A little over a week ago, we made a quick trip to Greensboro for a car show on Saturday. We drove over Friday so we could have some fun on the way. The first stop was the Greensboro Arboretum. This is a lovely small arboretum and park on a narrow strip of land between a housing development and a freeway. Once inside, though, you wouldn’t know it. The park and the parking are free.
Long paved trails take visitors past well tended flower beds.
Being mid-summer, there wasn’t a lot blooming, but the greenery was lovely.
A small stream runs through the park, with softly murmuring water.
I think these are a variety of hibiscus, they love heat. I liked the purity of the white.
The pollinator garden was huge, and full of bees and butterflies.
Coneflowers, daylilies, and butterfly bushes were prolifically blooming.
A lovely arbor covered walkway was grown over in green vines.
A pink butterfly bush phlox was very attractive to this lovely Eastern Yellow Swallowtail butterfly.
A bit farther down, a dragonfly sculpture was a surprise delight.
The form of this Japanese maple was really interesting, almost bonsai.
After an hour or so in the heat and humidity, we were ready to head on. On the way out, I spotted this interesting shrub with some very unusual flowers.
There was no identifying marker, so I have no idea what it is. Unusual flower, isn’t it?
We were booked at the Grandover Resort with the car show group.
There were lovely grounds with a pretty fountain.
Beautiful flower beds were all over grounds, around the parking area and along the streets.
Inside a most spectacular lobby just inside the slowly revolving door.
Yes, this was a real orchid in full bloom. The blooms were huge.
The show was called the Fiat Freak Out, which I thought was a cute name for the Fiat owners car show.
Arriving in our room, hot and sweaty from the day, it was a delight to find those thick terrycloth robes for our use. A hot shower was in order.
The next morning, we went to the show field adjacent to the hotel to see about 100 Fiats of various vintage and models. We didn’t put our car in the show, we just went to see what was there.
It was stifling hot (even in the morning it was in the 90s), but DH enjoyed seeing the cars. We went down every row, then it just was too hot to stay in the sun, so we headed out.
Our last stop of the weekend was the International Civil Rights Center and Museum in downtown Greensboro. It is housed in the actual Woolworth building where the Greensboro Four did the first sit-in for equal rights. Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, Ezell Blair, Jr. and David Richmond began their peaceful protest at the Woolworth’s lunch counter on February 1, 1960. The tour took over an hour and was profoundly moving, disturbing and yet ultimately inspirational. The courage and bravery these young men showed during this time of our history was incredible. You have to see what they were up against to begin to comprehend. That they kept going for months, inspiring others to do the same, spreading across our land is just phenomenal. There is no way anyone who didn’t live it could really ever understand, but I honestly think that every person in America should see it. No pictures were allowed inside, so I couldn’t bring you more of it. If you are ever in Greensboro, NC, make it part of your trip.
On Friday, I’ll show you the other really fun stop of the trip, which needed an entire post all to itself. Have you had any short trips for fun this summer?
From My Carolina Home 
Your photographs are so memorable and beautiful…serious talent there. I look forward to what you chat about and reading your blog. Helps me begin my day on the right foot.
I’m not positive, but that mystery flower might be a variety of what we call “sweet shrub” because the leaves smell sweet. I looked it up and found the Latin name, Calycanthaceae. It has flowers shaped like that.
Very interesting post Carole….thank you for all the details you shared.
I am amazed at your ability to be out in the heat and humidity at all! I would have melted in the first 10 minutes. That hotel was something, very pampering!
Beautiful trip and pics, Carole! That unknown bush you photographed reminds me of my aunt’s sweetshrub bush. Hers was a little darker than this, if I remember correctly (it’s been a LONG time!!) but I’m sure there are other varieties. Hers was the only one I remember seeing in my lifetime, so your pic evoked some great memories. I do remember how wonderful it smelled! Thanks for sharing!
you must be able to tolerate the heat and humidity well – I tend to wilt quickly. I do love to go through museums and agree everyone should see the museums that show the fight for equality – once you see them and read about – most tend to understand what it is all about
Oh, heavens no!! I do not tolerate heat at all!!! I hate it!
Thanks for sharing your outing with us. LOVE the Grandover!! We were there for our anniversary last year. They occasionally have Spa Specials. Definitely something worth watching for!
Love reading about your adventures! Your photos just want me to visit the area. Thank You so much.
I am with Kathy – H&H terrible for getting out, but you hung in there and captured some beautiful pictures for all to enjoy! Thx for sharing! Hugs
What fun! I love Greensboro, I used to have family there! Love your car club trips!
Jenna
We visit friends in Greensboro every March on our way home from FL. We’ve driven by the Civil Rights Museum on a driving tour of downtown, but have not yet gone in. We need to do that. And I’d love to go to the Arboretum but there probably wouldn’t be much to see that early in the year. I think the purple plant you identified as a butterfly bush is actually a phlox and I have no clue about the mystery flower.
Pat
Fantastic! Will add these locations to my trip list next time I am in the area. Wonderful photography, always such a joy to scroll through and learn new things. Thanks so much for sharing! ❤
What a lovely trip!
What a lovely short trip that encompassed so much!
Great trip to the arboretum thanks for sharing. It is wonderful too, to be able to learn the history of the local area.
The garden looks like a refreshing spot, and lovely hotel. I’d be thinking “how fast can I buzz through 100 cars?” out in that open field- not a shade tent in sight. You were troopers, and so were the exhibitors who had to stay for the duration. I’ve heard Greensboro is an interesting place to visit- thanks for sharing the tours.
I have not had any trips, short or otherwise, but early Sept. and early Oct. are scheduled. =) I’m more of a fall tripper, I guess. Thanks for sharing the beautiful gardens. I especially liked that first one. I was just in 7th grade, moving from Maryland to Arizona, as my father retired in December of 1959. The sit-ins, and later marches, etc., were on the news all the time. The Huntley-Brinkley show on NBC. Chet and David brought us our nightly news. My family cheered the changes, but I had friends whose families were not so happy. A time for many discussions. =)
The arboretum looks like a real gem! We had that awful stifling weather too. Today was the first day of much cooler weather. I saw people with sweaters on today even though it is just normal summer weather now.
Beautiful pictures of the garden! Your pictures are my favorite reason for following your blog. Like your quilts too. Thank you!