Nature & Science
Stream Talk
Greg Whitmore, ecologist for The Trustees of Reservations, will give a talk titled In a Vineyard Stream May
18 at the Mary P. Wakeman Center on Shirley avenue off Lambert’s Cove Road in Vineyard Haven.
Mr. Whitmore will discuss aquatic biomonitoring and the stream insects of the Vineyard. Admission is free. Pre-register by calling 508-693-7662, extension 11.
Fly-Fishing Class
A fly-fishing class is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 17 at the Martha’s Vineyard Rod and Gun Club off Third street North in Edgartown.
The class will include instruction about casting, equipment and techniques, knots, flies, building a leader, putting your gear together, reading the water and handling fish. Equipment will be provided.
The fee is $85 for club members and $100 for non-members. Call 508-693-6338 to preregister.
The ability of pigweed to grow cannot be denied. It grows just about anywhere and may grow to be six feet tall. Last May we discovered it in our community garden plot at the Farm Institute, which is not too surprising since it is a common garden weed.
By LYNNE IRONS
I love living on the Vineyard. What with all the depressing news in the world, we have a fairly idyllic lifestyle. There is a bustle of activity out and about preparing for the onslaught of summer guests. It is wonderful to live somewhere that others choose to live on their summer vacations. National Public Radio aired a segment the other day about Massachusetts being in much better shape than the rest of the nation.
Tomorrow night’s crescent moon appears high in the southeastern sky, in the zodiacal constellation Cancer. For those with binoculars, this is a chance to look at one of the largest star clusters visible in the night sky. Near the moon you’ll find a bed of stars closely packed together. The area of the star cluster exceeds the apparent size of the moon. The Beehive Cluster name goes back to ancient astronomers staring up at the night sky. The star cluster looks like bees hovering around a cluster.
Temperature: Precip.
Day Max. Min. Inches.
Fº Fº
May 2 58 46 .13
May 3 51 46 .03
May 4 51 45 .04
May 5 58 45 .05
May 6 59 40 .00
May 7 65 48 .00
May 8 69 53 .10
Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 56º F.
Almanac
A comprehensive guide to weather and tides on the Island.
Vineyard Gardener
I guess this past week weather-wise is called a January thaw. We did not really experience it the last several years as December was unseasonably warm.
Farm & Field
Beige and brown and tan and black, with horns spiraled or semicircular or in undulating waves, a legion of goats marched up the hill toward us, bleating in anticipation of fresh grass and leaves.