Canoeing the Saco

Bill and I enjoyed a very pleasant day of paddling on the Saco River yesterday. The weather was glorious with a crystal clear blue sky and nice breeze on the crystal clear river. We didn't paddle too much since we allowed the current to take us along slowly, so we could take in the scenery and let all of worries leave us.

This canoe trip leaves the eastern border of NH and loops windily towards western Maine to Fryeburg. The land along the river is mostly wooded with some open fields in between, so we saw only a few farmhouses along the way. There were several beaches that you could stop off at along the river to stretch or eat lunch. We also explored one branch of the river that veered off to the right hoping to spot some wildlife or birds.

Towards the end of our canoe trip we were in awe of the sight of the Moat Mountains, including Mt. Kearsage (eastern side) which are located in North Conway, as a backdrop against the river. We would be happy to arrange the same kind of enjoyable and peaceful canoe trip for you too during your visit to The Buttonwood Inn with Saco Bound Canoe & Kayak at a discounted rate--just see our package: http://www.buttonwoodinn.com/river-adventure-package.html

Photographing Local Waterfalls

If you're an avid photographer or just a beginner, The Buttonwood Inn is collaborating with a local photographer, Joe Klementovich, on a photography workshop "snapping" local waterfalls. Check out our weekend package which includes a 2-night stay with all of our typical amenities, including the photography workshop at a waterfalls area and lunch back at the inn to review photos and techniques: http://www.buttonwoodinn.com/Photography-Workshop-Lodging-Package.html

The White Mountains are abound with waterfalls, some easily accessible on a short walk, some located in remote areas where you have to hike awhile to reach them. The most popular and one of the most spectacular is Arethusa Falls in Harts Location, which is about a 30 minute drive north on Route 302. After a 45 minute walk through the forest along the mountainside and passing over several footbridges, you get to see a 200-foot high waterfall which is a marvel to behold.

"Do You Want to Help Preserve Our Planet?"

As innkeepers of a large house with 10 guest rooms, we inherently want to run an efficient household. Bill's natural inclination to find cheaper ways to operate our B&B business is also based on his previous experience as an industrial engineer. It has paid off in us saving money and energy in various ways like turning down thermostats, turning off lights when not in use, using air conditioning when in the room, etc.

We belong to a group of 13 innkeepers, the Bed & Breakfast Inns Mt. Washington Valley, which was the first B&B association in NH to become certified as (individual inns - 100%) eco friendly establishments. While we are striving to save energy to reduce our carbon footprint on the planet and preserve the natural beauty of NH, our guests are still receiving the same high level of attention and accommodation at our inns.

Next weekend, June 13 & 14, we are hosting our first annual Green Inntervention Event where you can tour nine inns and participate in various activities, including our "Twisted Yankee Swap." Come up to the Buttonwood Inn and stay with us for this event, where summer is finally here with flowers blooming, sun shining, and birds singing. For more information, go to our Packages webpage: http://www.buttonwoodinn.com/Green-Event-Inn-Tour-Lodging-Package.html

Spring Gardening

Bill and I planted a vegetable garden next to the pool at Inn this past weekend (best time to plant in New Hampshire is around June 1 after threat of frost). Clyde (Black Lab Mix) and Britt (Golden Retriever Mix) are our "garden patrol." I wanted to grow vegetables and herbs like I've done for the past few years in our previous home in New Jersey. This year, we hope to harvest tomatoes, beans, jalapeno peppers, radishes, and lettuce. We still have to erect fencing and cover the garden with netting to keep out the animals and birds. Some of these vegetables will show up on our guests' breakfast plates in savory dishes.

I also harvested rhubarb this past weekend from one large plant and two smaller ones. It was washed, sliced, apportioned in plastic freezer bags, and frozen yielding enough to bake 28 Honey Rhubarb Walnut Breads as a starter for breakfast.

The perennial flower gardens are lush this Spring with new plants coming up (that I didn't notice last year) and new plants that were put in last year quadrupling in size. The lupines (native flower) are blooming this week in colors of purple, coral, lavender, and white. The soil in NH is excellent for plant growth--rich, nearly black and fine-grained with a few stones large enough to be tossed aside easily. I've transplanted the abundance of some plants to other beds that needed to be filled in establishing more perennial gardens on our six acres. We are also allowing the indigenous flora blanket the ground under the pines and in the forest of sugar maples and oak trees. If you're curious about native NH plants, check out the UNH website: http://extension.unh.edu/resources/category/Home_and_Garden