Category: Outdoors

Getting the ship in shape

The Great Northeast Boat Show is back for the 13th year

Granite State boaters are being summoned to the Great Northeast Boat Show to update their rigs before boating season starts up.

The show, in its 13th year, will have 15 vendors from New Hampshire, between 175 and 200 booths and setups for shoppers to explore, and hundreds of high-tech boating features on display.

“To walk around the boat show and see the variety of what is available is breathtaking,” said Suzette Anthony, one of founders of the show. She added that there is more than just fishing boats, kayaks, canoes, or pontoons to catch people’s eyes.

Anthony started the show, initially, because she had a summer home on Lake Winnipesaukee and wanted to see where she could go to see a bunch of options at one time. She said she was surprised to find that nobody was offering boat shows. After driving around and getting interest from dealers, Anthony decided to start the first.

Now, 13 years later, Anthony said she is thrilled the show has grown to the size it has, large enough for the NH Sportsplex.

One of the brands that will be featured at the show, Sealver Wave Boats, is one to look out for, said Anthony. One of the newest vessels the company is making right now is a jet ski that can be converted into a boat for eight people.

Dealerships and brands will bring in props, lighting and interactive aspects to help shoppers decide what they envision for themselves on the water. Everything from fish-finding technology to upholstery selections will be available for people to peruse.

“Every dealer’s booth has steps and platforms going into the boats,” Anthony said. “These dealers have lights that look like water and docks. They’re trying to set that feeling. [They bring] everything from trees to tubes to building that feeling that you’re sitting on the boat on the water.”

While the brands represented include big names like SeaRay, Boston Whaler and Malibu, all the dealerships showing off the boats are based in New Hampshire. Anthony said that when she started the show she wanted to make sure that the boats were sold and serviced by people in the area.

The New Hampshire Marine Patrol will also have booths set up to talk about the safe way to operate the vessels.

“At the show, it’s just a wonderful opportunity for the buyer to see everything,” said Anthony. “It’s truly a one-stop shop.”

The Great Northeast Boat Show
Where: NH Sportsplex (68 Technology Drive, Bedford)
When: Friday, March 17, noon to 6 p.m.; Saturday, March 18, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, March 19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Price: $10; reentry to the show is allowed.
Visit: greatnortheastboatshow.com

Featured photo: Great Northeast Boat Show. Courtesy photo.

Plan to plant plenty of annuals

They’re born to keep on blooming

Reclining in an easy chair on a recent cold and snowy day, I imagined myself a bumblebee. I meandered from flower to flower, taking in the colors and scents and textures of annual flowers, starting with A (alyssum) and ending with Z (zinnias).

I was a bumblebee tourist, seeing everything my mind could imagine, and all were in bloom at once. Then, returning to reality, I got out of my catalogs and started searching for new flowers.

Annual flowers are wonderful. Perennials are great too, but most make a relatively short appearance, rarely more than three weeks. Annuals are born to flower: many start early and keep on blooming all summer if you keep cutting them. They need to make plenty of seeds or their genetic lineage can literally die out and disappear at the end of the season.

I like starting annuals by seed in six-packs indoors, even when it’s warm enough that I could plant them directly in the ground. Flowers can easily get lost or misidentified as weeds when planted directly in the soil, especially things I haven’t tried before, or if I just want a few.

I love zinnias. They come in such a profusion of colors, and range in size from diminutive to giant. I love the lime-green ones such as Envy and Benary’s Giant Lime because they look so great mixed in with other flowers, in a vase or in a flower bed. Zinnias come as singles, such as the Profusion series, which are short (12”), and doubles such as Sunbow (24 to 30 inches) and Oklahoma (30 to 40 inches). I save seed from non-hybrid ones and plant them directly in the soil in large numbers. And the more you cut these flowers, the more they branch and re-bloom.

Most annual flowers are easy to grow from seed, but not all. One of my favorites, lisianthus, takes 17 days to germinate if kept at 72 degrees, longer if cooler. And even after it starts to grow, its seedlings do not grow fast for several weeks. It’s not a flower for impatient gardeners.

Cosmos varieties have been bred and hybridized in recent years. Looking at the John Scheepers Garden Seeds website I see 23 different kinds of cosmos, including one I must try: “Double Click Cranberries Cosmos,” deep wine-colored and double-petaled like an old-fashioned rose.

A flower good as a cut flower or as a dry flower and spectacular in the garden goes by the unlikely name gomphrena. I plan to plant at least a dozen of these this year, maybe more.

Vines are good, too. I love purple hyacinth bean with purplish leaves and pink-purple flowers. They are slow to start, so I’ll start some indoors in March.

Nasturtiums are vines that don’t climb. They sprawl. Plant these large seeds in full sun after the danger of frost has passed, perhaps in a bed of daffodils. The daffies need sunshine to recharge their bulbs until the foliage dies away, and the nasturtiums will fill in and hide the dying foliage. Nasturtiums like lean soil, so don’t add fertilizer.

I grow some of my favorite annuals not for their flowers but for their leaves. These beauties are always in bloom, which is to say their leaves are a treat to look at. I love their bright colors and shiny surfaces. Here are some good ones:

Perilla: This is a terrific purple-leafed plant that self-sows exuberantly. Pinch off the flowers (which are not at all showy) if you don’t want it to spread next year. Eighteen inches tall. The ‘Magellanica’ cultivar is taller and has foliage in shades of hot pink, deep plum and vibrant green.

Persian Shield (Strobilanthes dyerianus): This plant just shimmers with silver overtones on dark purple and pink leaves. It loves hot weather and gets big: One plant can spread over a 3-foot circle and stand 3 to 4 feet tall.

Licorice plant (Helichrysum petiolare): I buy some of this every summer because I love the silvery leaves, because it mixes so well with bright-colored flowers in planters, and because it takes abuse. It rarely complains if I let it dry out in a pot. It flows over the edge of pots and weaves it way through other plants. It’s also exceptional in flower arrangements. There are also chartreuse and variegated lemon-lime varieties.

So even though annuals are disposable plants — they die when frost comes — I have to have them. I grow them in the vegetable garden, and in pots to fill in drab corners of the flower garden after perennials have finished blooming. If you want, all those mentioned above are available as plants in six-packs at your local nursery, come spring. Most are great cut flowers — and the bumblebees love them.

Featured photo: I grow Persian shield for its foliage. Photo by Henry Homeyer.

Kiddie Pool 23/03/09

Family fun for the weekend

Indoor adventures

• Learn all about Japan at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org) with this month’s World Traveler Thursday: Cherry Blossom Festival. The first day will be Thursday, March 9. The activity will be included in the regular playtime sessions at 10:30 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. Admission to the museum is $12.50 per visitor, $10.50 for guests older than 65, and free for children under a year old.

• The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is also continuing its Science Friday program with more hands-on education with its STEAM lab on Friday, March 10, with activities at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. (to accommodate both morning and afternoon play sessions). Science Friday programs are included with regular session admission.

• This week’s storytime and craft at Bookery (844 Elm St. in Manchester; bookerymht.com) will feature a reading of Celia Planted a Garden with a floral-themed craft to go along with it on Saturday, March 11, at 11:30 a.m. The event is free; advance registration online is recommended.

• Join the Canvas Roadshow (25 S. River Road, Bedford) for a family resin workshop on Sunday, March 12, at 2 p.m. Families will choose what shape to make their poured resin artwork out of and decorate it together. Each shape costs $35 and registration can be done at thecanvasroadshow.com.

Showtime!

• The Palace Theatre’s production of Little Women continues this weekend with shows Friday, March 10, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 11, at 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 12, at 2 p.m. The show continues through next Sunday, March 19. Tickets cost $39 to $46, depending on location ($25 for children ages 6 to 12). On March 7, the website said the purchase of an BOGO Special – Purchase 1 Adult ticket and bring your Young Adult (age 12-18) for FREE! Use code: B1G1LW at the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester). The show follows the March sisters (Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy) as they follow their dreams and learn to become strong, independent women. The show will run Friday, March 10, through Sunday, March 12, and Friday, March 17, through Sunday, March 19, with times at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $25 and can be bought at palacetheatre.org.

• Mr. Aaron is having an album release party at the Bank of NH Stage (16 S. Main St., Concord) to celebrate the release of his new children’s music album. The show starts at 10 a.m. and tickets cost $13.75 each. Visit ccanh.com for more information.

• Get “jellicle” with Cats for Young Actorsat the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) on Tuesday, March 14, and Wednesday, March 15, at 7 p.m. The Tony award-winning musical features classic hit songs like “Memory” and fun dance sequences. Tickets are $12 to $15 and can be purchased at palacetheatre.org.

Take a break

• The Peacock Players (14 Court St., Nashua) is offering a parents’ night out on Friday, March 10, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Kids ages 6 to 13 will be entertained by the Players staff of performing artists and educators and will play different games and have a movie night or karaoke contest. Registration for each child is $25 and can be done at peacockplayears.org.

Outdoor adventures

• Head to the McIntyre Ski Area (50 Chalet Court, Manchester) for the Little Macs jamboree on Saturday, March 11, at 10 a.m. The competition is open to kids ages 4 to 6 and of all levels. Prizes will be awarded to kids with the best costume and the best-decorated helmet. Registration costs $40 and day-of registration ends a half hour before the competition begins. Visit mcintyreskiarea.com for more information.

• Beaver Brook will have Forest Tales on Monday, March 13, at 10 a.m. at Maple Hill Farm (117 Ridge Road, Hollis). The hour-long story time is for kids and their caregivers alike to spend time in nature and learn more about the great outdoors. Visit beaverbrook.org to register.

Save the date

• Join the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St., Dover) for a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration on Friday, March 17, from 9 a.m. to noon or from 1 to 4 p.m. Kids will participate in a leprechaun-themed scavenger hunt, an Irish-themed craft and a special science experiment. The party is included in registration for playtime. Visit childrens-museum.org for more information or to register.

• Calling all kids who love comic books: Kids Con New England is coming to the Everett Arena (15 Loudon Road, Concord) on May 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The con promotes literacy through the use of comic books, graphic novels and children’s stories. There will be workshops, family-friendly comics, artwork and more. Tickets cost $12. For more information visit kidsconne.com.

Little green shoots of spring

Time to start those seedlings indoors

Starting seeds indoors under lights is a good treatment for the winter blues. It connects me to my upcoming garden and all its benefits. Early March is when I start onions and peppers, though April is the month for most everything else.

My wife, Cindy Heath, and I are making a commitment to reduce or eliminate the use of plastics in our life, so we are transitioning away from those handy, dandy flimsy plastic six-packs for starting seeds. You can, too.

Gardener’s Supply Co. has been offering ways of reducing single-use plastics like those six-packs sold everywhere. They have sturdy reusable plastic trays for seed starting that have been available for a few years. This year they came out with metal seed-starting trays.

These galvanized steel growing cells are pricey but should last a lifetime. For about $50 you get 24 individual tapered cells and a leak-proof tray to hold them. The cells are a nice big size. The kit is self-watering: It comes with a wire grid and moisture-retaining mat that keeps seedlings hydrated from the bottom of the tray, which you fill with water once a week or so. I got one of these kits and looks like a winner.

Renee’s Garden is now selling seed-starting cell trays made of silicone that are sturdy and reusable, and dishwasher-safe. They do not get brittle, they say. I am ordering some to try them.

metal press with a row of 4 soil blocks that just came out of the press, sitting in plastic gardening tray
Making soil blocks with a simple press. Photo by Henry Homeyer.

If you don’t mind extra work and lots of mess, you can make soil blocks using a little metal press that produces 2-inch soil blocks. The mixture includes peat humus, compost, soil, blood meal and minerals. E-mail me for more info about the process.

So what else do you need? Lights, growing medium and seeds. Let’s start with lights. To keep your light bill low, I recommend using LED lights. I have some old-fashioned 4-foot fluorescent lights but have been replacing them with the LED equivalent. These look about the same, but have no ballast (transformer) inside the fixture and use much less electricity.

If you replace your old fixtures, don’t just throw the old tubes into the trash as they contain mercury, which is toxic waste. Some recycling centers will accept them, or bring them to an electrical supply company for proper disposal. And if you want to use an LED tube in an old fluorescent fixture, you should remove the ballast. Unless it says “No PCBs” on it, it needs to be sent to a hazardous waste collection site also.

Hang your fixture about 6 inches over the planting trays. Use “jack chain,” a small-link chain sold at hardware stores. It allows you to raise the lights as your plants grow. Give your seedlings 12 to 14 hours of light per day — they need a good night’s sleep as much as you do.

Most seeds will wake up and grow more readily if you place them on a warm base. Electrical seed-starting mats are great for that, but not really necessary. I use them for things that specify warmer temperatures, like the flower lisianthus, and for hot peppers.

I recommend buying “seed starting mix” instead of “potting soil” to put in your planting cells. Why? Seed starting mix is a finer blend and works better. It is made from peat moss, vermiculite, perlite and fertilizer. You can make your own, of course, and I often do — I start 10 flats (trays) or more each year. I also mix in some high-quality compost — about 50 percent of the final product. I also add a little Pro-Gro, a slow-release organic bagged fertilizer.

Peat moss is coming under criticism now by the eco-minded community. It is harvested from bogs and is centuries in the making. Coir, a palm fiber, is becoming more available, but I haven’t found it yet in big bags like peat moss.

Moisture is key for starting seeds. If the soil mix dries out before they get well-established, they can quickly perish. That’s OK with me — I need a reason to get out of bed on gray days in mud season. Gotta check my seedlings and give ’em a drink after I have my coffee!

You can contain moisture by buying and using clear plastic covers for your flats of seedlings. They are inexpensive and reusable. Take them off after everything has germinated, or most things.

A biodynamic calendar called Stella Natura is available for gardeners who want to plant seeds by the phase of the moon, stars and planets. I consult it when planting, and although it’s not foolproof, I think it helps. Available at www.stellanatura.com.

So if you want another hobby, grow your own plants from seed. It takes a little practice, but it may make you happy — it works for me!

Featured photo: Metal planting cells from Gardener’s Supply. Photo by Henry Homeyer.

A cabin fever cure

New Hampshire Outdoor Expo returns

By Mya Blanchard

[email protected]

Spring will soon be upon us, and with it plenty of opportunities to be outside. The New Hampshire Outdoor Expo is the perfect place to prepare for all things outdoors. Exhibitors will be selling supplies for a multitude of outdoor hobbies, from fishing and hunting to camping and boating. The three-day event runs from Friday, March 10, through Sunday, March 12, at the Hampshire Dome in Milford.

“It’s a family event for anybody who’s interested in the outdoors,” expo organizer Dan Kenney said. “We have a … BB gun range, an archery range, an octagon for kids to play in and also a trout pond for them to catch fish … all day long. These are all included in the admission price.”

Kenney, who has traveled across the country doing fishing shows, has been doing exhibitions since 2011 in several northeastern states. This will be the New Hampshire Outdoor Expo’s fifth year at the Hampshire Dome.

“Primarily I do them in January, February [and] March, so when people have cabin fever,” Kenney said. “They can … go inside a building and … get geared up for the season, basically.”

The show will have about 100 exhibitors from all over the region selling items at discounted prices.

One vendor is Mountain Road Trading Post, a specialty outdoor recreational store from Raymond established in 1972. Their focus is primarily on paddle sports, like canoeing and kayaking, but they also have fishing and camping gear.

Troy Brown, the current owner of the store, first came to one of the shows about 10 years ago as an attendee. Last year was his first time coming as a vendor.

“It was a great experience [and a] great time [with] good people, and this year is going to be bigger and better from what I understand,” Brown said. “At shows you get the chance to talk to people, to build relationships, and it does kind of carry over into ongoing customer traffic and ongoing relationships.”

At the expo, Mountain Road Trading Post will have kayak fishing supplies as well as kayaks of multiple brands, varieties and models.

“We’re going to introduce people to the world of kayaks in general … [and] kind of broaden people’s minds about what kayaks are all about,” Brown said.

In addition to the vendors, there will also be educational seminars by industry professionals on topics like hunting and fishing. Renaissance Firearms, a gun shop from Barrington, will be running a laser shooting game and providing instructions on gunsmithing. XSpot Archery, an archery range and shop based in Massachusetts, will be there offering archery instructions.

“It’s a good place to go and kind of visit friends … see the new gadgets and the new products that are out there … talk to like-minded people and … gear up for the season,” Kenney said. “We … have a lot of interesting vendors assembled under one roof that you really just can’t see anywhere.”

New Hampshire Outdoor Expo
When: Friday, March 10, through Sunday, March 12 — hours are from 1 to 8 p.m. on Friday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday
Where: Hampshire Dome, 24 Emerson Road, Milford
Cost: Admission is $15 for adults and free for children ages 12 and under
Visit: nhoutdoorexpo.com

Featured photo: Scenes from the New Hampshire Outdoor Expo. Courtesy photos.

Kiddie Pool 23/03/02

Family fun for the weekend

Library happenings

• The Nashua River Watershed Association will be leading a hands-on Nashua River junior scientist program on Thursday, March 2, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Nashua Public Library (2 Court St.). Kids will use the Nashua River as their “outdoor laboratory,” to explore river issues and do activities related to river ecology, watershed protection, and look at this important resource through the lens of climate change, according to the library. Visit nashualibrary.org.

• Join the Manchester City Library (405 Pine St.) for a day filled with retro games and pixel art on Thursday, March 2, from 1 to 4 p.m. Families can play live-action versions of their favorite retro games, do game-inspired crafts, and create pixel art that’s used in older video games. The program is geared toward kids in grades 1 through 6 and their families. Visit manchester.lib.nh.us for more information.

Girl Scout fun

• Girl Scouts are hosting a unicorn party and sign-up event on Monday, March 6, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Hampstead Central School (21 Emerson Ave.) in the art room. Girls in kindergarten through grade 12, along with a caregiver, are invited to do a hands-on craft while learning more about the Scouts and how to sign up. The event is also virtual and can be accessed at girlscoutsgwm.org.

• And save the date: Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains are looking for girls to join their competitive rowing team for the upcoming General Clinton Regatta in New York. Girls don’t have to be a member of the Scouts to join the swift paddlers team, but will become an honorary member for the purpose of the competition. Practices will take place at Camp Kettleford in Bedford and the competition will be in September. To sign up or to get more information, contact [email protected] or call 888-474-9686.

Get active

• The City Wide Community Center (14 Canterbury Road, Concord) is hosting family drop-in basketball for families in and around the capital city on Thursday, March 2. Games start at 6 p.m. and will be led by the recreation center’s staff. Children participating must be supervised by a teen or adult older than 16. Fee to participate is $2 for Concord residents, $3 for non-residents. For more information about this event, call 225-8690.

• The last race in the Snow or No We Go series is on Saturday, March 4, at 10 a.m. There are two races to choose from, a 2- or 4-mile run/walk. This race will be at the Prospect Acres Obstacle Course (4 Beaumier Drive, Franklin). Proceeds from the signup will benefit the Canterbury Shaker Village, Boys and Girls Club of Central NH, and Prospect Acres Obstacle Course. Registration costs $25 per runner and can be completed at runsignup.com.

Shows!

• Come to the Capitol Center for the Arts’ Chubb Theatre (44 S. Main St., Concord) to see the Omnium Circus on Thursday, March 2, at 7 p.m. The circus’s new show “I’m Possible” follows the story of Johnny, who goes on a journey of courage and strength in a madcap circus adventure. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are free, but reservations are required. Visit ccanh.com to reserve a spot.

• If you’re at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire (6 Washington St. in Dover; childrens-museum.org) on Sunday, March 5, check out the theGallery 6 art exhibition: Step into a Story – Art by New England Illustrators, which closes March 6 (the museum is closed on Mondays). The project looks at the artwork and the creative process of storybook writers and artists from New Hampshire and neighboring states. Entrance to Gallery 6 is free and it is open during museum hours, which vary day to day. For more information, visit childrens-museum.org.

Save the Date

• Get a jump start on Maple Weekend with the Beaver Brook Association (117 Ridge Road, Hollis) at the Maple Sugar Magic Family Event on Sunday, March 12, at 1 p.m. The free event will look at the history of the maple sugar season and the process of tapping and collecting the sweet stuff, through crafts, puppet shows and more. Advance registration is required and can be done at beaverbrook.org/education.

• Join the Palace Theatre (80 Hanover St., Manchester) for Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet on Sunday, April 2, at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. The show follows Nancy and her best friend Bree as they audition for the fanciest of ballets, the Deep-Sea Dances. The production is put on by the Southern NH Youth Ballet. In addition to Nancy’s story, they will also perform The Ugly Duckling. Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased at palacetheatre.org.

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