In the Garden

The theme for August is "Garden."  

The eggplant is still blooming.  

The tomatoes are setting on.   It's a race to get them before the squirrels do.

The dill is going to seed.

The cucumbers are keeping the bees happy, and the bees are returning the favor.

 

The Reverend Plummer T Hall house

 Reverent Plummer T Hall was born into slavery in 1849.  By 1875 he was a student at Shaw University.  He became the first minister of the Oberlin Baptist Church.  He built this house in 1877 when he married Della Mallory.  It is now the headquarters of Preservation NC.  (see here)

 

Oberlin Village

The Graves-Fields House, built in 1885 by Willis M and Elenore Hinton Graves, both formerly enslaved, sits on Oberlin Road.  It has been moved from it's original location and restored by Preservation NC. 

  Oberlin Village began before the end of the civil war as a freedman's village.  It was named after Oberlin College, the alma mater of the founder of the village, James H. Harris.  The village has been annexed and surrounded by Raleigh, but the community is still working to keep the heritage alive.  (see here)

 

Snoopy

"Snoopy"  is one of the last remaining sculptures by a plasterer named George Morris.  After retirment he began creating large fanciful sculptures that he set around on his farm.  After his death, the farm was sold and Preservation NC moved the pink dog to a place on Oberlin road.

(See here for more of the story.)

 

Goodnights

Goodnights is a stand up comedy club in the village district.  This mural sits on the wall outside the club.

 

Does it really?

Entrance to a parking lot, Village District.

 

Sidewalk sign

Wise words.

 What are we planting today?

 

Artsy

The Village district is a pretty classy shopping area.  Even the magazine stands are special.

 

More Pigs

What is it about pigs in North Carolina?  There are often pigs advertising restaurants, and now, this pig is sitting in the window of an antiques shop.  He doesn't look too old.

 

Cafe life

A detail of the mural on the side of the Cafe Carolina & Bakery. 

This is only about half of the whole mural.  It won't all fit in a picture.

 

The Village

The Village District is a very large shopping area.  Formerly called Cameron Village, the name was changed in 2021 to distance itself from the Cameron family, the largest enslavers in North Carolina before the civil war. (See here)

It opened in 1949 and was the first shopping center built between Washington DC and Atlanta.  It's usually a busy place but the heat has chased everyone indoors.

 

Looong

No, I didn't stretch out this picture, the limo really was that long!

I wonder where he parks and how he turns corners.

 

Stay cool

Even the birds are feeling the heat.

 

Lone tree

It looked so lonely by itself.

 

Bullfrog

We always look for frogs in the wetlands.  This one was quietly waiting for flies.

 

Not welcome

This lovely little flower is a Chameleon Plant.  It comes from Asia and is very invasive.   An article from Southern Living magazine says that the only way to get rid of it is to "Set off a tactical nuclear weapon in your garden. Pave over your garden with a foot of concrete."(see here)

We found it growing wild on the banks of a wetland.  It has already invaded!

 

Swallow

The swallows are back at Lake Lynn.  This one rested long enough to pose for a picture.

 

Native but invasive?

Can a native plant be invasive?  The orange trumpet vine would qualify.  Wikipedia calls it's growth vigorous, and says ruthless pruning is recommended.  (See here)

 

Dragons

In the summer heat, it's dragonfly season again.

 

Last Goose?

What is a French goose doing in a Raleigh lake?  The local legend is that a man let a flock of Toulouse geese  free in the lake.  Every year we see fewer and fewer of them.  This year we could only find one. 

Wikipedia says they were raised for foie gras (see here).  So maybe someone has been snacking.

 

 

Infinity rocks

We discovered this rock figure a few years ago.  It could have been a secret society that built it, or a colony of wiccan.  But it looks like they haven't been back.  It's losing it's definition.

 

Gray Catbird

Catbirds have the most annoying call (like a dying cat or distressed baby) and the most beautiful song (like a mockingbird).  This one was singing his heart out.

See here to hear what I mean.

 

Jewel Weed

The leaves on the jewel weed plant were wilting in the heat. 

(See here for more on the plant)

 

The Art Box

The art box sits on a busy corner.  Most people see it as they drive by.  I finally parked and took a good look.  The art changes but right now it's a piece called Triple Delight.  (see here).

 

The Best

This is another mural that I couldn't find information on.  But I did find the artist.  (see here)

 

Taking Wing

This mural is called "Taking Wing,"  It covers both sides of the wall going down into the parking garage basement.  It's hard to photograph since the traffic gets in the way. (See here)

It starts with a paper airplane.

Travels on.

Goes past a tree,

 then crosses to the other side of the ramp, and becomes a biplane.

New art

This is a new mural in North Hills.  I couldn't find information on the mural, but here's info about the artist.  

 

Strong

Around another corner I found this encouraging message.  (see here)

This one reminds me of a tapestry.

 

Enjoy Raleigh

Around the corner from Madonna and Child,  I found this mural.  It is a view from Dorthea Dix park toward downtown Raleigh.  (see here)

 

Madonna

I went on an art walk in North Hills shopping district.  First up was this sculpture., called Madonna and Child. (see here)  

I've driven by it several times and I thought it was just a fancy lightpost.  

 

Garden Gate

A lazy old sun.