I’ve finally recovered from surgery enough to get out and about again. I still have some restrictions, but it sure felt good to be out. Luckily the weather the last few weeks had been pretty rainy and cold, so I didn’t really miss going out. This week, I visited the town of Westmoreland and found plenty of signs of spring! All the recent rain has made many roadside waterfalls that will be gone (or nearly so) by summer.
I stopped at Warwick Preserve and enjoyed all of the rushing waters and wild flowers. I couldn’t walk very far but I didn’t need to…
Bloodroot
Trillium
Vinca minor
All of the times I’ve visited Westmoreland, I’m surprised I had never traveled along Rt. 63, also know as part of the Connecticut River Byway, beyond Stuart & John’s Sugarhouse. There is plenty of wonderful scenery to be found…
Windyhurst Dairy Farm – just across the road from Stuart & John’s Sugarhouse (an awesome place for breakfast before you explore Westmoreland!!)
Recently, I read a post by my friends at Gallivance about painted quilts on barns Click on the Gallivance link to learn more about barn quilts. I had never seen one until I visited Westmoreland…
While I have seen lots of sheep, these guys seemed quite taken by the Jeep that stopped in the middle of their road. They were all laying down until I stopped, then almost all of them stood to get a better look…
When I find wondrous colonies of wildflowers, I always think of my friend over at New Hampshire Garden Solutions. Last week he blogged about some of the spring flowers he’s been seeing. Ever since I read that post, it seems I’ve been finding huge colonies of coltsfoot everywhere I go…
It was like someone painted the sides of the road with coltsfoot
At the end of the road, I found the Corner Schoolhouse, built in 1789…
Next to the schoolhouse was a lovely garden of daffodils…
The schoolhouse wasn’t the only historical place I visited…
And across the street, I discovered that pigs can fly…
There is no lack of wide open spaces and scenic vistas in Westmoreland…
But, there are also some neat little places, tucked out of the way…
I found a lovely little community garden…
And some sort of tree farm. It was neat, the rows upon rows of young trees. I’m not sure what kind of trees they are, but there must have been thousands of them…
Before I crossed over Partridge Brook, I stopped to take a look at the bridge. No wonder it has a load limit!
I walked out onto it to get a better view of the trees that were blooming next to it (another thing I do since reading NHGS blog)…
My last stop was at Harvey Pond. If I had been a little quieter or a little quicker, I could have gotten a good shot of the turtles sunning themselves on the logs, maybe next time…
Thanks for coming to Westmoreland with me!
Touring NH 
Laura, Hope that you’re feeling better and recovering quickly. Westmoreland looks like a charming place. And that barn quilt you found is gorgeous! Thanks so much for the link to our blog – much appreciated. I didn’t know that sheep wore overcoats. Live and learn. But I think my all-time favorite photo is the “When Pigs Fly” weathervane. Priceless. 🙂 ~Terri
I think it’s funny that the sheep were wearing overcoats. Gee, when I’m cold I wear wool, you’d think that would be enough for them (since they didn’t appear recently sheared). I love finding unique weather vanes!
Thanks for the Blog mention Laura. My family comes from Westmoreland and my grandfather was the town blacksmith there for years. Even so, I haven’t see a lot of what you found, like the rickety looking bridge. I’ve never heard of barn quilts either. There are a lot of rare orchids growing in the Warwick preserve but I’ve never followed the trail because I’ve heard that there are dangerous spots on it and I thought I’d wait until I found someone to hike it with. Plus it’s quite a climb! I’m glad that you’re able to get back outside.
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Perhaps we can get together and hike the Warwick Preserve. It’s always more enjoyable to go with someone. Your grandfather must have had quite a few interesting stories to tell!
That would be fun but you aren’t going to want to try something like that until you are fully healed. It’s one of the steepest trails I know of. I expect to have to do a lot of stopping to catch my breath, so it’ll be a mighty slow climb.
My grandfather died when I was just a baby so I never really knew him but I’d bet that he had plenty of great stories. The house still stands on Glebe Road along with the old blacksmith shop.
Nothing prettier then N.H. in the spring. I moved to Wisconsin April of 1984, but N.H. will always be home.:) Thanks for taking the time to share your pictures.
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Thank you Audrey. Every season in NH has it’s beauty but spring is my favorite!
I read the post about the quilts a while back and they intrigued me, I do like a good treasure hunt. I wonder if those coats are protecting the sheep’s wool somehow? The pig weathervane made me chuckle. I’m so glad you’re feeling a little better but take it easy 🙂
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Every time I go out, it’s a treasure hunt (not that I always find treasure, but usually at least a few gems). I laughed when I saw the pig too. I’m trying to take it easy, but it’s hard, especially now that the weather is warm during the day. When I’m not out with my camera, I want to be in the garden!
You found Trillium! I’m so jealous! Love the weather vane and of course, hearing you are back out and about. I have never stopped in Westmorland but will put it on my list! Thank you!!
I love trillium. I have tons of it in my yard, but the blooms are only now starting. It is great to be back out and about!