Greensboro Daily Photo

Leaves: Fall Foliage Peaking in Greensboro

Fall in Greensboro is so beautiful. The above trees are on the island between Westover Terrace and Lawndale/Battleground Avenue- across from IHOP and Hardees. Every year, we look forward to their beautiful show of color as the sun is setting. They remind us of how grateful we are to live in a city with a change of seasons and deciduous trees. If online predictions are correct, we've got about another week of good fall color. Usually by the beginning of November, color starts waning as we wait through winter for spring. Greensboro had a frost this past week which means persimmons should be more than ready. However, the upcoming week should be a beautiful fall week, with crisp mornings and warm afternoons.

Happy Sunday, and for those of you who like a spiritual message, especially on the Sabbath, Martin Luther said, "God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars."  Greensboro is proof positive that nature is a symbol of harmony and beauty.

 

Lovely Fall Weather in October in Greensboro

Since the residual rains and wind from Hurricane Ian last week, the fall weather in Greensboro has been lovely. Temperatures have been cooler, the air crisper, and the skies clearer. The planet Jupiter has been visible in the sky, the closest it has been to the earth since 1963. Jupiter won't be this close to earth again until 2129. The waning hunter moon had an orange tint last night.

The street views of the Farm Course golf course at the Greensboro Country Club are beautiful. The above photo was taken recently in the Horse Pen Creek/Carlson Dairy Road area. While  leaves are not yet at peak color at Greensboro's elevation (only 892'), with the help of the sky, the views have been lovely. Just look at the blue hues, the puffy clouds, against the muted greens. Those rust colored leaves are the center piece. That sand trap in the middle almost looks like a moon crater. In Greensboro, this is one of the best times of year to get out and walk and notice nature. Remember, if you want butterflies in your yard, and other insects that birds love, you need to find places where you can leave leaves. When you rake away all leaves, you rake away a piece of the ecosystem around you. Even the golf course has some "rough" around the edges. And, those acorns that fall are a fall feast for critters. Some wildlife facilities even take them. Nature is just so lovely. 

Happy Tuesday, happy October, happy fall!

October Full Moon

Today's  full moon in October is named for the pre-winter hunting season. It is often known as the Hunter's Full Moon. Travel, Dying Grass, and Sanguine Moon are other names. The term Hunter's Moon is so named because it coincides with hunting season for some wild game. Even the animals being hunted seem to know it is about to get cold. The above photo was taken in Northwest Greensboro. On this day of rest, Sabbath for Christians, what can be more spiritual than a full moon on a clear night, so bright, no flashlight is needed. Last night was clear, so the the moon reflected sunlight to the extent that a shadow was cast.

Last night, even the owls were howling, the air was crisp, and the sky was so clear, the stars were visible. Night skies like what we saw in Greensboro last night are so special. If you get a chance, peek out tonight and let us know what you see.

Happy Sunday!

Happy Fall 2022

Happy First Day of Fall! Mother Nature must have gotten the message as temperatures have lowered a bit. By Saturday, the temperature may even dip below 50º in Greensboro. It is time for us to get out our sweaters. Locally, the leaves are just barely starting to show signs of changing. The above photo is one of the signs of nature we've seen recently, not too far from Lake Higgins. We think this is some form of a crabapple tree, and as you can see the fruit is turning bright red.

There are lots of varieties of crabapples and some are native to North America. While the fruit, especially these small ones, can be hard to harvest, their growth is attractive from the green foliage and first booms in spring to the fruit and color changes in the fall. Crabapples are a good source of vitamin C, which we all need to fight off illness.

What are the signs of fall around your Greensboro neighborhood? Let us know and we'll try to get out to capture a photo in your neighborhood! Do you see birds and butterflies migrating? Happy 265th day of the year! Happy Fall and....

Happy Thursday!

Rainy Days

The above photo was taken downtown on Saturday around 2pm as the NC Folk Festival was gearing up for the day. While the rain was a bit convenient, most of the venues were covered, making it possible to enjoy good music without getting too wet. Also, a light rain can really add mood to the music. It can also make it hard to keep the instruments in tune. The above photo features people walking along the part of the festival where the vendors were set up. The bright colors of the pedestrians with umbrellas really contrasts with the grayness of the sky and the buildings.  We love the fact that the street sign anchors the photo on the 100 block of South Elm Street, as does the sign on the building to the right. Something about the mood evokes one of the paintings you might see in one of the street stalls in Paris. Currently, there is no rain in the forecast for the next week or more. Let's hope this last round was enough to keep our end of summer gardens watered.

If you subscribe to Greensboro Daily Photo through email. We apologize that your service has been interrupted. Mr. GDP spent most of the day yesterday addressing the problem and finding a subscription service we're hoping we can depend on. As he explains, we are a mom and pop organization with limited tech skills. A lot has changed since we started this daily photo site 13 years ago. Here's to happy readers. May this virtual endeavor continue to bring you joy. Happy Thursday!

Greensboro Science Center at Family Night

Last night, the Greensboro Science Center teamed up with Chick-Fil-A at Friendly Center for their Family Night. From 5:30- 7:00, the theme was butterflies. There were coloring pages,  thumbprint art, and an opportunity to make a paper butterfly. The monarch backdrop was perfect for photo opportunities. There was also a balloon twister and a face painter. If you didn't get by the event last night and want to learn more about butterflies, head to the Greensboro Science Center. The Monarch Conservation Center/Butterfly House is quite a fun experience. There, you can learn how to make your yard a safe stopover area for monarch migration. Between now and early October, the monarch should be migrating south through North Carolina. It is not too late to start planting for their May to July journey from Mexico to Canada.

Over the last two decades, the Greensboro Science Center (4301 Lawndale Drive)  has grown by leaps and bounds; as have their community outreach efforts. The family night at Chick-Fil-A is one such example. This partnering was especially convenient for families who were eating out anyway and we hear the icedream sundaes were a hit. The above photo features set up for the event. How wonderful that in-person events are happening again.

Happy Wednesday!

The Destroying Angel Mushroom

With the rain we've had lately, mushrooms seem to be popping up before our eyes in Greensboro. In searching mushroom identification pages, we're pretty sure that these are Destroying Angel mushrooms and they are highly toxic.  For living things, we often search resources through NC State (see HERE). If you love learning about mushrooms, you might consider joining the Piedmont Triad Mushroom Club. This Triad area non-profit will help you gain a greater understanding and appreciation of mushrooms. If you've been to the Greensboro Curb Market on Yanceyville, likely, you've seen people selling mushrooms of just about every color. You can talk to vendors and they might even be able to help you get started in growing mushrooms as a hobby.

The greenway and trails are a great place to see mushrooms in the wild; as is the Piedmont Environmental Center. Any shaded place with undisturbed leaf and stick matter is usually a great place to spot mushrooms.  Remember, unless you are on your own property, please don't be tempted to pick the mushrooms. If you want a closer look of the underside, use your phone camera and take a photo. It works well. They are especially common after a rain.

Happy Wednesday! Happy exploring!

 

Sunset over Battleground Avenue

Last night's weather was pretty spectacular. First, we had a much needed soaking rain, after a pretty warm day. After the rain, when the sun came our and was starting to set, there was a very clear rainbow, with a well defined arc. Actually, it was a double rainbow with the top rainbow a little faint, but visible. Finally, the clouds broke at the horizon, letting the blue sky peek through, but there was a thick indigo coverage of clouds above. It would have been an ideal night to be near one of Greensboro's lakes to take a picture. However, we were on North Battleground Avenue and stopped at the Wal-Mart, because it is up on a hill and is is an urban space where you can get a photo without power lines in the way. 

When the ground is damp, you get an added bonus of a reflection, even on cement and asphalt. In a way, the parking lot adds visual interest. Man's contribution to the  landscape. The headlights definitely anchor the eye in the parking lot. There is a painting in the permanent collection of the Weatherspoon that is mostly dark with headlights. This photo reminds us of that painting. The more you look at both of them, the more you start to notice and it feels like night vision is starting to kick in. We need to find out the name of that painting. Do you know it?

Today is supposed to be sunny and in the mid 80s all day. Let's all enjoy this late summer weather as fall will soon be on its way. Are you ready for September? For now.... Happy last day of August! 

Summer Sunset

The weather in Greensboro has been a little crazy, ranging from storm warnings, lightening storms, and days in the mid 90s! It looks like the 90s are behind us for at least the next week. But, today may be rainy.  The above photo was taken in northwest Greensboro; it is a sunset reflection off of a water feature on the Carlson Farms Golf Course. Sunsets always look better when reflected off of water. Also, if you notice the texture of the water, this is evidence that the wind was blowing. The water part of the above sunset looks like an impressionist painting. The sun sets at 8:14 pm tonight. Plus, it is a full moon, the Sturgeon Moon. The name, "sturgeon" is derived from the fact that the sturgeon are mostly caught this time of year, in the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain. It rises at 9:35 pm and is also nice to view over a body of water.

If we can get the rain to hold out, that moon should be beautiful. Do you have a "go to" viewing spot?

Happy Thursday!

Caribbean Flamingos at the Greensboro Science Center

Yes we have Caribbean flamingos in Greensboro. If you have been to the Greensboro Science Center lately, you have probably seen this exhibit. The Caribbean flamingo is native to not only the Caribbean, but also South America and the Galápagos Islands. These interesting creatures are approximately 5' tall and weigh between 4-9 pounds. They can live up to 50 years. They usually only lay one egg at a time and it takes close to 30 days to hatch. The birds can be hard to get them to the point where they warm up to their keeper. However, the ones at the science center  seem relatively settled in. It is fun to watch them eat and to interact with each other.

We hope you have been  safe during the recent storms, and, that you get a chance to visit the Greensboro Science Center soon! Have a great rest of your day!

Happy Wednesday!

The Cole Family Monarch Conservation Center & Butterfly House

The Cole Family Monarch Conservation Center and Butterfly House is now open at the Greensboro Science Center. It is a new (permanent) exhibit, located in the front of the building. As you can see from the above photo, while the butterfly area is enclosed, it is open to the outside, with netting to keep butterflies in, yet making the area open to the outside. It is a fabulous way to see butterflies up close and to watch their behavior as they travel through the wildflowers.

Inside, there is a temporary, traveling exhibit about butterflies. Children traverse a maze learning about butterflies as they go. Impatient children can simply crawl under the panels to get through the maze. It is so nice having the indoor and outdoor exhibit for the summer, both teach about butterflies and especially monarchs. While the Greensboro Science Center has been a Greensboro institution since 1957, if you haven't been in a while, be warned, you will not recognize it. The giant amethyst geode, the Foucoult pendulum, and the S.S. Curiosity (old ship to climb) are still there, but so many new exhibits have been added, you owe it to yourself to stop by and have a look. To be sure, we'll share more photos.

Happy Tuesday!

The Beauty of Thunderstorms in Greensboro

This is what it looks like when a thunderstorm is about to roll in in northwest Greensboro, and there have been several this week. The greens range from chartreuse to dark forest green. Grays range from almost white to charcoal to onyx. The different textures of the grasses and shrubbery really stand out as the skies darken. Such was the view of the Farm Course of the Greensboro Country Club this past Tuesday. About the time we took this photo, the "clear the golf course" siren started blowing. Lightening had been seen and it was too dangerous to continue playing golf. Golfers retreated with their carts back to the clubhouse. As it turned out, the bulk of the storm bypassed this part of town. Thunderstorms are like that, they hit some areas and bypass others, usually lasting about an hour.

According to Weather Spark, July is the wettest month in Greensboro with an average of 13 days of precipitation. These hot, humid days with frequent thunderstorms are the prefect conditions for chasing rainbows. In August, on average, temperatures will drop a couple of degrees and it will rain slightly less. Regardless of whether the days are sunny or overcast, Greensboro is a beautiful place to live.

Happy Thursday!

Oh, Butterfly!

Summer to us means having the opportunity to interact more with nature. In Greensboro, in the right environment, butterflies abound. The above female, eastern tiger swallowtail spent a lot of time in our yard yesterday morning. We know it was a she because of the iridescent, blue wash on her wings. Often, in nature, the males are more colorful; not true in the swallowtail kingdom. The swallowtails utilize many host plants, but really love trees. We have wild black cherry and tulip trees in our yard; both favorites of the swallowtail. They like to come lower to the ground for their nectar and our urban flowers are perfect. It is easy to attract butterflies, unless a yard is only grass.

Two fabulous local resources for learning more about butterflies are All-A-Flutter Butterfly Farm, off of US-68 between Greensboro and High Point. Since 2001 (21 years!!!), they have been a great community resource. They also do a lot to help the butterfly population. For example, they raise monarch butterflies, helping with conservation efforts. Currently, the Greensboro Science Center has an interactive butterfly maze exhibit (until September 11th). In June, they also had the debut of their new butterfly house. It is a way to get up close and personal with butterflies. The GSO Science Center is also doing their part to help in the conservation of the monarch butterflies. As for us, we're anxious to get to the science center to see the new exhibit. In the meantime, we'll just keep nurturing the beauties in our backyard. Oh, and lest we forget, we need to head out to Sandy Ridge Road and visit our friend Helene at the Butterfly Effect. Stop in and ask her, just what exactly IS the "butterfly effect".

Happy Saturday!

Happy Friday: Here's To Good Weather and Fun!

That was quite a lot of rain on Greensboro yesterday afternoon. However, rain was just what we needed; the crops were thirsty! The above sunset is from Wednesday and taken in northwest Greensboro near Lake Higgins. This is not the time of year when the sunsets fall directly over Lake Higgins, at least not from Carlson Dairy Road view. However, there are still open fields in the northwest part of town, including the farm golf course for the Greensboro Country Club, so there are plenty of angles to get a nice view of the sky. 

If you are in Greensboro today, there are tunes at noon in LeBauer Park, and the movie Sing2 will be shown there as evening approaches. Also tonight, the Greensboro Grasshoppers will face off against the Hickory Crawdads tonight and they usually have fireworks on Fridays. So, even if the sunset isn't grand tonight, the fireworks will light up the sky. Of course downtown businesses are always there to help make your downtown experience enjoyable. Some even have extended hours on Friday. As another option, this is your next to the last chance to hear one of the Friday student concerts at the Eastern Music Festival tonight.  Here's to a great weekend, whether you are in Greensboro or elsewhere. It is not predicted to rain again until Tuesday, so all of the outdoor options should be a go. 

Happy Friday, dear readers!

 

Highways, Byways, and Municipal Elections

Yesterday's sky was an example of how bright and clear the it looks after the rain has cleared dust and pollutants out of the air. The photo was taken at the corner of Fleming Road and Bryan Boulevard and, from the angle of the trees on the left side of the photo, you can see that Greensboro is not completely flat. It is in the Piedmont region and "Piedmont" literally means "foot of the mountain." Greensboro is between the mountains and the costal plain. The elevation is 892 feet, as contrasted with Raleigh, about 90 miles to the east which is at an elevation of 315'. Asheville, in the mountains is at 2,134 feet. Wilmington, near the beach is 36'. So, you can see, we are a state with a diverse topography. Summertime, it is especially convenient to live in Greensboro, because getting to the mountains or the coast is an easy day trip. 

If you notice the signs beside the road, it is because Greensboro is having elections on July 26th. This is an off date for municipal elections. We were supposed to have municipal elections last year, but they were delayed until this summer. If you are not going to be in town on the 26th, early voting has started. Please vote! We don't endorse candidates on Greensboro Daily Photo; however, we do encourage people to do their civic duty and vote. There are several bonds on the ballot, plus, we are voting for mayor and city council members. Tuesday, July 26th is predicted to be warm and sunny. However, why wait until then when you can vote today?

Here is a calendar for when and where you can go to vote early.

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!