Big leaves

These trees are in the front yard of a home on Harding Ave.

Lumenhaus Open House

Lumenhaus, Virginia Tech's entry in an energy competition, had open house today. This is a central control panel for a home that is completely powered by the sun. Students involved have had an extraordinary experience working on this interdisciplinary project.

Near Smithfield Plantation

Tucked away below the main structure of Smithfield Plantation, is this small building. It seems that it is occupied by a family.

Cemetery

Many old cemeteries are tucked away among the fields. There is an organization that works to preserve the historic cemeteries.

Study in green and blue

The "corn is as high as an elephant's eye, and it looks like its climbing clear up to the sky." Here in Blacksburg, not just Oklahoma.

Trees by Price House

Summer shadows at the Price House, one of the historic homes.

Big Dog and the Fat Cats

Street festivals bring out talented community members.

Virginia Tech colors

Blacksburg welcomes the Virginia Tech students by planting flowers of the university's colors--orange and maroon--by one of the government buildings.

Mariners in the rain

Appalachian League baseball team, Pulaski Mariners has had a lot of rainy weather this season. The tarp was still covering the field when I went home. The game was canceled later.

Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets

Virginia Tech's Corps of Cadets celebrates the start of the academic year with a formal parade. The new freshman members swear to follow the honor code.

College Ave. by the Lyric theatre

Scene on a busy downtown street.

Lincoln Zephyr

This 1939 engine seems symmetrical.

Mediteranian Restaurant

One of the Main St. restaurants.

Lumenhaus being put together

Lumenhaus is in a shopping center parking lot on Main St. It is Virginia Tech's entry in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon competition in September. Visitors will be able to see it completely when it is in Washington DC, but the outside is visible here.

Road repair

The resurfacing of Prices Fork Road stopped traffic this morning.

Katherine Von Bora House

Beautiful home is part of Luther Memorial Lutheran Church on Prices Fork Road.

Black Box Theatre

Virginia Tech's new theatre is on College Ave.

Bird at my house

For reasons I don't understand, this bird spent hours tapping on my window. When the bird wasn't tapping, it stayed around. I had to try to take a photo.

Reflections of Main St.

The windows of Kent Square on the Main St. side.

Landmark tree history

The tree which can be seen in the 1880s photo, is still near Main St. It is suffering from a fungal disease.

House on Draper Road

Just a house that seems a residence in the midst of a business area.

Blacksburg arboretum

The path provides a shady place to walk through the Blacksburg Arboretum.

Hybrid vehicle

A hybrid vehicle appears much more intricate than a 1931 Ford Model A. This view is of the battery system in the rear of the car.

Ford Model A Engine

A car show at the dedication of the Blacksburg Motor Co. Building featured this 1931 Ford Model A Slant Windshield Town Sedan.

New Historic Building for town government

A ribbon-cutting ceremony officially opened a new government building which is a historic building, the Blacksburg Motor Co. It was first opened in 1924. Now this is a LEED certified and a historic building in downtown. The ribbon-cutting was one of the first events of the Steppin' Out street festival.

Steppin' Out

Steppin' Out Street fair always features its logo on tshirts. It has been a great logo every year.

Downtown is quiet

At this time of year, there is very little traffic in the downtown area. So, the businesses organized an annual street fair that will be held this weekend.

Pond by Southgate Dr.

I could not find any name for this pond at the corner of Southgate Dr. and Duck Pond Dr. It is several blocks from the Duck Pond, which is a major landmark.

Corn field

Corn on the cob is especially delicious when it is fresh out of the field.

Preston Cemetery

The Preston family influenced the development of Virginia as well as Blacksburg. The family lived at Smithfield Plantation at least by 1782. It included several governors and other officials.

Historic building turned business

The former Masonic Hall is now the Beaux Arts Galleria.