Greensboro Daily Photo

When It Snows, Make Snow People!

A whole new generation of children in Greensboro learned to  play in the snow and make snowmen this past weekend. The glittering, crowned, character above was made by a a family that lives off of Highway 150, near Lake Brandt. We're pretty sure their grandchild got to delight in the making of this snow person. While only about two inches of snow fell in the Greensboro area, people were very creative with their snow characters.  We even saw a snow dog complete with a curly tail. Prior to recently, January 2022 was the last time it snowed in Greensboro; so, many children don't even remember seeing snow. 

We hope you found a little time to enjoy this recent weather event. It might not be over yet. However, students will return to in-person learning today, leaving all of these snow creatures to continue melting and hoping to come again another winter day. In Guilford County  three new schools have opened this month (Brooks Global Studies, Peck K-8 Expeditionary Learning, and Foust Elementary Gaming and Robotics).  We're betting those students and staff members were anxious to return to their brand new, state-of-the-art, themed learning centers. Dare we say, they are as beautiful as a new fallen snow. The timing seems perfect for winter themed lessons. Perhaps, some students will cut out snowflakes. Remember those? 

Happy Wednesday!

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!

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!

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!

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!

Rain and Wind from Tropical Storm Debby

We hope you were spared damage from Tropical Storm Debby.  Several trees and branches were down today, there were some power outages; and, as you can see from the above view of Buffalo Creek that the banks were overflowing. This is the view from North Elm Street, just north of Cone Hospital, near Irving Park. It was so bad that Latham Road was closed. Normally, the above creek has visible, rocky banks. It is not a river, but a creek. It looks like we had about 4" of rain yesterday (see HERE). The flood warning remained through the night. There is a 60% chance of rain today, but the good news that no rain is scheduled for the weekend. There is so much to do this weekend. There are three more weekends until traditional schools open in Greensboro. If you have children, we hope you enjoy every minute of these last couple of weeks with them.  Eventbrite is one way to look at what is happening downtown (see HERE). A few events include: Music in the Park; The Rocket Man Show at Tanger; African American History Tour; Greensboro True Crime Tour; Downtown History Tour; Hopper's Game & Fireworks (seen on Greensboro College's Facebook Page). Whatever you decide to do, enjoy. We'll stop back soon to check on the level of this creek.

Happy Friday!

Happy Summer Solstice 2024!

The 2024 summer solstice arrived yesterday at 4:50 pm. It was a glorious day  with a temperature ranging from about 64º to 86º. There was so much going on, including an event at Revolution Mill.  The "golden hour" was especially photogenic yesterday. The above photo was taken along Battleground Avenue about 8:30p.m. Even though the scene is not especially picturesque, you can see the vibrancy of the sun in the western sky.

For about the next week, we'll celebrate the solstice as the hours of light will be the longest for the year. Yesterday, the sun rose at 5:32 a.m. and set at 9:10p.m., close to 16 hours of daylight. Tonight, the sun sets at 8:40 pm. There is a Greensboro Grasshoppers baseball game with fireworks after dark. Tomorrow from 2:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m,  the annual Summer Solstice event will be held in the Arboretum. If you like taking pictures, this is a great chance to see people dressed up in all of their summer solstice creativity. The more festive you dress, the more you will enjoy the event.

Happy Solstice!

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!

Wendover Avenue at Rush Hour

Yesterday brought a lot of rain and temperatures hovering in the 60ºs. Today it should be warmer with temperatures in the 70ºs, but also rainy. We aren't on Wendover Avenue very often, but we were yesterday afternoon, turning on to West Wendover near the I-40 interchange. So often we opt for backroads when possible, but Wendover is very convenient to navigate east/west travel in Greensboro. 

This 15 mile stretch of road was completed in 1972. In the west, it ends at Eastchester. In the east, it changes to Burlington Road at O. Henry Boulevard. According to Brixmor, there are approximately 58,000 vehicles a day on Wendover Avenue. With a population of just over 300,000, that means that about 19% of Greensboro's population uses Wendover Avenue in a day. Of course not everyone on the road is necessarily from Greensboro, but that gives you an idea. The road has a personality all its own!

Happy Wednesday!

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

This past Friday had some interesting weather. There was sun, some rain, rainbows, and then the Northern Lights. The above photo was taken along Highway 150, between Kernersville and Oak Ridge. The business is the Hayworth-Miller Funeral Home. According to their website, they've been in Kernersville since 1984.  Surely, there is a message when a rainbow arcs over a funeral home.

We love to drive on the back roads and out in the county. Highway 150 to Kernersville used to have a country road feel. Over the past few years, construction has been extensive. Already, it is getting harder to tell where Kernersville and Forsyth County end and Oak Ridge and Guilford County begin. The road is still un-busy enough to allow for time to stop and photograph and catch little slices of life, much more so than U.S. Highway 421 or I-40.

Happy Tuesday!

When the Northern Lights Came to Greensboro

May 10, 2024 was the night the Northern Lights came to Greensboro. We didn't capture the best photo on the internet, but last night, between 10:30pm and 11:00 pm, we did capture a photo of that strange weather phenomenon that extended into the south. We will always remember seeing them at night. Imagine what people thought in previous centuries without light pollution when the night sky lit up with a colorful show. We learned of this  remarkable experience when others started posting photos. Apparently, they are the result of a geomagnetic storm. 

We will head out again to have a look tonight. The best aurora is usually seen between 10:00 pm and 2:00 am. and visibility is best from higher altitude and in a place of low light pollution. We drove around in northwest Greensboro to take this photo. We hope you get a chance to see them and that we get an even better photo this evening. The blur to the right was a car coming along.

Happy Saturday!

PTI Kay Hagan Air Traffic Tower

Saturday night was foggy in Greensboro, making the Kay Hagan Air Traffic Tower at the PTI Airport stand out. The tower looked especially beautiful with the blue lighting and the red light on top. The 180 foot tower was constructed by an all-female engineering team and has been open in 2022. The state-of-the-art tower, controls a 60-mile radius of air traffic. Fifty-two FAA employees work at the tower. It was named after the late-Senator Kay Hagan, who was instrumental in helping secure funding for it.* This new structure replaced the 90-ft one that had been built in 1974. To be sure, it was visible as we drove up late Saturday night.

The Greensboro PTI airport is the fourth busiest in North Carolina.  

Happy Monday!

*reference and more information HERE.

Happy Spring!

Spring is officially here. It is the season for Easter, which is early this year (March 31)  and Passover (April 22-30). However, Orthodox Easter is late- not until May 5th. Ramadan is happening now, but is not always a spring holiday. In Greensboro, spring is truly brings rebirth of the landscape with the greening of lawns and leafing out of trees and shrubs. It is a time to plant and celebrate nature. The above photo features a cluster of hyacinth in our yard. While not native to Greensboro, the bulbous, spring-blooming perennial does well here. We don't even take up our bulbs and they always return mid March, and their scent is heavenly. 

If you are looking for plants, the local farmers markets are a good start. When you buy locally, you help the local economy and you enter into a relationship with a grower who will probably be available to answer your gardening questions. The master gardeners will be set up to sell on April 14th at the Greensboro Farmers Curb Market and will hold their annual plant sale at the NC Cooperative Extension Guilford County Center at 3309 Burlington Road on May 3rd and 4th. This is the weekend before Mothers Day and, even if you don't have a green thumb, you can probably keep a plant alive for a week to give to mom!

Happy Tuesday!

Springtime is Upon Us

Yesterday was such a lovely day in Greensboro. The sun was shining, but it wasn't too warm. The above photo is a scene in northwest Greensboro, along Carlson Dairy Road. You can see the grass is that early spring green, the skies were blue and the white blossoms were at peak, already starting to flutter to the ground. If you want to see the early stages of nature, you need to be driving around neighborhoods right now. Also, this past weekend, people were commenting that the reenactment of the Revolutionary War brought out lots of people. The warm weather helped boost attendance of people reenacting and spectators. What a way to get as close to history 200+ years ago. It was also St. Patrick's Day, but that usually results in not only green clothing but lots of green beverages.

If you want to keep up with what is blooming when, and you don't have a master gardener in your life, see this bloom calendar from the North Carolina Wildlife Federation. Tomorrow is the first official day of spring.

Happy Monday! Happy Last Day of Winter!

 

Twilight in Greensboro

While the days have been sunny this week, we have experienced a cold snap with temperatures ranging from the 30s to the 70s. But, oh the sunshine, blue skies,  and seeing things blooming has been heavenly. In spite of all the sunshine, we feel compelled to share this twilight photo from Monday. It was way past sunset (8:10 pm daylight savings time, to be exact), and the crescent moon was so clear and bright in the sky. Even though we only had a cell phone when out walking, you have an idea of just how lovely the evening was. 

If you are local, you know we have a lot of golf courses and those golf course water features are fabulous for capturing reflections. This was taken from the outer perimeter of the Farm Course of the Greensboro Country Club, near Carlson Dairy Road. While this end of town is being developed before our eyes, it is still possible to find little pockets of nature and places where the stars shine brightly. The lighting glowing from houses at twilight can be so charming. On Monday, the moon was setting at 9:13 pm. Tonight, it will set at 11:40 pm. It seems strange to see the moon set, just after the sun did so. The next full moon will be on March 25th and the moon will rise at 8:09 pm. Oh, and the spring equinox is Tuesday, March 19th.

Happy Wednesday!

Spring Day Sunset Hills Historic District

While it isn't technically spring, yesterday felt like a spring day and today should also be a lovely day. We were spending time in Sunset Hills and happened to look up.  We noticed the beautiful sky with all of the mature trees that, a little more than a month ago, would have had those 1' round Christmas balls in them. Some of those mature trees are over twice the size of the houses. Since 2013, Sunset Hills has been on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). It is the largest NRHP neighborhood in Guildford County.  This designation doesn't mandate appearance standards. Homeowners can opt-in with the opportunity of a tax credit if they elect to participate. 

According to Preservation Greensboro, the neighborhood began in 1922 with Arthur Kirby Moore developing the land.* The neighborhood was nestled between Walker, Avenue, Market Street, and Salem Road. Salem Road was renamed Friendly Avenue. Sunset Hills, even without many sidewalks, is a very walker-friendly neighborhood. Every morning and afternoon, you will see people out walking their dogs or taking children to the neighborhood park. Consider heading out to vote in the primaries today and then finding a walkable neighborhood to enjoy. Sunset Hills is a great one!

Happy Tuesday! 

 

* See reference and lengthy, interesting history HERE.

Greensboro Highways and Skyways

The above scene features the drive back into town from High Point to Greensboro, driving on the roads south of town. On Wednesday, the skies were split between bright blue and a looming gray cloud cover descending with the afternoon sun. You can see that little blue patch of sky that was quickly being pushed out of the way from the big gray clouds. These are not the sleepy little roads like the High Point Road of yesteryear. 

We hope you have a great weekend and that you find time to get out and explore weekend. Right now, the weather maps are not showing rain until next Sunday. So, this weekend should be great for getting out and exploring. We love seeing signage with the word "Greensboro" on it.

Happy Saturday!

Wintery Skies Over Greensboro

This photo of a winter sky over Greensboro is what we think of on a sunny day. In Greensboro, the winter sun is travels low on the horizon, and the trees are without leaves. These conditions can make driving difficult, but the skies sure can be beautiful. When most of nature takes on shades of brown, the sky can stand out like a deep aquamarine gemstone. After a bout with weather in the teens and lingering below freezing, we are scheduled to see a high of 69º by Friday. The last time we had a measurable snowfall in Greensboro was on January 29, 2022 when we had 1.8 inches. If we have any snow, it will likely be between now and mid-February.

We always try to enjoy every season we experience in Greensboro, even when all of the seasons seem to present within a couple of weeks. Some people are diligent weather watchers and others love to wake up and see what the day will bring. These preferences depend on whether you work outside or have animals outside, if you have to traverse the roads, or if you are in a position to stay home. The Greensboro Science Center monitors the weather closely. When the weather drops below 60º, the Aldabra tortoises are kept inside at a temperature that suits their cold-blooded bodies. Are you a weather watcher?

Happy Tuesday!

The Healing Gardens At Wesley Long

When we talk to civic groups about Greensboro Daily Photo, often people make suggestions of people, places, and events we should feature. Almost always, we have already written a post about the suggested place. One place we have yet to publish is the Healing Gardens on the grounds of Wesley Long Hospital at the Cancer Center. Yesterday, we had an opportunity to walk the path and oh how much we enjoyed the gardens. The gardens have different sections, some for walking, others for sitting with friends and family, and others for reflecting. Different phases of the gardens were completed in 2016 and 2017. They are open year round. At first we were disappointed to be their past peak of spring, summer, and fall phase. As we walked, however, we realized that every season will hold its own beauty- just like life Now, brown and rust are dominant, but as you can see from the above photo, there are other colors standing out at the moment.  The feather grasses majestically flank the path back to the Cancer Center.

The two acres of gardens have Wendover Avenue and Buffalo Creek on one side. That side is heavy on trees to help as a sound and visual screen. According to an O. Henry Magazine article, there are 353 trees within the garden and 234 more along Wendover Avenue. It is well worth a visit to these gardens, with someone special or alone. Look for additional posts of this special area.

Happy Tuesday!

Autumn Will Be Here Before We Know It!

While this was taken on the 4th of July, it is one of our favorite photos of Summer 2023 in Greensboro. It was taken in front of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum. The above photo shows people out at a festival enjoying the summer with family and friends. The sun was shining brightly.

We are hearing people saying they wish fall would hurry up and get here. Fall will be here in 33 more days, just over a month. This is the last week of vacation for Guilford County Schools students (on a traditional calendar) as school resumes on Monday, August 28th. After the start of school comes Labor Day, and then the National Folk Festival, and then fall. Let's not rush our days away.

Happy Monday!

Golf Season Is Upon Us

In Greensboro, North Carolina, golf can be a year-round sport*. There is, however, seasonality given it is an outdoor sport and the weather must be conducive to playing a round. It can't be too wet, or the turf and greens can get damaged. It can't be cold or golfers have trouble with their swing. There are times of the year when certain courses are dormant because they need to be repaired. In Greensboro, the answer to when golf can be played is, "it depends." For sure, yesterday was a nice day for playing golf it was sunny but not too hot.

The above photo was taken at the The Farm Course of the Greensboro Country Club. We love to walk on all of those roads off Carlson Dairy. They are very walkable and it is fun to see golfers in the distance playing golf. Greensboro and Guilford County have golf options at all price points and public as well as private. Courses really look nice this time of year, before it starts getting too hot. Hope to see you out there playing.

Happy Tuesday!

 

*See this article telling when golf season begins by state.

The Guilford College Bryan Series, Ronan Farrow, and an Almost Full Moon

While the full moon is not technically until tomorrow night, it was looking pretty full last night. The April full moon is known as the pink moon because of the pink phlox that blooms this time of year in the eastern United States. This view of downtown, taken from Commerce Place, is the perfect spot to get a good view of the Lincoln Financial Group building. We stumbled on this vantage point by chance as it was a good place to park and walk to the Tanger Center for the Performing Arts.

Last night was the final lecture of the Guilford College Bryan Series. Accomplished Journalist Ronan Farrow was the guest speaker. By chance, he was speaking to us on the night he was also meeting deadlines to write about yesterday's court appearance of former President Trump.  This case was a topic of conversation, especially at the beginning of Ronan Farrow's presentation. Ronan Farrow also talked about the nature of journalism, the future of journalism, and how journalism has impacted his life, personally. He acknowledged that his world view is reflected in his journalism, but he tries not to polarize readers and to present news objectively. He likes to tell important stories and endeavors to "crisply render a fact pattern". That last quote provides insight into how talented Ronan Farrow is at putting words, phrases, and sentences together in a way that precisely describes a point he is trying to make. At a mere 31 years old, he has accomplished so much: a law degree from Yale, a Ph.D from Oxford University, time as U.S. foreign service junior diplomat, a Pulitzer Prize winner, author, podcaster, journalist, and so much more. Greensboro is  lucky to have access to internationally recognized speakers through the Bryan Series. We are fortunate to have the Tanger Center. It is so special to have lovely nights in early spring, and streets that are walkable, where we can reflect on everything from the beauty of our city and the almost-full moon to the importance of ethical journalism.

Happy Wednesday!

Beautiful Weather on Lake Higgins

One good thing resulting from Saturday's strong winds in Greensboro was the calm, crisp day yesterday. The above photo was taken at Lake Higgins, Sunday afternoon. As you can see, the water was calm. People were out canoeing. The sky and the water were an intense blue and the air quality rating was in the green (good). Now is such a good time to hike along the our lakes; visibility is high since leaves have not come out yet. Also, ferns are starting to unfurl. There is so much to see on the city trails. Today is expected to be in the low 70, also reasonable for hiking. If you do head to the lakes today, while the trails are open, Lake Higgins is closed. You can't go out on the water or fish until tomorrow.

The moon will be full on Thursday. Since Easter is the first Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox,* Easter is this Sunday. This is a great week to reflect on rebirth, in nature as well as spiritually. Spring is such a lovely time of year in Greensboro; many say it is the prettiest. Now would be the perfect time to go for nature walks, or walks around one of our neighborhoods, to document all of the signs of rebirth that are happening before our eyes. Whatever you decide to do this week, we hope you have a great one!

Happy Monday!

* reference and more information, HERE.

Spring Has Spring on Oak Street

Yesterday, we were out along Oak Street in the Glenwood neighborhood of Greensboro. We noticed the bulbs planned at the house on the corner of Oak and McCormick. The flowers are healthy, having  weathered the recent cold weather. Blooming flowers are such a part of Greensboro landscapes in spring. 

The house in the background is a 2 bedroom 1 bath house built in 1915. This 108 year old house on the corner lot has so much yesteryear charm. The porch is inviting, the windows look like the original, and the bulbs are a simple row that look like they could have been there since the beginning. Remember if you get any pots of bulbs you can plant them and keep enjoying their beauty, year after year. This cooler weather we have had in Greensboro is actually good for bulbs. According to Dutch Grown, tulips will last for 1-2 weeks if the weather is between 45-55 degrees. However, if the weather is warmer, they will only last for a few days. We'll stop back and have a look after Friday, when the temperature is expected to be in the 80s. In the meantime, if you want to see them at peak, head over today!

Happy Thursday!

Green & West Lindsay Streets

Spring 2023 has sprung early in Greensboro this year. The above photo was taken on Sunday, February 26th at the corner of West Lindsay and North Greene Street. You can see Bradford Pears blossoming on the northwest corner. From this view, with three men crossing the street, the intersection looks vast. Although it isn't so noticeable in the photo, this is a part of town that has changed significantly over the recent years. It is near the greenway; is is near the building where the Smith Street Diner was housed; several new restaurants have opened in this northwest corridor and the cleaners that was on Paisley Street has closed and something new is being built. Of course the Tanger Center for Performing Arts is a great addition to this part of town. Finally, all the new housing options make this a part of town where you can walk to many amenities.

Remaining constant in this area is the trifecta of churches in the area: Trinity Episcopal, First Presbyterian, and  St. Benedict Catholic Church. And thinking of "faith" we want to give a shout out to our faithful reader Ginny S. in Madison, Wisconsin who has no real associations with Greensboro, but reads diligently and sends private comments from time to time. Knowing you all are reading sustains us.

Happy Tuesday! Tomorrow is March 1st!

Aldi Grocery on Battleground

Today's photo is of Aldi Grocery Store at 2965 Battleground Avenue. It has been open since September 16, 2021, almost a year and a half. You may remember, before that, this location was an Earth Fare Store. We remember the people who worked at that Earth Fare making a real effort to help customers feel like they were community. The employees were committed helping customers make healthy choices. Before Earth Fare, we seem to remember the location being a Harris Teeter, or was it a Kroger? Between Greensboro and Virginia, those two stores did some swapping so it is hard to remember. This site on "groceteria" explains a lot about Kroger and Harris Teeter in Greensboro.

We took the photo because the first thing that caught our eye as we parked was the beautiful sunset and the fact that it matches the Aldi colors, as well as the slope on the roof! Frequently, there are beautiful sunsets on this part of Battleground Avenue. While shopping, we overheard customers talking about purchases to make and things to eat before Ash Wednesday. If you abstain from something or give up certain foods, especially meat, for Lent, today is the day!  

Happy Ash Wednesday! 

Christ Is the Way

The "Christ is the Way" or "Jesucristo es el camino" bus belongs to Mr. Sinai Church/"Iglesia Monte Sinai." It is located at 4711-A  West Gate City Boulevard, just south of Groometown Road. It ia a Pentecostal Church. The brick building is a strip mall with another church beside it and some empty store fronts. The bus looks freshly painted with clear lettering.

On the front, the signage above the windshield just says JESUCRISTO. Likely, the bus brings to church for services. They meet on Saturday at 7:00 pm and Sunday at 10:00 am. They also have Tuesday and Thursday services at 7:00 pm. These start up churches often start out in humble spaces and grow into nice, stand-alone buildings. It was a lovely day full of sunshine yesterday and we only noticed the church because of the beautiful, freshly painted church. If you are driving past, it is impossible not to notice it.

Happy Sunday!

Crabapples, Crocus, and Hellebores

Have you noticed that things are starting to boom in Greensboro? The above tree (crabapple, we think) is in the parking lot behind the Weatherspoon Art Museum. It is visible from Tate Street. Seeing these blooms reminds us that we haven't seen snow in a while. According to this website, the last time we had snow in Greensboro was 1.8 inches on January 29th 2022, over a year ago! February and March can bring inclement weather in Greensboro. As a matter of fact, last March 13th, the temperature dipped to 19º.  We've got crocus flowers and hellebores going strong in our yard. The camellias are about finished. It is alway fun to see what blooms in winter and is an encouraging sign that spring is just around the corner.

The weather this weekend isn't supposed to dip below 33º,  so, it should be a good weekend to head out and explore the city. Maybe we can get to the new piece of artwork on the downtown greenway at Murrow Boulevard and East Gate City. What will you do?

Happy Friday!

Winter Trees

Today's photo comes from our adventure exploring the eastern end of the county; the place where you are on a country road exploring and not sure if you are in Whitsett, Gibsonville, or even across the Alamance County line into Elon. The outbuilding above is one of about nine on a property at the corner of Frieden Church Road and Sweeetgum Road. Every one of the outbuildings is old, but has signs of being loved. Above, you see a cross and an American flag. In one, there are life-size pigs, maybe made of plaster or plastic. Beside another, there is a vintage truck. The two bedroom one bath house, built in 1930, is on 9.3 acres of property. This family has a little slice of paradise. As land gets sold off around them, we hope they hold on and keep all of their mature trees. One of our regular, long-time readers commented how much she likes trees in winter. We do, too!  These trees, in their dormant state and towering over the outbuilding with the hand-hewn logs, are breathtaking. The winter, low to the horizon sun, adds so much to the shading of the trees.

Happy Tuesday! Are you ready for February tomorrow?

 

On North Battleground and Around the City

The above photo was taken on North Battleground, near British Woods, on a day that had been rainy, but then the sun came out. Those puffy white clouds look glorious against the blue sky and the winter trees. It shows you that there are still patches of Battleground with trees. However, the profile of this section is about to change; as it is near where the High Ground Project will be build, but maybe we can keep some of the greenery. This is very close to where the urban loop I-840 crosses Battleground. The signage has been changed to I-840 already now that the highway is completely open. It makes getting to Kernersville, Winston, McLeansville and Burlington much easier. Actually, it makes getting in to south Greensboro easier too. It will be interesting to see if that traffic is a little lighter now on the south side of town.

We need to get out an photograph this area more. The area between Westridge and I-840 in now six lanes wide. Change is everywhere. There is construction across from Applebee's. Also, for those of you who remember Laddies and Dukes Irish Pub, something is under construction in that area. It is so hard to remember what used to be on a lot, once something new is built. Please take pictures!

We hope you are getting ready for the weekend and we're betting a lot of you are planning urban loop rides. It would be informative, too, to drive from North Battleground at the urban loop through town to the south side to see just how much has changed. Take a senior citizen with your to hear the "I remember when" stories.

Honk if you love exploring. Happy Thursday!

Highway 61 in Eastern Guilford County

On our jaunt through through east Greensboro and eastern Guilford County last weekend, we spent some time on Highway 61. The above photo was taken on the section between Burlington Road (east Wenedover, Highway 70) and I 40. The photo was taken in front of a road with a few houses on it. The lots were large and the construction appeared to be new. Due to recent rains, this area looked like it had recently filled with water. With the sun low to the horizon and the shadows long, the scenery was beautiful. It reminded us of a bald cypress swamp. We were struck by how clean the water was. The bed of leaves added texture to the edge of the water. 

If you are ever looking for a Sunday drive, Highway 61 extends from Highway 150 up near Browns Summit, through Whitsett, down below I-40 to Highway 62. There are homes all along the way and the road has gotten busier over the last decade. It is the main north-south highway in eastern Guilford County. It is considered a farm to market highway, historically connecting farmers to nearby markets. It was established in 1930. The internet can be such a wonderful thing. There is a Wikipedia entry for Highway 61. It is short, but it provides provenance for the road (see HERE). It would be special if people who lived along the road and who knew the history of the area would add to the entry. 

Happy Friday, explore day! Where should we go next?

Full Moon 324 S Elm St

Last night was especially beautiful in downtown Greensboro. As the temperature was dropping from the mid 50s to the mid 30s, the full moon was rising. Above, is a photo of the moon over 324 South Elm Street. The photo was taken from South Greene Street looking, east, towards Elm and that highest ray of light in the sky was the moon. This was the first full moon of 2023, the Wolf Moon. The moon was position almost the farthest point from the earth, the opposite of a supermoon. The lens flare, creating the rays of light on the photo happened, by chance, creating a starry mood in the photo. 

If you celebrated Epiphany or Three Kings Day, or "El Día de los Reyes Magos", last night was a beautiful evening to celebrate those holidays. Happy Saturday! Let's see what today brings. See you at the farmers markets.

A Beautiful Fog, Hovering Over Greensboro

Winter months are the months somewhat devoid of color. The other three seasons in Greensboro are so vibrant and showy, winter is noticeably gray and plain. The above photo was taken yesterday in northwest Greensboro when fog was still lingering. It was heavy, affected visibility, and persisted until the afternoon, when the sun finally came out. This week, temperatures will range from the 30s to the 60s here, so it won't be that cold.  Last year on this day, it was about 20 degrees colder in Greensboro.  The above photo is actually a color photo. If you look closely, you can see green grass in the foreground and the taller, yellow-brown grass. The scene is calm and serene with emphasis on the bare tree branches. We've concluded January in Greensboro is the visual version of palate-cleansing- a neutral break between intensely colorful times.

Fog is predicted for today, also.  Be careful out there, and do something to enjoy the mild air, if you can. 

Happy Tuesday!

LeBauer Park on a Rainy Night

This is what LeBauer Park looks like on a cold, but above freezing, rainy night. There is a certain charm about its calm emptiness. The time was about 10:00 pm as we were leaving the Tanger Center. The one-night-only showing of the Hip Hop Nutcracker was last night. The troupe performed to a sold out crowd. Their 10th anniversary performance was spectacular. It is nice to park in the Church Street Parking Deck, because to get from the Tanger Center to the parking deck, you get to walk past the park.

LeBauer Park opened on August 8, 2016. In its 6 years, this 4-acre 10 million dollar park  has grown to be one of the major city-owned, gathering places for fun downtown. This is the location of the ice skating rink this winter. There is also a playground, fountains, and a dog park. The Janet Echleman polyethylene sculpture, suspended 130 feet above the park's great lawn, is a nod to Greensboro's textile history. It is always nice when a piece of art is made with the history of a city in mind. If someone is looking for a fun and meaningful project, consider taking a photo a day of LeBauer Park. It is beautiful in all weather conditions, and when empty as well as when full of people.

Happy Thursday!

A Lovely, Rainy Day in Glenwood

The above photo was taken a few days ago in the Glenwood neighborhood, on Hertford Street, just off Josephine Boyd Street on a rainy afternoon. The streets were shiny and the yellow leaves made it clear that fall has arrived. We love the way the teal truck cab stands out against the leaves. The owner is diligent about putting up the cones and parking the vehicle off the road. Glenwood is such a wonderful neighborhood on the south side of UNCG.

 is said to be the most diverse neighborhood in Greensboro. According to city data, it is 44.4% black and 42.6% white, 5% Hispanic, 4% Asian, 3.5% 2 or more races. This little neighborhood is only 1/2 square mile with a little over 2,000 residents and almost evenly balanced between males and females. See more city data HERE. They have a strong Facebook group and do a good job of looking out for each other and, at the same time, leaving each other alone. There seems to be a high tolerance for the rooster who is quick to let residents know when it is time to get up. Wonder how quickly he will adjust to the time change this weekend when we switch to local standard time!

Happy Thursday! Don't forget that tomorrow is First Friday. Hope to see you downtown.

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!