SkyWatch Friday: Early August Sunset

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Nature Notes and Our World - an edible garden for people and wildlife

The last week in July was blessed with pleasant temperatures so I was able to go on lunchtime walks.

On the other side of the Farmer's Market area from Grace Garden is another small garden.

This garden is sponsored by Seeds whose mission is to teach respect for life, for the earth and for each other through gardening and growing food.  Located in the heart of Downtown Durham, we are an urban sanctuary focused on promoting principles and practice of sustainable agriculture, organic gardening, food security and environmental steward ship.

Seeds has the following programs: Children's Gardening and Cooking Programs including camps and after school programs that teach about pollinators, growing and cooking food, and making art in the garden; Durham Inner-city Gardeners (DIG) which empowers teens by teaching organic gardening, sound business practices, healthy food choices and food security values. The program emphasizes sustainable living and growing practices, ecological balance, and the natural recycling of organic materials for plant health and nourishment; Seeds Community Gardeners - a program with 30 garden plots available for lease.

For more information the seeds website can be visited by clicking here.  I like the way the sign at the small seeds garden in the Durham, NC Park says that the garden is for everyone (wildlife and people) to enjoy. I'll have to be sure to get some grapes after they ripen. The wildlife doesn't need permission but I like the fact that they are included on the sign.

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Today's Flowers: Lunch Hour Walks

The last week in July was remarkable for having pleasant temperatures.

Ordinarily, July is very hot in the NC piedmont where I live. Most of the month was hot and humid.

This week was an exception with spring like temperatures and I took advantage of that by walking during lunch.

These shots were taken on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Until this week, I've been eating while I worked inside which I do when it's very hot outside.

It was nice to be able to enjoy some fresh air for a change.

Although it was hot until this week, frequent rain has kept most of the flowers looking fresh.

I hope August will be pleasant. In recent years July has been the hottest month and August has been much cooler. 

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The Weekend in Black and White: Downtown Durham NC lunch break walk

I like the contrast between the weathered bricks and the contemporary sign.

In addition to indoor seating this restaurant also has tables in the courtyard. I haven't eaten there and didn't even know about the restaurant but I was going on a walk during a lunch break and it caught my eye for photographs. It's in the historic warehouse district in Durham, NC, USA. The company I work for converted several buildings in this district for offices and it's interesting to see other uses that these buildings have been put to.

 Below is a color version of the shot above.  I've been having to work in Durham more lately. I live in Raleigh and my house is 32 miles from the Durham office so not too far but I've been able to work primarily from home until recently so it is an adjustment. For the past few months my new schedule is working in the office 3 days a week and from home on Friday and Monday. I have enjoyed having some different photo ops and this week has been cool enough to walk during lunch.

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