Last winter, on the coldest night of the year, I was scheduled to tell stories at the historic and vernacular South Danbury Christian Church. (Vernacular means not fancy but functional — I looked it up.) “Will people come out in the cold?” I asked Bonnie Nichols, the organizer. “They will,” she said. A -40 cold snap “wouldn't much bother hardy New Englanders.” Sure enough, the pews filled. But when I stepped up to the lectern, the electricity died. No lights. No heat. As the temperature dropped, listeners huddled in coats, hats and mittens for stories and laughter by candlelight. We stuck it out for a good hour, though the hall cleared out darned quick afterwards. As the saying goes: “It's not the most fun you'll ever have, but you'll probably survive it.” That's yankee optimism. In other news, our state Legislature has declared May 3 Old Man of the Mountain Day, 20 years after he fell off the side of Cannon Mountain. Which reminds me of another example of how something real bad can be turned into something not so bad. May 4, 2003, Ethel in Franconia called her sister Gert on the phone. “Something real bad happened,” she said ...

A booth dedicated to “man cave” pieces at Parker-French Antique Center in Northwood. It's hard to imagine driving past a rich field of buried treasure and never stopping to explore — yet thousands of people commuting along Route 4 do it every day. Route 4, aka First NH Turnpike, runs east-west from the Seacoast to Concord. The road mysteriously constricts at certain stretches, and rush hour is a great place to belt out profanities and refine your mobile hysteria. Should you need a break or an escape on your drive, Route 4's Antique Alley is a nationally-known treasure. Primarily located in Northwood, it is the home to some great shops, and while the numbers swell and contract depending on the economy, there are plenty of outlets that will accommodate your wide and assorted tastes. It is generally accepted that the term “antique” should only be applied to items that are at least 100 years old, with “vintage” and “collectible” sweeping up the rest and used to describe anything crafted later. Vintage toys, collectible lighters and antique snuff boxes are strict applications, but you will often find that the terms are applied rather loosely. In the Live Free State, such rules ...

By Ted Lenk As is often the case, there are more blooms to be seen on the cluster of bushes next to the Patch Cottage (before you get to the grove itself) than most anywhere in the grove, and most of those flowers may have fallen to the ground by the end of this coming weekend. But there are still many flowers in their full splendor as I write this on Wednesday 7/12. With this hot weather that is typical of July, things tend to happen in a hurry in the plant world, and the rhododendrons are no exception. Typical for this week-almost done, but still quite pretty. It has not been exactly too dry, so the grove at least feels a bit cooler than the surrounding area. You would think that with all the moisture, it may count for something. Maybe. A good flowerbud set for next year? We’ll see. By the bridge about halfway around the Rhodo Loop. If you look carefully and closely when you are there, you might notice that some (not all) of the blooms are white with no pink in the background. While it is true that most of the pink color (typically found) ...

David Bailey, SCA Interpretive Ranger When people think of summer vacation, images of campsites, hiking, and going to the beach may come to mind. We also think of these trips as only lasting a few days, maybe a week or sometimes two if we are lucky. Postcard showing a picture of the Mountain View House in Whitefield, NH. However, summer vacation looked much different during the 1850’s through the early 1900’s. During these times it was not uncommon for the wealthy to spend their entire summer staying at one of several grand hotels that could be found in the White Mountains. There were many reasons that this occurred. Some did it to escape the heat of the big cities and others did this as part of their social circles. During these times, the head of the household and supplier of most household income (typically male) would commute by train or carriage from their home in the cities to the grand hotels for a long weekend every few weeks. The other members of the family normally stayed for most of, if not the entire summer. It was also not uncommon for people to visit friends staying at other hotels in the ...

Joy Wetzel, SCA Interpretive Ranger Does your garbage bin frequently come close to overflowing? Do you hate having to buy expensive fertilizer for your garden? Are you constantly dealing with soil erosion in your backyard? If I told you there was an inexpensive and effective at-home way to resolve these problems, all while reducing your carbon footprint, would it sound too good to be true? Fortunately, this solution is real, and it’s called composting. What is Composting? Composting is a method of recycling organic waste into fertilizer with the help of fungi, bacteria, and insects. Organic waste is anything biodegradable that once came from a living thing (for example: food scraps, yard trimmings, paper, and manure). Through composting, you can return these materials to the earth. Why Should I Compost? Here are just a few reasons why composting is a great choice for your household: Save room in your trash. By relocating your household’s organic waste, you’ll find your garbage can at lower risk of overflowing. Give back to Mother Earth. Composting is the earliest form of recycling. All your organic waste came from the earth, and you can return it to the earth. Add nutrients to your soil. Say ...

New England Disabled Sports (NEDS) lives up to its slogan of “Where Boundaries are Broken.” NEDS offers a place for anyone of any ability to be active, and they’re passionate about doing it!  For those unfamiliar with NEDs, we’ve assembled some helpful details about the great work with help from Terry MacDonald, their Managing Director.  What is NEDS? NEDS is an organization located at the Loon Mountain Resort and the Bretton Woods Ski Resort that has been nationally recognized for its adaptive sport instruction work with adults and children that have either physical and cognitive disabilities.  This important non-profit is also a tailored effort for all abilities. “Each lesson is individualized for each specific student – it is not a group lesson. NEDS provides lessons to any individual with a disability, whether it’s a physical or cognitive disability. NEDS relies on donations and grant funds to purchase the most state-of-the-art equipment and to be able to provide affordable sports instruction. NEDS ensures that every person, regardless of ability or financial ability, has an equal opportunity to participate in sports and recreation in their community. We encourage people to think about accessibility and how to make the world more accessible and ...

Rebecca Durnick, SCA Interpretive Ranger Many of the spring wildflowers that bloom for a short period start wilting by July. Don’t let that get you down, the spring ephemerals (plants that are short-term) are making way for the summer plants. Some summer plants have already bloomed, but many are on their way. This blog will help you to identify some common summer wildflowers. You can find many of these plants at New Hampshire State Parks. Wood Sorrel (Cressler, Alan, May 05, 2015, Macon, NC, Nantahala National Forest, Mountain Woodsorrel, Northern Wood Sorrel) Wood sorrel (Oxalis montana) is a native wildflower to New England. It can be found low to the ground. The three smooth leaflets look like clover, but the heart shape sets it apart. Wood sorrel blooms in July. The flowers are white and pink striped. This plant can be found in the forest. Wood sorrel is shade tolerant and can be found under tree cover where other wildflowers are not present. Bunchberry   (Smith, R.W., May 24, 2012, Cheboygan, MI, Canadian Bunchberry) A classic Northeastern flower is the bunchberry (Cornus canadensis). Bunchberry can be found in a variety of habitats such as mixed forests, coniferous forests, and wetlands. This ...

By Ted Lenk Hey Folks- After a pretty wet June, it seems that the warm temps of this week are moving things right along in the grove. Typical for July in southwest New Hampshire. As you can see from the photos (from Wednesday 7/5), there is a lot of new green growth at the grove. This is quite normal for any spring, maybe a little more this year as a result of the extra moisture of June. A small view from the bridge halfway along the Rhododendron Loop Trail The amount of flower buds, though, is pretty low this year, due to the mystery of plants. A couple theories for this:  It is actually a fact, not a theory, that in most woody plants form their flower buds during the previous summer and fall. Was it a particularly dry summer last year? August 2022 was. Did that affect the formation of flower buds? Probably. A lot of vigorous new leafy growth-no flowers this year This year, as is often the case, there is a better show of blooms at the Patch Cottage than can be seen anywhere in the grove, with the possible exception of near the bridge about halfway ...

Emily Veh – SCA NH Corps – Discover the Power of Parks Interpretive Ranger If you’ve hiked in New Hampshire, you may have heard about New Hampshire’s 48 4,000 footers. The 4,000 footers are a list of 48 peaks that have an elevation of 4,000 feet or higher and prominence of at least 200 feet. Many hikers take on the challenge to hike all 48, and you can reach 7 of these mountains from trails in Franconia Notch State Park. These hikes are demanding and challenging and not to be taken lightly. If you attempt these hikes make sure you are well prepared. Check out the Hike Safe website (https://hikesafe.com/) for hiking essentials and safety. Cannon Mountain (4,100’) Difficulty: Moderately challenging Trails: Kinsman Ridge OR Lonesome Lake to Kinsman Ridge Distance: 4 mi (Kinsman Ridge); 6.2 mi (Lonesome Lake) While Cannon Mountain is one of the shorter 4k footer hikes, don’t let the mileage fool you. The climb up Cannon is steep, but you’ll receive incredible views of Franconia Notch and the Franconia Ridge as you approach the summit. Make sure to go up to the summit observation tower for 360° views. View looking east at the Franconia Ridge from ...

Every second Saturday of the month from May to October, Vernon Family Farm is open for live music from bands like High Range and Superfrog, and delicious local food from their very own farm-to-table restaurant, Vernon Kitchen. Photo by Whitewave Photography 603 History Hunt, Throughout July See New Hampshire in ways you never have before. Held during the month of July, the New Hampshire Historical Society's 603 History Hunt is a statewide scavenger hunt that tests your knowledge of the Granite State and takes you on the road to complete a series of challenges. Visit the world's longest candy counter, locate a scene from the movie “Jumanji,” or find an 8,000-year-old summer camp — all located right here in the Granite State. Choose which challenges to accept based on your own interests and abilities, with hundreds of challenges to choose from. It's a great activity for families, friends, couples or on your own, as people can participate as a team or as individuals. Prizes will be awarded in a variety of categories. Participation in the 603 History Hunt is free and open to the general public. This event is sponsored by Merrimack County Savings Bank. nhhistory.org Vernon Family Farm Live ...

Dan Guider, SCA Interpretive Ranger So, you’re thinking of hiking Mt. Monadnock? That’s awesome! As an SCA Interpretive Ranger, I’m very lucky to be able to hike it almost every day and appreciate the nature and views it has to offer. Mt. Monadnock is one of the most hiked mountains in the world, and there is a vast diversity of hiker experience on the mountain. I’ve encountered people preparing to hike the Rockies, people who have never hiked before, as well as people who run up and down the mountain every day.  There are three primary trails to choose from: the White Dot, White Cross, and White Arrow. Each trail varies in steepness and difficulty, but there are some general principles to keep in mind no matter which one you choose. One of the most important things to do while hiking is one of the most overlooked… hydration! Drinking enough fluids can make or break a hike and it’s always important to have an adequate supply with you. For Mt. Monadnock, I carry at least 3.5 liters of water (3.5 Nalgene brand water bottles, to put it in perspective). I might not always drink all of it, but I always ...

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