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Home Accommodations Our Property Surrounding Area Reservations Directions Phoebe's Story Guests Having Fun! Critters: Tracks & Signs Conservation Work |
Our Property
Our cottage rests on a stone foundation laid in
1840. The original farmhouse burned in 1939
and was rebuilt in 1940. The previous owner sold the
barn and it is now an art studio in nearby Holderness.
All that remains of the lovely old barn is its granite
foundation (shown at left). Be sure to take time to appreciate
the craftsmanship and imagine the massive stones
being cut by hand, hauled, and put into place
using draft animals. The granite was locally quaried only a
couple miles away from the house.
Extensive rennovation of the front yard was begun in the fall of 2006. Paula and her mom designed a winding garden that extends across the entire front of the house. Quaried stone discovered lying loose around the property was used in the construction, as well as cobblestones disposed of during Boston's "Big Dig." As a special feature of the new garden area, Paula had a large piece of stone set at the end of the house as a place upon which to sit and watch the fields. Although the new garden will look immature and boring for several years, Paula and her mother envision what it will look like and can hardly wait to see the results! In addition to the new garden, Paula and her mom planted 50 Northern Cedars and 15 different varieties of lilacs all along 250 feet of roadfront to increase privacy. In ten years, we'll have a hedge that can't be beat!! (: The property stretches back more than 2,500 feet up to the top of a ridgeline and then wraps back around another. It is surrounded by more than 1,000 acres of privately held, undeveloped forest. We have built approximately 4.5 miles of trails on our property, and they are fantastic! The system of trails allows you to see a variety of woodland habitats - young and old forest, sensitive wetlands, rushing brooks, and glacial action on granite. We are currently working on developing a self-guided tour book! The property has both seasonal as well as year-round waterways. The photo to the right shows the little brook that runs behind the house.
The property is blessed with a variety of forest types;
open areas, transitional woodlands, and deep forest. In cooperation with
the Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources
Conservation Service, and the New Hampshire Department
of Fish and Game, we are actively managing our
property to support diverse wildlife. We have cleared approximately
eight acres immediately around the house to support animals that
depend upon open grassland in which to browse and raise their young.
You will experience nature's amazing presence no matter what time of the year you visit, if you sit quietly and observe with all of your senses. Smell sweet apple blossoms in the old orchard, listen to bird calls, wade in the brook, and see tracks and signs of an enormous variety of wildlife. Deer frequently feed in the open areas around the house in the early morning and late evening. Moose travel back and forth by the brook, and black bear occasionally wander by. If you’re very lucky, you’ll see various members of the weasel family as they scurry along hunting their prey. Wildflowers such as Lady’s Slippers, Jack in the Pulpit, red and white Trillium, and others are a delight when in bloom! 2008 Critter Watch-- January - The deer and coyotes have been making good use of the logging "skid" roads. The animals are traveling around on the roads, and the deer are eating the "slash" thrown onto the roads. July - One sucessful nest of bluebirds so far with two more on the way. A grouse is sitting on ten eggs and is a fierce guardian! A yearling moose wandered by one morning and spent some time in the apple orchard. To see "Critter Watch" from previous years, click here. |
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| Guests Having Fun! | Critters - Tracks & Signs | Conservation Work | © 2005 Paula Woodward & David Peeler |
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