The Magnolia Society International members recently toured the Polly Hill Arboretum and held a special dinner to honor the arboretum’s director emeritus, Stephen A. Spongberg. He was presented the Todd D. Gresham award by the board of the society. The award was established in 1981 to recognize individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the development, improved culture, increased knowledge and promotion of magnolias, or who have contributed outstanding service to the Magnolia Society.

These three planets appear close together in the early morning sky, if you are up at or before dawn and have a good view of the southeastern horizon. The bright planet Venus is the easiest to see. Mars is above and to the east of Venus. Mercury is below Venus.

Temperature: Precip.

Day Max. Min. Inches.

Fº Fº

May 13 57 48 .00

May 14 62 47 .00

May 15 58 48 Trace

May 16 68 51 .52

May 17 57 50 .50

May 18 59 53 .54

May 19 65 56 .43

Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 61º F.

The Polly Hill Arboretum ushers in the new season with a busy week of programs.

On Tuesday, May 24 at 10 a.m. director Tim Boland takes a look at the wide assortment of small flowering trees that are great for foundation plantings or focal points in the home landscape. Learn about which trees to choose for year-round interest that form the basis for a diverse landscape. $5, free for members.

On the Prowl at Felix Neck

If it flies it will be there. If it crawls, scampers or hoots it will be there. If it be of wing, claw, fang, or suction-cupped feet it will be there. And you should be, too.

And where is there? The Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, that’s where.

It’s the annual wildlife celebration and it takes place on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the wildlife refuge in Edgartown off of Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road.

Saturday, May 14 dawned a little differently. It was the morning of Felix Neck’s Birdathon and there was not a strong wind roaring out of the northeast. The woodlands were pretty quiet as the day started out overcast, but the sun shone through about 9 a.m. and seemingly brought the woodlands to life. The complete list of birds observed on that Saturday appears at the end of this column; here are a few highlights.