able, consider buying from local farmers. As the weather cools, nothing says fall more than pumpkins... oh, and pumpkin spice. Speaking of fresh market, they even have pumpkin spice popcorn, "Poppy" brand from Asheville. (We only found it at the Jefferson Village location).

Happy Friday from the Great pumpkin lovers at Greensboro Daily Photo!

Jelly Fungus Among Us

North Carolina, including Greensboro,  has been experiencing a lot of rain lately. During all of that wet weather, mushrooms were popping up everywhere. The above variety is known as Trumella mesenteric, or common jelly fungus. Another name, perfect for this time of year, is witch's butter. The gelatinous texture is a sight to behold and feel. The lobed surface feels greasy and slimy when damp. This jelly fungus can dry up and then swell back up when it gets wet again. The above piece of dead wood, that fell from a mature tree during the recent storm,  is the perfect host for this fungus. According to Wikipedia it is edible, but tastes bland.  As for us, we'd want it approved by an Eastern European, German, or rural North Carolina mountain grandmother before we tried it.

If you look closely, you can see that there is another type of mushroom also growing on the tree branch. Jelly fungus seems to be attracting interest. The study of mushrooms in general due to health benefits and therapeutic uses.  Locally, we need to interview Dr. Omon who is one of the nation's leading authorities on mushrooms and is a professor at NC A&T University (read more HERE). He is originally from Nigeria; so, we need to add Nigerian to that list of people we would trust regarding the edibility of mushrooms! Nature is amazing and there is so much to explore right here in Greensboro- especially on lawns or fields that are not excessively groomed.

Happy Thursday!

Tree Down On Bald Eagle Trail at Lake Higgins

After all of the recent rain, we were eager to get outdoors on one of the trails around one of the Greensboro Lakes. We selected the Bald Eagle Trail around Lake Higgins as it has short segments and parking is easy. Here, we were about half way through the hike (between the Lake Higgins Marina and Carlson Dairy Road) when we saw this felled tree. It had been uprooted and knocked down by the high winds and muddy terrain. The base of the hardwood tree was quite large and this usually-fearless terrier was hesitant to jump back down onto the trail. In the background, you see one of the two people out trying to cut the tree so people could walk and bike on the trail.

We could hear the buzzing of the chainsaw near the beginning of the hike. By the time we reached the course, we couldn't even see the person with the saw. At the rate one person can work, it will take a really long time to get this trunk off the trail. However, we sure appreciate his effort. In the meantime, everyone will have to climb up and over. Minor inconveniences like this pale in comparison to what the people of Western North Carolina are experiencing.

Happy Tuesday! Can you believe October is upon us?

Closed Due to Inclement Weather!

According to radar, it looks like Greensboro may be spared excessive damage due to Hurricane Helene. We sure hope so. Yesterday was rainy and precipitation is expected today. Temperatures will remain warm- between 69º- 81º.  The Asheville area of North Carolina has experienced significant flooding; however, high winds are predicted today. Unless the storm takes a significant turn, Greensboro should be spared. Regardless, concern about the weather was significant enough for school to be cancelled. The teachers we know have plans for catching up on grading papers today.

The above photo was taken off Tate Street in the parking lot of the Weatherspoon Art Museum. We were struck at how the museum visitor had a backpack matching the yellow parking lot cone on the left. Rain can do significant damage; however, it is incredibly photogenic- creating a mood that is very different from that of a sunny day.  We hope you are safe and, if you have children home today, may you enjoy every minute with them.

Happy Friday!

Frogs of Greensboro

For today's photo we only had to go as far as our backyard in Greensboro. We have a raised bed planter full of  mustard greens and chard and this tiny frog guards the box diligently. He is only about the size of a thumbnail. We have to watch that we don't disrupt him when we pick greens for dinner. We're not sure what kind of frog he is, but he isn't afraid of his humans.

Below the box, a toad sets up residence every night starting at dark and leaving before dawn. The toad is about the size of an adult hand. If it is indeed the same today we featured earlier (see HERE), he has grown and looks really healthy. It is so fun to stop and observe nature. We hope you have an opportunity to do so. Sometimes, it is just an issue of taking a closer look. Here is a list of amphibians and reptiles in Guilford County, if you are curious about these critters.

Happy Tuesday!

Fall in Greensboro (and) North Carolina

It is officially fall. Fall in North Carolina ranges from crisp weather in the 50s to mid-80s. The above photo is what we're using for a Sunday more spiritual post. The seed heads remind us of the life cycle and change. Within a few days, they open up and start blowing away, leaving nothing but the stem behind. During the first couple of frosts, the base plant will dry up. Next spring, if left unattended, new weeds will sprout wherever the seeds have landed. 

There are so many fall festivals in North Carolina. Today is the final day of Pow Wow in Country Park. Art in the Arboretum will be Sunday, October 6th. October 12th, Bur-Mil Park will host a fall festival. Soon, in Greensboro, leaves will change colors and the landscape is glorious. Nothing is more beautiful than nature and fall and spring in Greensboro as nothing short of spiritual.

Happy Sunday!

Early Fall in Greensboro

This is what "early fall" or, as some call it, "fake fall" looks like in Greensboro. If you are local, you can feel that big temperature drop to the low 50ºs and some days, not even reaching 80º. There has been less humidity in the air. When there is less moisture in the air, the skies aren't as hazy. At least, that's what treehugger.com says. And, when those leaves start changing, those blue skies are a perfect backdrop. Soon, if not already, the monarch butterflies will start their journey back to Mexico and the Blue Ridge Parkway will be the perfect place to go see this miracle of nature. Leaf viewing and visiting orchards are another reason to visit the mountains of North Carolina. For those of us who want to stay more local, on Saturday, September 21st, Karen C. Neill will give garden tours at the N.C. Cooperative's Demonstration Garden at 3390 Burlington Road (see HERE). Eventbrite has about 80 opportunities to celebrate fall (see HERE). And, of course, pumpkin spice everything has already hit the shelves.

In the meantime, we're going to keep taking those long walks to see what nature brings our way. The above photo was taken near Lake Higgins.

Happy Tuesday!

Nature + Cooler Temps + the NC Folk Festival = Fall in Greensboro

It is starting to feel and look like fall in Greensboro. Temperatures are dipping into the 50ºs and it is getting dark earlier. In the above photo, in northeast Greensboro, not too far from Lake Higgins, look at that copper tree bark. The sun is setting earlier, but as it lingers close to the horizon, it casts a breathtaking glow on the tree trunks. The changing, sweater weather is a big sign that fall is on the way.

Another big clue is that it is time for the North Carolin Folk Festival, which comes to town this weekend. Here is the schedule and here is the map. The footprint is a little tighter this year, which is a good thing. It is easier to get from Point A to Point B, yet the acts aren't so close together that they interfere with each other. There will also be lots of vendors and about 20 food trucks. If all the music, and dancing, and workshops kind you needing a break, head out to one of the trails near the lakes and scenes like the one above will reground you and energize you so that you can head back down to the folk festival. Out of all the cities in North Carolina, they chose Greensboro. Let's show our support. See you downtown tomorrow!

Deer

North Carolina's deer population is estimated to be at about 1 million. While you can't hunt in the city limits, the deer is the most hunted game in the state. According to Landwatch, there are 193 properties that are designated "hunting land" in Guilford County. For those in lands designated for hunting, it opens in most areas on September 7th. It is hard to believe that deer were once endangered in North Carolina. With all of the construction, It is more and more common to see deer practically living in suburban back yards, as is the case in the above photo. They are herbivores, so you can count on them eating hosta and other plants. Here, two bucks and a doe are openly grazing in the late afternoon sun in Northwest Greensboro. They are graceful and fun to watch. But they are agile; able to jump a 5 foot fence easily. Do you have them in your yard?

Happy Wednesday!

Passion Flower & Ailanthus Webworm Moth

Recently, when it was overcast and windy, we snapped this photo in an open field in northwest Greensboro. While it is grainy, it captures a little Greensboro flora and fauna at its showiest. The passion flower was in full bloom. That corona is breathtaking. The plant can exude a sticky fluid which traps insects. We're not sure if that is what is happening to that moth. It is an ailanthus webworm moth. It has the coloration of a monarch butterfly and actually likes milkweed, just like the monarch does. They are found from New York to Florida, although we haven't seen one before. But then, it isn't every day that we zoom in at the macro level where subjects are showcased larger than life. Indeed, this bug was hiding in plain sight. Passion flowers are edible; however, we couldn't bring ourselves to pick any. 

As we enter this fourth of five weekends in August, let's head out and take a close up look at the plants around us. Currently, mushrooms are a plenty on the trails around Greensboro's lakes. Monday, the traditional public schools will be back in session. And next weekend if Labor Day. Have you felt the fall weather beginning to sneak in? 

Happy, happy Friday!

Open Pasture on Highwoods Boulevard

We learned from a Triad Business Journal article (3/22/23) that a planned community of 136 single family homes will be built on the above 16.2 acres between Hobbs Road and Jefferson Village Shopping Center. Yesterday, we noticed that a road has been cut through and machinery is being put into place. This is one of the remaining undeveloped parcels of land that is part of the 414 acre property on New Garden Road.  The Jefferson-Pilot Club was located there for 73 years. All employees were entitled to use the club. It was open from 1924- 1997.*  Nearby Price Park and the Kathleen Clay Edwards Family Branch Library are two small parcels of the land that are open to the public. The public school, Jefferson Elementary, was also built on the Jefferson-Pilot land.

The road reveals the rocky, red clay soil so common around here. The land is fairly flat, so it should be relatively easy to build and homeowners will be surrounded by plenty of shopping.  It was such a beautiful day yesterday. Look at those clouds and notice, dead center in the photo, a bird is flying overhead.  As Greensboro, and all of North Carolina, really, continues to be developed. we hope there is some kind of master plan for green spaces and for land to remain undeveloped. Everybody deserves to sit and take in nature as seen here.

Happy Monday!

* see Jim Schlosser's article in the News & Record, HERE.

Monarch Butterfly on Milkweed

The above photo of a monarch butterfly on milkweed was taken at the Cole Family Monarch Conservation Center & Butterfly House at the Greensboro Science Center. That background is part of a mural painted on the wall. You can go to the science center to see the butterflies until mid-September, at which time, the net ceiling on the facility will be opened and the Monarch will begin their journey south to Mexico. In North Carolina, they like to travel at treetop level along the mountain ridges, especially near Asheville.* If you want to be part of helping save monarch populations, plan to plant milkweed next spring. This is the plant they depend on for the larval stage.  If you want to become involved in a monarch conservation project, see HERE.

Another option to learn more about butterflies and to see them are the agritourism farm and plant nursery  All-A-Flutter Farms between Greensboro and High Point, off of Highway 68. They are not open for visitors to tour now, but mid-September, they will open for groups. They are open for plant sales, however. Finally, here is a "butterfly atlas" for North Carolina.  As of the end of 2023, 177 butterfly species have been recorded in North Carolina. How many have you seen in Greensboro. Start reading about them now, if you want your yard to be a haven for butterflies next year!

Happy Tuesday!

 

* Reference and more information HERE.

Summer Sunset on Lake Brandt

Happy first Sunday of August. This is a recent sunset on Lake Brandt. By the time August is over, all schools will be back in session and summer will be effectively over.  Next time we are at Lake Brandt, we hope to head to nearby Lake Brandt Baptist Church at 1901 Trosper Road. Another church close to the lake is Covenant Church at 4600 Lake Brandt Road.  If you don't make it to an organized house of worship for service today, it is pretty spiritual to walk around the road in silent meditation. See the 10.9 mile Lake Brandt Loop trail HERE. August is supposed to be one of the driest months in North Carolina, so you'd think it would be a good time to plan outdoor activities. However, in Greensboro, August is off to a pretty rainy start. As a farmer would remind us, we need the rain.

Happy Sunday!

The Giving Tree

This past week, the above red oak tree at the southeast corner of Fernwood and Fairfield Avenue was removed. It carried with it a tremendous amount of church history for Guilford Park Presbyterian Church.  It was the location where the church first began. Members worshiped under the oak tree until McGinnis Hall was completed on the property in 1947. The oak tree has long been a symbol of Guilford Park Presbyterian,  appearing on church stationery and other church documents. Arborists determined  it couldn't be saved and it was not safe. The tree has meant so much to not only church members, but also community members. It carried with it church history and provided great shade for the park and the neighborhood.

The stump reminds us of the brevity, yet generative nature of life, nothing living lasts forever. But one living thing dies and another comes along. It also evokes the message of Shel Silverstein's, "The Giving Tree", reminding us of the gift of giving and loving. The old oak gave and gave for years and was there for the milestones of many people. When we were visiting it, just yesterday, an elderly woman who had lived in the neighborhood her whole life, stopped to tell us of how many memories the tree held for  her. She lives a few houses away on the same street and, a while back, had to have an even larger white oak removed from her yard.  Perhaps a new tree can be planted in its place and future generations can build memories around the new tree.

Have a lovely Sunday!

 

Hops Bine in Greensboro!

Last night, we were at our friends' house near Friendly Center and, upon leaving, noticed that they have a hops plant trellised in their back yard. Hops have been cultivated in what is now Germany since the 700's. Used for making beer and its citrusy, bitter, aromatic flavoring at one time was considered  a wicked and pernicious weed.  See HERE to read the Wikipedia site about hops. The NC State Extension Service can tell you everything you ever wanted to know about hops (see HERE). With all of the craft brewing in North Carolina, these has even been a hops project, helping find cultivars that are most conducive to being grown in North Carolina. Our state has come a long way in knowing the best growing practices for our area.  Greensboro has a rich history of breweries.  Triad Homebrew has been around for over a decade. While Greensboro has a rich history of brewing beer, it is still fun to see a hops plant thriving in someone's yard.  Do you see the hops flowers in the middle of the photo?

Hops bines (not vines) can grow up to 12" a day and only the female plant produces the hops cones. There are about 80 hops farms in North Carolina, or 4% of American production.* Our friends do not have a hops farm in the city, but we do want to go back and ask them if they harvest their hops. The United States has surpassed Germany in worldwide hops production.  While the ideal climate seems to be in the Pacific Northwest, it appears that we are making headway in North Carolina. Even if you don't drink beer or harvest the plant, it seems like it can be a nice alternative to kudzu!

Happy Saturday!

* reference and more information, here. 

Community Garden at St. Phillips AME Zion Church

Today's photo features the greenway side of St. Phillips AME Zion Church on 1330 Ashe Street in the Warnersville neighborhood of Greensboro. In the back of the church, they have a community garden. The garden is called the St. Phillips Garden of Peace and it was first started on 2/27/21. This is Year 3 of the garden, and it appears to be thriving. This garden is an example of the "un-lawning" initiative to replace manicured lawns with raised beds and edibles. It is also shows how churches work with community organizations to make great things happen. Read this article to learn more about the early beginnings of the garden. This YES! Weekly article talks more about the urban farm initiative to cultivate underutilized land. We also learned from YES! Weekly that the UNCG Communication Studies Department made this initiative possible. Read more here. If you can think of somewhere that would be a good site for a community garden, there are plenty of organizations willing to help. Thanks you St. Phillips for continuing this project!

Happy Sunday!

Carpenter Bee... Wondering Where You Live!

Tis the season for all the bugs and insects in Greensboro. Carpenter bees are going strong. They look like bumble bees, about the same size and some carpenter bees are yellow and black (some are all black). Carpenter bees have shiny abdomens, not fuzzy. This photo is a good example of those slick bodies. Carpenter bees bore holes in hardwood (in houses and trees) and lay their eggs in tunnels. If you see a hole, you have to cover it up, otherwise, they will reinhabit it and  nest there again. In the insect world, they are long-lived and can live up to three years. If you are in bed and hear your window buzzing or vibrating, check for these critters.

Above, you see a carpenter bee having a field day on our bee balm. Females can sting, usually only when provoked. This female was fed up with our taking photos of her and did follow us, but fortunately, we did not get stung. We absolutely love documenting the animals, insects, and reptiles we see around our yard in summer. How about you? Do you? What have you seen in your yard this summer? Tomorrow is Juneteenth and Thursday is the official first day of summer. The Fourth of July is in about two weeks. By Labor Day, students will be back in school. Pace yourself and enjoy every day of summer. Keeping track of critters is good, free fun. It can also help protect your house.

Happy Tuesday!

Missed MUSEP due to the Rainy Sunday Evening

Yesterday, during the day, the weather was lovely, warm and sunny. Then, just about 7:00 p.m., rain clouds started rolling in and shortly thereafter, it was raining throughout Greensboro. Above, you see rain in the distance over northwest Greensboro at the Carlson Farms Golf Course of the Greensboro Country Club. 

The first MUSEP (Music for a Sunday Evening in the Park) was to hold their first free concert of the season from 6:00- 8:00 pm, but it had to be cancelled due to the prediction of inclement weather. Indeed, it did rain yesterday evening. The concert series is presented by Creative Greensboro from June- August. Scheduled was Greensboro Big Band on the lawn of Greensboro College. However, it just isn't safe to have all of the electricity and sound system running when it is raining out.  MUSEP will not have a concert on Father's Day next Sunday. Weather permitting, they will return on Sunday, June 23rd at LeBauer Park. The schedule is HERE, in case you are interested. These free concerts have a way of bring the community together. If you like music, picnics, and fellowship, this series is for you. In the meantime, we have to admit, out garden loved the rain and the frog chorus put us to sleep!

Happy Monday!

Milkweed Garden in Peabody Park

If you want to know what milkweed looks like, head to Peabody Park on the northwest end of campus at UNCG. It takes milkweed a couple of years to bloom and when we visited this park a couple of weeks ago, the plants were full of blooms. Peabody Park is a 34-acre tract of land and part of the Piedmont Prairie habitat. There are many different plantings there, for the purpose of attracting pollinators.

According to UNCG's website, the original pathway networked of Peabody Park was designed by landscape architect Warren H. Manning who was an advocate of "wild garden" designs. Manning came to work at UNCG in 1909, when the school was known as the North Carolina State Normal and Industrial School. Manning worked with the landscape designer of Central Park in NYC (Frederick Law Olmstead) and Manning went on to design at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville.  The Internet is truly an amazing resource, where one can start out snapping a simple photo of milkweed, and wind up learning of a Central Park and Biltmore estate connecting to Greensboro. Check out Peabody Park this weekend and don't forget to head downtown to First Friday tonight. 

Happy Friday!

Eclectic by Nature (Formerly, My Secret Garden)

The other day we were walking along Bradford Street heading toward State Street, looked up and saw the above view. It is the house at 414 State Street which houses the business, Eclectic by Nature. It is a woman-owned store that specializes in spirituality products and gift items. If you want crystals, incense, journals, oils, candles, and more, this is your place to go. It is a house full of items and special events. There is always something on the event calendar. 

Not only is the shop beautiful, but the grounds are inspiring, as you can see from the photo above. They way the light shines on the redbud tree leave and the flag is so pretty. Had we panned out in the photo you would see wildflowers, a gate of lovers' locks and more,  all coming together in such a beautiful way. There is even a free little library in the front yard. We like this store, but are also nostalgic for the plant and yard ornament/statuary shop that used to be in this house. It was called My Secret Garden. These locally owned business are so fun to visit, especially in the summer.  If you want to read more about State Street, read this great "Yes! Weekly" article (see HERE).

Happy Tuesday!

Hydrangea Season on Walker Avenue

It is hydrangea season in Greensboro and 2017 Walker Avenue is in full bloom. This two bedroom one bathroom house is located just down from UNCG and across the street from the little log cabin*. Hydrangeas like a lot of water and the recent rains have kept these bushes in full bloom. This house was built in 1947 and, according to Zillow, last sold in 2013. This is a very walkable neighborhood, part of the reason houses around here hold their value. 

If you are in town this Memorial Day weekend, it would be a good time to drive around and admire the beauty of our neighborhoods. Another great event to attend is the Memorial Day observance today in Country Park at 2:00 pm. It will be held at the Guilford County Veterans' Memorial. Hope to see you there.

Happy Saturday!

* see our post from 2009 about the cabin (HERE).