Nature & Science
Temperature: Precip.
Day Max. Min. Inches.
Fº Fº
Dec. 10 29 18 .00
Dec. 11 41 27 Trace
Dec. 12 49 31 Trace
Dec. 13 56 40 1.00
Dec. 14 50 29 .13
Dec. 15 31 17 .00
Dec. 16 25 18 .00
Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 42º F.
With ginger, getting to the root of the matter is not the way to go.
The succulent tubular mass that is truly the spice of the season is not a root. It is actually a rhizome, or underground stem. The real roots of this plant creep from the rhizomes into the soil, but will not provide you with that healthy, tasty and spicy holiday zing.
A good mystery, whether bird or bush, is rewarding if it is solved. Ginny Jones frequently entertains her grandsons, Everett and Kent, by walking along the shores of Tisbury Great Pond by Tississa. On Dec. 3 the threesome observed a raft of scaup off Sepiessa and a few buffleheads. Then they found a corpse of what they thought was a duck. Although no photos were taken, Ginny and I sent e-mails back and forth with descriptions and thoughts. After much ado I suggested the bird in question was probably a dovekie which had been blown ashore. Everett and Kent were e-mailed photos of a dovekie and there was agreement that the mystery bird was indeed a dovekie.
Black sea bass should be another New England fisheries success story. Years ago they were scarce but now they seem to be everywhere in Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds. Nevertheless, regulators farther down the coast still consider the fish in trouble, so local commercial fishermen are feeling shut out of what is an apparently healthy, growing fishery.
Temperature: Precip.
Day Max. Min. Inches.
Fº Fº
Dec. 3 44 34 Trace
Dec. 4 41 31 .00
Dec. 5 40 27 .00
Dec. 6 35 27 .00
Dec. 7 34 29 .00
Dec. 8 36 28 .00
Dec. 9 33 23 .00
Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 42º F.
The first quarter moon appears near the bright planet Jupiter this weekend. Both are in the zodiacal constellation Pisces.
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.