Posted by Nancy de Flon on April 12, 2013 at 5:01 PM
I normally hit NH during foliage season, but then so does the rest of the universe, and so it's crowded and expensive. I was thinking of investigating it at a time when there are lots of wildflowers, lupines, etc., and was wondering if any of you New Englanders could suggest times in May-June that would be good for this. Though I normally head for the Whites, this isn't by any means essential -- I'm always open to exploring a new place, especially where New England is concerned. I'm not into camping or into hikes with significant elevation gain and would be traveling alone, so that's the limitation I work with. Thank you!
Posted by Greg Lessard on April 13, 2013 at 7:05 AM
Hi Nancy,
The first two-three weeks of June are usually the best for lupine. The town of Sugar Hill has a big lupine festival. Most, if not all of the locations are drive up, with very easy and short walks (not hikes). The longest trail I know of is maybe 1000 feet round trip from your car with flat land, surrounded by thousands of lupine along the way and good views at the end. The rest of the sites are 10 feet from the car. The chamber of commerce sells maps as part of their festival program for $5. It is a good way to support the community. Here is their website
Harman's cheese a local business also keeps excellent info posted http://harmanscheese.com/lupine
I have written an article and a few blog posts that you can read at the following links:
http://blog.greglessardphotography.com/2012/04/adventures-in-photography-lupine-in.html
In May in NH you will have to contend with black flies. They are the worst nuisance imaginable. Avoid them if at all possible. By June, most of them are usually gone.
Sugar Hill is very close to Franconia Notch State Park and all of the beautiful waterfalls, most are easy walks. It is within an hour of the Kancamagus Highway and Crawford Notch and Mount Washington and a little more than an hour will take you deep into Vermont's Northeast Kingdom.
If you have more questions, I'd be glad to try to help. Please send me an email at greglessardphoto@aol.com
Discussion
1 repliesThe first two-three weeks of June are usually the best for lupine. The town of Sugar Hill has a big lupine festival. Most, if not all of the locations are drive up, with very easy and short walks (not hikes). The longest trail I know of is maybe 1000 feet round trip from your car with flat land, surrounded by thousands of lupine along the way and good views at the end. The rest of the sites are 10 feet from the car. The chamber of commerce sells maps as part of their festival program for $5. It is a good way to support the community. Here is their website
http://www.franconianotch.org/things-to-do/special-events/lupine-festival.aspx
Harman's cheese a local business also keeps excellent info posted http://harmanscheese.com/lupine
I have written an article and a few blog posts that you can read at the following links:
http://blog.greglessardphotography.com/2012/04/adventures-in-photography-lupine-in.html
http://blog.greglessardphotography.com/2012/06/adventures-in-photography-songbird.html
http://blog.greglessardphotography.com/2012/06/on-saturday-i-went-to-sugar-hill-nh-to.html
In May in NH you will have to contend with black flies. They are the worst nuisance imaginable. Avoid them if at all possible. By June, most of them are usually gone.
Sugar Hill is very close to Franconia Notch State Park and all of the beautiful waterfalls, most are easy walks. It is within an hour of the Kancamagus Highway and Crawford Notch and Mount Washington and a little more than an hour will take you deep into Vermont's Northeast Kingdom.
If you have more questions, I'd be glad to try to help. Please send me an email at greglessardphoto@aol.com