Jose and Ed playing

Delightful concert of Spanish bagpipes and guitar on the lawn at the home of my friends.

Wong Park playground

Wong Park at Bennett Hill is near downtown and is a popular place for small events.

House on E. Roanoke St.

This house is on a quiet section of E. Roanoke St.

Cafe at Champs

A restaurant that has an entrance on Main St. has a patio near the Farmers' Market at Draper Road and W. Roanoke St.

Jo's Robin

This robin has set up housekeeping at the home of my friend.

Waterways through town

The development of Blacksburg centered around several creeks. This one is still visible in the center of town.

Vegetable garden underway

A classic vegetable garden must have been put in by an experienced gardener.

Arboretum

The arboretum has a path to allow visitors to enjoy the plantings. It is maintained by volunteers.

Seven Chimneys House

Seven Chinmeys House got its name because it does have that many chimneys. A historic building at the corner of Draper Rd. and Washington St., it is used for town government offices.

Water tanks

Water tanks are located above an older section of town. The second and third tanks were added to increase capacity.

Ryan Clark memory house

The Marching Virginians, a Virginia Tech band, is building this home in memory of former band member Ryan Clark. He was killed in the April 2007 tragedy. Other community groups are involved in the construction. It is on Cedar Hill Dr.

Creative arts

Someone added a garden to a stop sign leading on to East Roanoke St. This is at the corner of East Roanoke and Lee sts.

Almost empty alley

An alley way connects Main St. and Draper Road.

Looking east this morning

Trees along the corner of East Roanoke and Fincastle streets.

Shop on Main St.

Blacksburg is quiet after Virginia Tech's graduation events. Many students leave the community.

Sister City Exhibit

Blacksburg's sister city is San Jose de Bocay in Nicaragua. This is a small exhibit in a building just off Main St.

Virginia Tech commencement day

Blacksburg is a "company town." Today there was a major Virginia Tech event, commencement. It brought lots of traffic and visitors.

YMCA Community Garden

Families who use the community plots have started to work on their areas, cleaning and getting the soil ready for their gardens. The garden is on East Roanoke St.

Ducks on golf course

After several days of rain, the Virginia Tech Golf Course attracted ducks from the nearby Duck Pond and many golfers.

Bogan's entrance

The entrance to Bogan's takes customers past real Dogwood trees.

Outdoor cafes are welcoming

Gillie's, a restaurant that has been in Blacksburg for many years, fits outdoor dining along the sidewalk.

Coordinated Town Decor

Blacksburg's downtown has matching bike racks, street lamps, trash containers. Trees take shapes of their own.

Business with international sign

There is a restaurant on Jackson St. with this sign.

A major part of downtown business

Downtown Blacksburg has many restaurants which need supplies.

Sidewalk on Draper Road

This is a historic corner along Draper Road. Once it was the site of one of the first schools for girls.

Harding Avenue tree

Harding is a major road to Roanoke. This small tree is next to the former St. Mary's Church which is now a Methodist Education Center.

Bicentennial bricks

To celebrate its bicentennial, the town offered the chance to have names permanently in place along a walking trail. The trail goes past sites important it the development of Blacksburg.

Art show banner on Draper Rd.

The banner to promote a show at the Armory Art Gallery.

Corner of Main and College

This corner is at the "heart" of Downtown.

Falling blossoms

Some of the blossoms of this tree at the corner of East Roanoke and Owens streets are in mid-air; many decorate the ground. It was like confetti at a party.

Historic marker on Main St.

A description of the start of Blacksburg is on the historic marker.