While We Wait for Summer
- Wine & Whiskey
- 7 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Our Hilton Head tans have faded a bit because New England hasn't exactly been in a hurry to deliver summer. May felt more like April, and June hasn't been much different. While we wait for warmer days, gardens, work, and volunteer projects have filled the calendar. It turns out there's plenty to keep us busy while we wait for summer to catch up.
The garden demanded attention almost immediately upon return to NH. Despite the weather, everything seemed determined to grow—especially the weeds. After a winter of deer damage and several weeks away, there was a bit of catch-up required. Some plants bounced back better than expected, others needed a little encouragement, and there were strong plants that gave me encouragement to keep going.
The return of gardening season also means another season of The Nosey Gardener. With many gardeners waiting for warmer weather before opening their gardens to visitors, I started the season a little differently by sharing updates from my own garden. I also made a memorable visit to Hildene in Manchester, Vermont, where the peonies were putting on an incredible display. Garden tours will be picking up soon, and I look forward to sharing more gardens and the people who create them.
Volunteer activities have shifted into summer mode as well. As a member of the Wolfeboro Garden Club, summer means moving from meetings and programs to hands-on work throughout the community. Scholarship recipients were recognized, seasonal plantings went in, and volunteers returned to maintaining public gardens throughout town.
Our volunteer efforts also extend to the New England Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society. Tom recently joined the Board of Directors and serves as Membership Chair, while I manage the Chapter's Facebook page and help promote events throughout the season. Much of our attention right now is focused on preparations for the 52nd Annual Lake Winnipesaukee Antique & Classic Boat Show, one of the highlights of the summer boating season.
Tom and I continue to combine work and travel whenever possible. Recent assignments have taken us through Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New York, often leading us to places we might never have visited otherwise. Along the way, we enjoyed a couple of memorable Boondockers Welcome stays that reminded us why we enjoy this lifestyle.
Another sign of the season is the opening of Cottage on High. After more than twenty years of hosting, preparing the cottage has simply become part of our spring routine. The season got off to a good start with some wonderful guests, and we look forward to welcoming more visitors to Wolfeboro throughout the summer.
Normally, by this point in the year, we would be spending time on Lake Winnipesaukee aboard our 1929 Chris-Craft. This season has gotten off to a slower start. Unusually high-water levels have kept the boat on its trailer because the bridge we need to pass under to reach the big lake is an obstacle. For now, we're keeping an eye on the water level and waiting for our opportunity to launch.
Looking ahead, the calendar is filling quickly. More work assignments are on the schedule, garden tours are beginning to take shape, and another trip to Maine is just around the corner. We'll be spending time in Southport and Boothbay, with plans to visit the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and a few favorite stops along the coast.
For now, we're making the most of the season, even if summer hasn't fully arrived. Life remains pleasantly full, and there always seems to be another project, destination, or adventure waiting just around the corner.
As always, thank you for following along with our adventures, whether through this blog, Wine & Whiskey Travelers, or The Nosey Gardener. We appreciate every view, comment, email, and conversation. We'll include links below if you'd like to follow along on YouTube, and we look forward to sharing more of the season as summer finally decides to arrive.
A gallery of photos for this post.
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