Category: Outdoors

Kiddie Pool 25/05/15

Family fun for whenever

STEM fun

• Family STEM Day, presented by Brian S. McCarthy Memorial Foundation, will showcase more than 25 local science, technology, engineering and math programs and organizations on Saturday, May 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at World Academy, 138 Spit Brook Road in Nashua, according to a press release. The day will feature hands-on exhibits, interactive demonstrations and more, the release said. The event is free to attend and also will also feature food trucks, the release said.

Fish fun

• The Amoskeag Fishways Learning & Visitor Center (4 Fletcher St. in Manchester; find them on Facebook) was slated to open for the season on May 12. See fish on the move Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free.

Theater fun

• The Mo Willems book comes alive when Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus hits the stage at Stockbridge Theatre in Derry on Friday, May 16, at 10 a.m. Tickets cost $12. See stockbridgetheatre.showare.com

• The Emperor’s New Clothes is presented by the Majestic Academy Youth/Teens at the Majestic Theatre, 880 Page St., Manchester, majestictheatre.net, on Friday, May 16, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, May 17, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 18, at 2 p.m. at the Majestic Theatre (880 Page St. in Manchester; majestictheatre.net). Tickets cost $10 to $15.

• Disney’s Moana Jr. is presented by Bedford Youth Performing Company at the Goffstown High School Theatre on Saturday, May 17, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 18, at 1 p.m. Find the link to purchase tickets via BYPC’s Facebook page.

• The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical will be presented by Kids Coop Theatre (kctnh.org) at Derry Opera House (29 W. Broadway in Derry) on Friday, May 16, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, May 17, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, May 18, at 2 p.m. See derryoperahouse.org for links to tickets.

Book fun

• Calista Brill will discuss her new graphic novel Creaky Acres(written with and illustrated by Nilah Magruder)at the Barnes & Noble in Manchester (1741 S. Willow St., bn.com) on Saturday, May 17, from noon to 3 p.m. An excerpt of the novel was one of the books you might have picked up on Free Comic Book Day a few weeks ago. On to the Barnes & Noble website Creaky Acres is described as “[a] heartwarming graphic novel about being the new kid in middle school, making new friends, and learning to trust yourself through the power of horseback riding.”

• Children’s authors Kari Allen (whose latest book is Maddie and Mabel Make a Friend) and Carrie Kruck (whose latest book is Alfred Blooms) will attend a storytime on Sunday, May 18, at 1 p.m. at Gibson’s Bookstore (45 S. Main St. in Concord; gibsonsbookstore.com). They will sign copies of their books after storytime.

Annual flowers for summer blooms

Start slowly and save your back

By Henry Homeyer

listings@hippopress.com

It’s April, and spring has sprung. Or will soon. Winter always is a sneaky devil, coming back with hard frosts and even a foot of snow on occasion. There is much to do, but start slowly, not just for your back, which has been resting all winter, but because a week of warm sunny days doesn’t mean your soil is warm enough to plant. A soil thermometer pushed 3 inches into the soil should read 50 degrees before planting anything, even spinach and so-called cold-weather crops.

As you move around your garden you will probably notice that the soil is moist. If you are leaving footprints in the lawn or garden soil, stay off it until it dries out more. Otherwise you can ruin soil structure by compacting it.

You can put down 6-inch planks as walkways in flower beds if you are determined to weed or to remove leaves and debris while the soil is still a bit wet. But even then, be careful. There may be little green noses of perennials or bulbs lurking under the leaves and you won’t want to damage them by putting a plank on them.

I’ve had snowdrops up and blooming since March, as I do every year. By April I have lots of bulbs blooming: crocus, glory-of-the-snow, scilla or squill (a deep purple early bloomer), winter aconite (a bright yellow, short-stemmed beauty) and early daffodils. If you don’t have enough bulbs blooming, imagine where they might go, and put plant labels there for fall planting. A south-facing hillside bed will produce blossoms up to three weeks before a north-facing bed.

I plant 100 tulips as cut flowers every year. If you planted some last fall and have deer in the neighborhood, you may be disappointed to see them eaten just as they are starting to bloom. I prevent this by surrounding and covering my tulip bed with chicken wire before that happens. I plant my tulips in the vegetable garden each fall, and treat them as annuals.

Once your lawn has dried out, it will need a good raking to clean up the winter debris. I like to wait until the lawn has greened up a bit before raking. I don’t want to rake a dormant lawn as it would be easy to damage it with a brisk raking. Think of your lawn as individual plants growing very close together, not as one big green plant. They compete with each other and with crabgrass and weeds. A sprinkling of good compost will improve your soil, giving the lawn a better place to thrive.

I recommend reducing the size of most lawns. Think of a lawn as an area rug, not wall-to-wall carpeting. That will allow you to have a bigger vegetable garden and more places for native trees, shrubs and perennials that will support pollinators and birds. Do you know that caterpillars are essential food for baby birds? We need to provide flowers and trees that the butterflies and moths recognize and use — our natives.

I recommend raised beds for the vegetable garden, but you don’t have to build or buy wooden boxes for raised beds. When the soil has dried out, loosen it with a garden fork, and then use a short-tined rake to drag soil from walkways onto your designated beds to raise them up 6 inches or so. A 30-inch-wide bed is ideal — it’s wide enough for roots to spread far and wide, yet you will be able to reach all parts for weeding.

Adding compost to your soil every year will improve it greatly over time. An inch of compost works wonders if you do it every year. Buy it in bulk if you have access to a pickup truck, or buy bags if you don’t. And for my tomatoes? I always add a shovel of compost in every planting hole and stir it in well with my favorite weeding tool, the CobraHead weeder (cobrahead.com). Compost not only provides essential minerals in small quantities; it greatly improves soil texture and its ability to hold water in dry times.

Some people hate weeding, some love it. Either way, it has to be done. Start before the weeds get big. Perennial weeds like dandelions or thistles will already have deep roots. Annual weeds will be tiny but numerous. I believe the best tool for either is the CobraHead weeder. Its curved metal digging tip can loosen the soil around deep roots and help you pull from below with the tool while your other hand tugs on the top. Pull gently, slowly. You don’t want to snap off the root, as it will just start growing as soon as you walk away. Annual weeds you can loosen by scuffing the soil lightly.

As you plan your garden, think about buying organically certified starter plants and seeds. Why? Ordinary seed growers feed their plants with liquid fertilizer every day. That means that the plants don’t have to work as hard as organically raised plants to get the minerals they need. Organic practices promote longer roots to get the nutrition needed by the plants. If you are going to grow organic food, you will do best with organic starter plants.

Organic seed producers have to deliver seeds for plants that will not be protected from diseases and pests with chemicals. They have to be tough. Lastly, buying organic seeds and plants supports organic farmers. They are working hard to protect the environment by avoiding chemicals. Pay a little bit more if you can, and buy organic.

And remember: Gardening is supposed to be fun. Don’t work so hard you get blisters and a sore back. Garden a little every day.

Henry can be reached at henry.homeyer@comast.net or PO Box 364, Cornish Flat, NH 03746.

Featured photo: Lisianthus comes in several colors and lasts forever in a vase. Photo by Henry Homeyer.

Kiddie Pool 25/05/08

Family fun for whenever

Faire time

• The New Hampshire Renaissance Faire, which bills itself as a “family-friendly, educational, visual, theatrical and fantastical event,” will run two weekends in Fremont — this weekend Saturday, May 10, and Sunday, May 11, as well as the weekend of May 17 and May 18. Tickets, which can be purchased at nhrenfaire.com, cost $20 for adults and $15 for ages 6 to 12 and for military and veterans, the website said. Kids ages 5 and under get in for free. The event includes performers across several stages, as well as archery, craft demonstrations, tea with the queen, knights and pirates and theme days — May 10 is “Pirates Vs. Ninja” and May 11 is “Celtic Vs. Norse,” according to the website, where you can also find a list of participating vendors, food vendors, games and more.

Outdoor time

• Petals in the Pines (126 Baptist Road in Canterbury; petalsinthepines.com) officially opens for the season on Saturday, May 10. Featuring 7 acres of native plants and natural features as well as garden beds, Petals in the Pines will be open Wednesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. See the website for a look at the trails, gardens and labyrinths.

• Charmingfare Farm (774 High St. in Candia; visitthefarm.com) will offer moms free admission on Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 11) when accompanied by children.

Storytime

• Authors David J. Preece and Jim Webber will celebrate their book Mr. Higgins to the Rescue, the latest in their series about the Scottish terrier Mr. Higgins, on Saturday, May 10, at 11:30 a.m. atBookery Manchester (844 Elm St. in Manchester; bookerymht.com). RSVP online to reserve a spot.

Movie time

• The recently releasedMinecraft(PG, 2025) starring Jack Black and Dwayne Johnson will screen on Tuesday, May 13, at Chunky’s Cinema Pub (707 Huse Road in Manchester; chunkys.com) in two sensory-friendly screenings — 11:30 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. For both of these screenings the sound will be turned down and the lights will be up, according to the website.

Game time

• The Fisher Cats continue a series of games at Delta Dental Stadium in downtown Manchester against the Hartford Yard Goats with games Thursday, May 8, at 6:35 p.m. (with a koozie giveaway); Friday, May 9, at 6:35 p.m.; Saturday, May 10, at 4:05 p.m. and Sunday, May 11, at 1:35 p.m. with a Mother’s Day celebration and a visor giveaway, the website said. See milb.com/new-hampshire.

Library time

• The Derry Public Library (64 E. Broadway in Derry; derry.org) will host a puzzle swap on Wednesday, May 14, at 6 p.m. Donate a puzzle, take a puzzle or both, according to the website, where you can register for the event (or call 432-6140).

The Friends of the Derry Libraries are also holding a book sale on Saturday, May 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• The Manchester City Library (405 Pine St. in Manchester; manchester.lib.nh.us) will hold a Bug Hunt for ages 1 to 5 on Tuesday, May 13, at 10 a.m. Kids can listen to bug stories, play games, make a bug craft and then head outside for bug hunt-related activities, according to the website. Register online or by calling 624-6550, ext. 7628.

The library will also hold a Family Game Night featuring different board games and puzzles on Tuesday, May 13, from 4 to 7:30 p.m.

And on Wednesday, May 14, from 10 to 11 a.m. the library will host Storytime Science for ages 2 to 6 featuring Ms. Yvonne and Ms. Amanda from the SEE Science Center, according to the library’s website. The storytime will have a STEM/STEAM theme and include a hands-on activity, according to the website, where you can register for the event (registration required). Or register by calling 624-6550, ext. 7628.

Kiddie Pool 25/05/01

Family fun for whenever

Spring carnival

• The Manchester Spring Carnival runs Wednesday, April 30, through Sunday, May 4, opening at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, 2 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, according to fiestashows.com/fs/manchester. The carnival takes place in the JFK Coliseum parking lot at 303 Beech St. in Manchester. The carnival features more than 15 rides, game concessions and food concessions, the website said. Admission costs $5 per person (free for ages 12 and under), with additional prices for wristbands or megapasses for games. See the website for hours, rules and ride passes.

Pup performers

• Catch the talented dog performers of Mutts Gone Nuts! at the Dana Center at Saint Anselm College in Manchester on Saturday, May 3, at 4 p.m. Tickets cost $45 at tickets.anselm.edu. Get a sense of the show, where dogs do flips, leaps and tricks and even appear to dance, at muttsgonenuts.com.

Library fun

• Check out the all-ages Escape Room at the Nashua Public Library (2 Court St. in Nashua; nashualibrary.org) running Wednesday, April 30, and Thursday, May 1, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day, according to the website. “Your trip to the library to play board games goes awry when you become a pawn in the game. Can you find all the clues, discover the secrets, and escape the board game before the room needs to be cleaned by the librarians?” the website said. The game takes about 15 minutes, the website said.

• The Manchester City Library (405 Pine St. in Manchester; manchester.lib.nh.us) will hold a May the Fourth Eve Star Wars Party on Saturday, May 3, from 10 a.m. to noon, according to the website. This all-ages drop-in event will feature Star Wars-themed crafts and activities, lightsaber training and Star Wars trivia, according to the website.

• Meet a box turtle and learn about wildlife conservation from a field biologist at Zoo New England on Saturday, May 3, at 2 p.m. at the Nashua Public Library (2 Court St. in Nashua; nashualibrary.org). The event is for all ages, according to the library website.

Kiddie Pool 25/04/24

Family fun for whenever

Vacation day at the museum

• The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road in Londonderry; aviationmuseumofnh.org) is open two extra days for April school vacation. The museum will be open Monday, April 28, and Tuesday, April 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in addition to the regular hours, which are Wednesdays through Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 4 p.m. Admission costs $10 for ages 13 and up, $5 for ages 6 to 12 and for veterans, active military and 65+, and free for kids 5 and under.

• There’s an extra day to see SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St. in Manchester; see-sciencecenter.org): Monday, April 28, for April school vacation in addition to its regular Tuesday-through-Sunday days of operation. SEE is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. Admission costs $14 for ages 3 and up.

• The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord; starhop.com) is also open daily Wednesday, April 16, through Sunday, May 4, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $13 for adults, $12 for 62+ and ages 13 through college, $10 for ages 3 to 12 and free for ages 2 and under. Planetarium shows are an additional $7 for ages 3 and up.

Game time

• The Fisher Cats will kick off a series of games at Delta Dental Stadium in downtown Manchester against the Portland Sea Dogs on Tuesday, April 29, with a 6:35 p.m. game. Other games are Wednesday, April 30, at 5:05 p.m. (Waggin’ Wednesday, when leashed dogs can come to the park); Thursday, May 1, at 6:35 p.m. (with a koozie giveaway); Friday, May 2, at 6:35 p.m. (Grateful Dead Night), and Sunday, May 4, at 1:35 p.m. (Cats Con — “game will celebrate our favorite movies, comic books, heroes, villains … featuring characters from Double Midnight Comics!”), the website said. See milb.com/new-hampshire.

Bout time

• Check out the double-header season opener for NH Roller Derby on Saturday, April 26, at JFK Memorial Coliseum (303 Beech St. in Manchester). Doors open at 3:30 p.m. At 4 p.m. it’s the NH Roller Derby Cherry Bombs vs. Twin State Derby’s Bandits, and at 6 p.m. it’s an open gender mixed scrimmage (for A level experienced skaters ages 18+; sign up online), according to nhrollerderby.com. Tickets at the door cost $15 for adults, $5 for veterans and NH Roller Derby vets and kids 12 and under get in free, the website said.

Family fun

• Chunky’s (707 Huse Road in Manchester; chunkys.com) has upcoming family game nights. On Saturday, April 26, at 6 p.m. it’s a family trivia night about Bluey. On Sunday, April 27, at 1 p.m., and Friday, May 2, at 6:45 p.m., it’s a family-friendly theater candy bingo night, with a $10 ticket reserving you a seat (which comes with a bingo card, a box of candy for the pot and a $5 food voucher), according to the website. Chunky’s will also hold a family paint night event featuring A Minecraft Movie image on Friday, April 25, at 6 p.m. Admission costs $25 per person, the website said.

• Vacation hours at Krazy Kids (60 Sheep Davis Road in Pembroke; krazykids.com) will be Monday, April 28, through Thursday, May 1, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and then from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 2, with Glow Night hours from 6 to 9 p.m.

• Cowabunga’s (725 Huse Road in Manchester; cowabungas.com) will be open daily through April school vacation week with visits by different costumed characters scheduled for each day, Monday, April 28, through Friday, May 2, according to the website. The characters are slated to appear at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. for photos and to play a game, according to the website, where you can find the expected lineup.

Episode III

O’neil Cinemas at Brickyard Square (24 Calef Highway in Epping; oneilcinemas.com) is among the area theaters screening Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith(PG-13) a movie celebrating its (brace yourself) 20th anniversary. The theater will have more than one screening daily Thursday, April 24, through Wednesday, April 30.

Outdoor time

Trails open for the season at the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center (23 Science Center in Holderness; nhnature.org) on Thursday, May 1, from 9:30 a.m to 5 p.m. (with the last trail admission at 3:30 p.m.). Walk the ¾-mile live animal exhibit trail, which traverses meadows, forests and marsh boardwalks and features animals including coyote, fisher, red fox, bob cat, black bear, mountain lion, river otters, white-tailed deer, owls, raptors and more, according to a center press release. Admission costs $28 for adults, $26 for 65+ and $22 for ages 3 to 15, and is free for ages 2 and under, the release said.

Kiddie Pool 25/04/17

Family fun for whenever

Free wild fun

• Discover Wild New Hampshire Day brings the state’s outdoor adventures to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (11 Hazen Drive in Concord) on Saturday, April 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The free event features more than 100 educational and experiential exhibits, live animals, archery, casting, flying, an air-rifle range, retriever dogs, crafts, a Fish and Game biologist, a food truck alley and more according to the website. See wildlife.nh.gov/dwnh for a map with participating presenters and activities.

More museum

• Get an extra day to see SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St. in Manchester; see-sciencecenter.org), which is open Mondays, April 21 and April 28, for April school vacation in addition to its regular Tuesday-through-Sunday days of operation. SEE is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. Admission costs $14 for ages 3 and up.

• The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (2 Institute Drive in Concord; starhop.com) is slated to be open daily Wednesday, April 16, through Sunday, May 4, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission costs $13 for adults, $12 for 62+ and ages 13 through college, $10 for ages 3 to 12 and free for ages 2 and under. Planetarium shows are an additional $7 for ages 3 and up.

Papas Feroces

• The Fisher Cats continue a series of games against the Harrisburg Senators. On Thursday, April 17, at 6:35 p.m., it’s New hampSHIRE Night, with a theme around wizards and adventure. On Friday, April 18, at 6:35 p.m. the team will play as their Copa de la Diversion alter egos Gatos Feroces. On Saturday, April 19, at 4:05 p.m., the team will play as the New Hampshire Space Potatoes, honoring the Granite State’s potato and UFO history. And at the Sunday, April 20, game at 1:35 p.m., the first 1,000 fans will get a free scarf. See milb.com/new-hampshire.

Storytime

• Bookery Manchester (844 Elm St. in Manchester; bookerymht.com) will host a storytime with author Duane “Archie” Archambault and his new book Conga’s Rescue Adventures, illustrated by Kolorful Highlights, on Saturday, April 19, at 1 p.m. Reserve a spot online.

Bunnies & eggs

• The Carriage Shack Farm, 5 Dan Hill Road in Londonderry, carriageshackfarmllc.org, will host an Easter Bunny Party on Saturday, April 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kids can collect six eggs from egg stations, decorate their own Easter egg, take photos with the Easter Bunny and meet the farm animals, according to the website. Admission costs $12.95 per person for ages 16 and up, $11.95 for seniors and military, and $10.95 for children 15 and under, the website said. Buy tickets online or purchase them at the gate, the website said.

• Hudson’s Best Easter Egg Hunt will take place Saturday, April 19, with sessions at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. at Inner Dragon Martial Arts, 77 Derry Road in Hudson. The event will feature egg hunts, a photo op with the Easter Bunny and more, according to the description at funnels.hudsonmartialart.com/egghunt, where you can register for a time slot.

• Charmingfare Farm in Candia wraps up its Egg-citing Egg Hunt this Saturday, April 19, and Sundays, April 20 (Easter Sunday). Kids between the ages of 2 and 12 can hunt for a dozen eggs in Grandpa’s Barn, the website said. The event will also include an opportunity to meet the Easter Bunny, visit farm animals (including new spring babies) and more, according to the website. Time slots between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. are available on those days. Admission costs $29 per person.

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