Hot Topics in the Garden: UNH Extension Yard and Garden Infoline Live!
2025-08-14 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | NH
Location: NH Audubon’s Massabesic Center (26 Audubon Way, Auburn NH) or on Facebook Live
Join us for a special Infoline Live event where the participants take the floor to ask a panel of UNH Extension Home Horticulture staff and Master Gardener volunteers their pressing yard and garden questions as well as to hear more about this year’s hot topics. This event will also be promoted as a Facebook Live event from our UNH Extension Yard and Garden page for those who want to join online.
Bring your questions!
Presenters:
Steph Sosinski, UNH Extension Home Horticulture Program Manager
Sean O’Brien, UNH Extension Home Horticulture Program Manager
Will Lowenthal, UNH Extension Master Gardener (2018), vegetable grower
Stacey Scaccia, UNH Extension Master Gardener (2019), pollinator gardener
Ruth Smith, UNH Extension Master Gardener Program Manager, moderator
Cost: This event is free, but pre-registration is required to help us plan.
Registration suggested by: August 11. Register here.
For reasonable accommodation requests, please contact Massabesic Center Director, Kimmie Whiteman.
This program is brought to you through an on-going partnership between the University of New Hampshire Extension’s Master Gardener Program and New Hampshire Audubon. The Demonstration Gardens at NH Audubon’s Massabesic Center provide a place for sharing best practices in eco-friendly home and community gardening, which enhance human health and well-being and wildlife habitat.

Small Mammal Rehabilitation with Millstone Wildlife Center
2025-08-14 18:30 - 19:30 | McLane Center, 84 Silk Farm Road, Concord, NH, 03301, United States
Millstone Wildlife Center is a home-based wildlife rehabilitation facility for injured and orphaned mammals located in Windham, NH. Join us for a presentation with Jackie Robidoux, one of MWC’s rehabbers and a few ambassador animals, to learn about rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing our New Hampshire wild mammals.

Ode to the Birdhouse Exhibit
2025-08-15 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-16 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-20 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-21 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-22 11:00 - 17:00 | McLane Center, 84 Silk Farm Road, Concord, NH, 03301, United States
Visit the McLane Center 7/2-8/23 to see the Ode to the Birdhouse series by Pam Tarbell.
“I have always been fascinated with birds as I looked out the windows as a child. Now, I watch the local bird population plus the migrating fowl and hawks, which continues to fascinate me.
As an artist, I listen to music while painting, which helps to create movement in my art. I made the simple shape of a birdhouse, several patterns of birds, and then added leaves to create a complex overlapping of colorful designs. Several of my paintings became visual puzzles for the eye as birds are camouflaged in their environment.”
Examples from the Ode to the Birdhouse exhibit,
Bio: A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and a United States Art Embassy Artist. Tarbell exhibits nationally, and in 2023 had a solo exhibit at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. In 2024, she was commissioned to paint the awards for the New Hampshire Committee for the Arts Gala Awards Celebration. She just concluded a solo exhibit at the Mass Audubon in Belmont, MA.
She has served on numerous boards and committees advocating for the arts in New Hampshire. In 2015, she received an “Outstanding Woman in Business Award” from NH Business Magazine, as director of the Mill Brook Gallery & Sculpture Garden for twenty-two years.
Tarbell enjoys painting bright, complicated compositions, hoping that the viewer will always continue to find interesting elements in her paintings.
Her gallery is open by appointment: 603-496-2014. You can visit her website to sign up for her newsletter.

A Season in the Sun Exhibit
2025-08-15 11:00 - 17:00 | Massabesic Center, 26 Audubon Way, Auburn, NH, United States
A Season in the Sun: Photographs from the Massabesic Center’s Demonstration Garden by Walt Swist
Walt Swist photos from the NH Audubon Massabesic Center’s Demonstration Gardens.
Take a photographic journey with Walt Swist through the 2024 season in the NH Audubon Massabesic Center’s Demonstration Gardens! Experience the magical pollinator gardens in full bloom and the amazing bounty of the vegetable and herb gardens, with side tours of the wedding garden, the barn garden, the bird-friendly gardens, the memorial garden, the rain garden, the wildflower garden, the garden for the senses, and more. These gardens present opportunities for home and community gardeners to observe and learn best practices in a beautiful natural setting.
As an additional benefit, we donate most of our fresh vegetables and herbs to the Families in Transition Food Pantry and Dining Services in Manchester. We also provide vegetables for our favorite Animal Ambassadors who reside at the Massabesic Center. In 2024 we harvested about 543 pounds of vegetables and herbs.
Some of these photos are simple direct views of the harvest in the field, with vegetables and herbs dutifully lining up to be weighed and counted. In other photos the vegetables, herbs and flowers take center stage to tell their own unique stories, often revealing whimsical individual personalities and sharing the secret joys of life of the garden.
This exhibit is a departure from our typical showroom gallery, and will be displayed in our main hall, which will be fully accessible during standard Massabesic Center hours Wednesdays to Saturdays from 11am to 5pm.
Bio: Walt is a volunteer with the UNH Extension Master Gardener program and a resident of Manchester, New Hampshire. He is also a NH Audubon volunteer in the demonstration gardens at the Massabesic Center in Auburn, where he helps grow and harvest produce in the vegetable and herb gardens. He enjoys photographing the diversity and beauty of the natural world enhanced with an occasional dash of whimsical storytelling.

Massabesic Gardens Tour
2025-08-16 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-08-26 17:30 - 19:00 | Massabesic Center, 26 Audubon Way, Auburn, NH, United States
Join us for an intimate guided tour of the gardens at the Massabesic Center in Auburn. We will lead you on a fun ramble of the grounds, and dig into the history, upkeep, and future of each of our unique garden spaces.
You’ll learn about NH Audubon’s partnership with the University of New Hampshire Extension’s Master Gardener Program to create Demonstration Gardens that provide a place for sharing best practices in eco-friendly home and community gardening, for human health and well-being and wildlife habitat. These gardens include spaces for pollinators, birds, butterflies, veggies, rainwater, and an ornamental space that serves as the backdrop for wedding ceremonies.
You’ll also learn about our community partnership with the Massabesic Garden Club and their efforts to rehabilitate the space lovingly called the Barn Garden.
Last but not least, discover our plan for expanding the Garden for the Senses, and take a peaceful pause in the Cathy Small Memorial Garden.
You’ll leave with an appreciation for the hard work that goes into our spaces by the team of over 40 volunteers who maintain our grounds. We’ll provide information for upcoming educational workshops and ways you can get involved with volunteering in our gardens.
Dress for walking in short grass on flat but uneven terrain. Bring your camera, sunscreen, bug spray, and questions about creating pollinator habitat at your home.
This event is free to attend. Please RSVP to help us get a headcount of how many people to expect. This event will be cancelled if severe inclement weather is forecasted.
Support our programs and join or renew your membership today! Not sure of your membership status? Email our member services department or call (603) 224-9909 x310.
For mobility, sensory, behavioral, or other accessibility accommodations, please contact Massabesic Center Director, Kimmie Whiteman.
Photo: Garden Room with a View by Walt Swist

Guided Hike with the Newfound Audubon Center: Birds of Hebron Marsh
2025-08-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Hebron Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, 43.693486,-71.8022052, Hebron, NH, 03241, United States
Open new realms each week as our Lead Naturalist helps participants focus their senses on different fascinating elements of their surroundings such as birds, trees, ferns, wildflowers, and more. In this guided hike, learn about the birds of Hebron Marsh. Please meet at Ash Cottage (red building) at the Hebron Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary. Limited pairs of binoculars are available for use. Participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars and/or field guides for further exploration.
Please review NH Audubon’s Outdoor Education Program Liability Release & Agreement Waiver before registering.

Family Program with the Newfound Audubon Center: Nature Networks
2025-08-17 13:00 - 15:00 | Paradise Point Nature Center, 290 Northshore Road, Hebron, 03241, United States
Learn about local ecosystems and wildlife through family-focused programs with the Lead Naturalist! Explore trails and play nature-themed games on topics such as animal signs, reptiles and amphibians, decomposers, wetland critters, and more. For this family program, learn about food webs and the interconnectedness of nature. Please meet at Paradise Point Nature Center. Suitable for families with children ages 8 and up.
Please review NH Audubon’s Outdoor Education Program Liability Release & Agreement Waiver before registering.

Nature Art with the Newfound Audubon Center: Leaf Rubbing
2025-08-18 10:00 - 13:00 | Paradise Point Nature Center, 290 Northshore Road, Hebron, 03241, United States
Come create a fun piece of nature art in or around Paradise Point Nature Center! Creativity is encouraged as we use arts and crafts to explore themes and concepts in nature. For this nature art activity, find a leaf and make a trace of it. Learn about photosynthesis the trees native to Paradise Point. Suitable for all ages but geared towards 3–7-year-olds. Pre-registration is not required, but is appreciated, for this program.
Please review NH Audubon’s Outdoor Education Program Liability Release & Agreement Waiver before registering.

Guided Paddle with the Newfound Audubon Center
2025-08-19 09:30 - 12:00 | Paradise Point Nature Center, 290 Northshore Road, Hebron, 03241, United States
August 19
Choose from a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard as we travel along the route of the Northern Newfound Water Trail. With a Naturalist, we will visit as many stops as time allows while learning more about the geology and ecology of Newfound Lake. Children are allowed with adult supervision.
Please review NH Audubon’s Outdoor Education Program Liability Release & Agreement Waiver before registering.

Tracking Change: What 35+ Years of Winter Bird Data Tell Us - Newfound Nature Series - August 19
2025-08-19 19:00 - 20:15 | Grey Rocks Conservation Area, 178 N Shore, Hebron, NH, 03241, United States
August 19, 2025
Tracking Change: What 35+ Years of Winter Bird Data Tell Us
Grace McCulloch (NH Audubon)
Join us for a fascinating look at NH Audubon’s flagship participatory science project, the Backyard Winter Bird Survey. With more than 35 years of data, we’ll explore how New Hampshire’s winter bird populations have changed over time and how participatory science (also known as citizen science) helps expand our understanding of these trends. Ever wondered why Eastern Bluebirds and American Robins are now spending the winter in New Hampshire? This engaging talk will cover those shifts and more, offering insights into backyard bird identification and what our data reveals about the impacts of a warming climate.
Held on Tuesdays, 7:00–8:15 pm
Join us for our Newfound Nature Series (the new name for our beloved Red Barn Speaker Series) on Tuesday evenings. The series is now held at Grey Rocks and co-hosted by the Newfound Lake Region Association (NLRA). Registration is not necessary – just come and join us for an evening’s entertainment!
Thank you to our season sponsors: John S. Jordan Design, and the Hebron Conservation Commission.

Birding Walk at Three Sisters Ecofarm
2025-08-22 08:30 - 10:30 | Three Sisters Ecofarm, 222 Old Turnpike Rd., Danbury, NH, 03230, United States
Join Three Sisters Ecofarm and NH Audubon for a bird walk led by Newfound Center & Public Programs Coordinator Devin Guilfoyle! We will explore grasslands, forest edges, and forests and look for and learn about birds in each ecosystem. Sturdy shoes and bug-proof layers are recommended for this walk.
This event is open to ages 8+. Please note that the bird walk will follow a route with varied terrain, including uneven ground and some inclines, which may not be suitable for individuals with limited mobility. Sign up here ($15 registration cost). Contact Jamie Bemis if you have any questions about this event.
Please review NH Audubon’s Outdoor Education Program Liability Release & Agreement Waiver before registering.

Guided Paddle with Newfound Lake Region Association
2025-08-22 13:00 - 15:30 | Paradise Point Nature Center, 290 Northshore Road, Hebron, 03241, United States
Choose from a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard as we travel along the route of the Northern Newfound Water Trail! With Newfound Center staff and Newfound Lake Region Association staff, we will visit as many stops along this trail as time allows while learning more about the geology and ecology of Newfound Lake. Children are allowed with adult supervision.
This is a free event barring the boat rental fee. If you wish to rent a boat for this program, a rental fee will be charged at the center the day of. Please consult nhaudubon.org/newfound for boat rental prices.
Please review NH Audubon’s Outdoor Education Program Liability Release & Agreement Waiver before registering.

Guided Hike with the Newfound Audubon Center: Inferring Ecology from Morphology
2025-08-23 10:00 - 12:00 | Paradise Point Nature Center, 290 Northshore Road, Hebron, 03241, United States
Open new realms each week as our Lead Naturalist helps participants focus their senses on different fascinating elements of their surroundings such as birds, trees, ferns, wildflowers, and more. In this guided hike, learn how to deduce the ecological role of an organism from its form (i.e. Common Loons are a fish predator from bill shape). Please meet at the Paradise Point Nature Center. Limited pairs of binoculars are available for use. Participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars and/or field guides for further exploration.
Please review NH Audubon’s Outdoor Education Program Liability Release & Agreement Waiver before registering.

Ode to the Birdhouse Exhibit
2025-08-23 11:00 - 17:00 | McLane Center, 84 Silk Farm Road, Concord, NH, 03301, United States
It’s the final day to see the Ode to the Birdhouse series by Pam Tarbell at the McLane Center!
“I have always been fascinated with birds as I looked out the windows as a child. Now, I watch the local bird population plus the migrating fowl and hawks, which continues to fascinate me.
As an artist, I listen to music while painting, which helps to create movement in my art. I made the simple shape of a birdhouse, several patterns of birds, and then added leaves to create a complex overlapping of colorful designs. Several of my paintings became visual puzzles for the eye as birds are camouflaged in their environment.”
Examples from the Ode to the Birdhouse exhibit,
Bio: A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and a United States Art Embassy Artist. Tarbell exhibits nationally, and in 2023 had a solo exhibit at the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. In 2024, she was commissioned to paint the awards for the New Hampshire Committee for the Arts Gala Awards Celebration. She just concluded a solo exhibit at the Mass Audubon in Belmont, MA.
She has served on numerous boards and committees advocating for the arts in New Hampshire. In 2015, she received an “Outstanding Woman in Business Award” from NH Business Magazine, as director of the Mill Brook Gallery & Sculpture Garden for twenty-two years.
Tarbell enjoys painting bright, complicated compositions, hoping that the viewer will always continue to find interesting elements in her paintings.
Her gallery is open by appointment: 603-496-2014. You can visit her website to sign up for her newsletter.

Isles of Shoals Birding Trip
2025-08-25 - 2025-08-28 | NH
Experience the magic of the Isles of Shoals in early fall. Spending three nights on Appledore Island will give us the opportunity to explore the diversity of the islands. Over 200 species of songbirds, seabirds, and waterfowl occur on Appledore as migrants – making it a perfect spot to observe fall movements.
The Appledore Island Migration Banding Station will be in operation and we will have the chance to observe songbird migrants up close.
In addition to all the spectacular birding that the islands have to offer, we will take time to explore other aspects of Appledore, Shoals Marine Laboratory, and Celia Thaxter’s garden. Activities may include exploring the intertidal, an island history walk, or learning about SML’s innovative research programs focused on understanding and sustaining the marine environment.
See the sample itinerary here.
Register here.
Past trip photos by Becky Suomala.

Nature Art with the Newfound Audubon Center: Food Chain Mobile
2025-08-25 10:00 - 13:00 | Paradise Point Nature Center, 290 Northshore Road, Hebron, 03241, United States
Come create a fun piece of nature art in or around Paradise Point Nature Center! Creativity is encouraged as we use arts and crafts to explore themes and concepts in nature. In this nature art activity, make a mobile of plants and animals. Learn about the concept of food chains. Suitable for all ages but geared towards 3–7-year-olds. Pre-registration is not required, but is appreciated, for this program.
Please review NH Audubon’s Outdoor Education Program Liability Release & Agreement Waiver before registering.

Guided Paddle with the Newfound Audubon Center
2025-08-26 09:30 - 12:00 | Paradise Point Nature Center, 290 Northshore Road, Hebron, 03241, United States
August 26
Choose from a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard as we travel along the route of the Northern Newfound Water Trail. With a Naturalist, we will visit as many stops as time allows while learning more about the geology and ecology of Newfound Lake. Children are allowed with adult supervision.
Please review NH Audubon’s Outdoor Education Program Liability Release & Agreement Waiver before registering.

Meditations in Ink Exhibit
2025-08-27 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-28 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-29 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-30 11:00 - 17:00 | McLane Center, 84 Silk Farm Road, Concord, NH, 03301, United States
Meditations in Ink… The Nature of Asian Brush Painting by Bruce Iverson
Description: For 3,000 years the Asian cultures of China, Korea, and Japan have expressed their love of Nature with simple, yet, refined tools…brush, ink, inkstone, and handmade rice paper.
“Meditations in Ink” is an exhibit capturing Nature as experienced by Bruce Iverson using these tools and techniques. Bruce’s work draws from these traditions, particularly, the expressive elegance of Sumi-e brushwork. These time-honored techniques resonate deeply with Iverson- not only for their visual beauty but for the way they demand mindfulness and calm. The tools of this art form allow him to express both the Chi (energy) and stillness of Nature with paintings of flowers, birds, calligraphy, and landscapes.
Lotus pond painting featuring Bruce Iverson’s headshot.
Artist’s Bio: As an artist, I focus on creating artwork that reveals the natural world, its diversity, beauty, and mystery. At the core of my work is a lifelong appreciation and respect for Nature and an understanding of my role within it…I only wish to experience, learn, and share! Hopefully, my work speaks to others who might also resonate with this view. Four and a half billion years of evolution has brought much to be seen and appreciated! A tree’s bark, a breaking wave, a dragonfly’s wing, passing clouds…. I find these things (and more) exquisitely beautiful and fascinating. As a child, growing up in New England, I had a basement laboratory where I explored, experimented, and invented. As a painter (since 1972), my studio and all of the outdoors have become my laboratory of continuing discovery and expression.
As you explore my work, you will find it involves painting and printmaking techniques from East Asia (China, Korea, and Japan). I fir le traditional Asian aesthetic fascinating and resonant. As a “tool user” I have found the tools of East Asian art to be in a class of their own… refined, elegant, and a joy to work with. I hope you enjoy the results!
Celebrate Bruce Iverson’s exhibit at the reception on September 4 from 5-7pm at the McLane Center!

Birding Outing at Paradise Point
2025-08-29 09:00 - 10:30 | Paradise Point Nature Center, 290 Northshore Road, Hebron, 03241, United States
Have one last summer hurrah at Paradise Point Nature Center with a birding walk! This walk will go through the trails of Paradise Point Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary consists mostly of Eastern Hemlock forest in addition to a red maple swamp and beautiful views of Newfound Lake. Birds seen on this walk previously include Red-eyed Vireo, Barred Owl, and Common Loon. After the walk, the center will be open to explore!
This is an informal birding outing that begins at the center parking lot and explores the trails with Newfound Center Coordinator Devin Guilfoyle. All ages and skill levels of birders are welcome. If you are new to birding, come and learn the basics! If you are an avid birder, come to learn new techniques, network with other birders, or share your expertise with the group.
This is a free event. Binocular rental is provided. Please dress for the weather, with sturdy shoes. Expect to walk between 1-2 miles over varied trails with some elevation change through wooded terrain. Trails may be soggy or muddy. Dogs are not allowed on this walk.
Please review NH Audubon’s Outdoor Education Program Liability Release & Agreement Waiver before registering.

Nature's Palette Exhibit
2025-08-29 11:00 - 17:00, 2025-08-30 11:00 - 17:00 | Massabesic Center, 26 Audubon Way, Auburn, NH, United States
Nature’s Palette Exhibit by John Webster
Two examples of John Webster’s work.
Description: Nature’s Palette is comprised of a selection of works including both paintings and photography by John A. Webster.
This exhibit showcases the natural beauty of New England’s change of seasons – especially New Hampshire – with paintings inspired by what visions catch John’s eye.
For over 40 years, just as photography has changed from film to digital, he adapts his mediums like nature adapts. Please allow this exhibition to take you on a visual journey through his artwork. John has always found art to be an outlet to explore, create, and meet others. He enjoys making people happy and feeling moved by his creations. John prays you experience the natural beauty of his work, and if a piece speaks to you, he will be more than blessed to share his thought process.
Artist’s Bio: John began his artistic path in trade school and honed his photography skills during his service in the U.S. Air Force (1967–1968, Vietnam). A lifelong learner, he earned his degree in History with a minor in Art through the GI Bill. Active in local art associations and a participant in a variety of cultural events, John continues to grow his practice through therapeutic art classes thanks to museum partnerships with the Veterans Affairs.
Celebrate John Webster’s exhibit at the reception on September 6 from 11am-2pm at the Massabesic Center!

Guided Hike with the Newfound Audubon Center: Keystone Species
2025-08-30 10:00 - 12:00 | Paradise Point Nature Center, 290 Northshore Road, Hebron, 03241, United States
Open new realms each week as our Lead Naturalist helps participants focus their senses on different fascinating elements of their surroundings such as birds, trees, ferns, wildflowers, and more. In this guided hike, learn about the species that have a disproportionately large effect on Newfound Lake. Please meet at Paradise Point Nature Center. Limited pairs of binoculars are available for use. Participants are encouraged to bring their own binoculars and/or field guides for further exploration.
Please review NH Audubon’s Outdoor Education Program Liability Release & Agreement Waiver before registering.
