Nature & Science
By LYNNE IRONS
I have a word to the wise. After a certain age, the best thing to cultivate in gardening is young friends. A big thank you to Amanda, Zoe, Sam and Marie for all their help last weekend. Hopefully we will grow plenty to eat and share. We put in four different varieties of strawberries (both June and everbearing), turnips and onions. We picked up rocks until our arms didn’t work and hoed until we developed blisters. Everyone remained in good humor, at least to my face.
There are many Island birders who have nest boxes of one kind or another. I have eastern bluebird boxes and also American kestrel boxes. It is great to get a front row seat, as it were, to watch the birds from mating to fledging. Cornell Lab of Ornithology has set up a nest watch program so that they can help scientists learn more about bird families and how they might be affected by climate change. Cornell is asking for volunteers to register their nest boxes (visit registeryournestbox.org.) It doesn’t cost a penny and will help scientists determine if birds are laying eggs sooner and other information that might be pertinent to climate change. Everything you need to register your nest box and get started with NestWatch is available on-line. Hope you will join!
Flotsam and jetsam have drifted onto Island shores for centuries, although the volume and toxicity of beach trash has increased dramatically during modern times.
Today plastic trash is a blot on beaches, but thankfully it can be reduced simply by rolling up your sleeves and getting to work.
The crescent moon moves amid the planets early in the week, but only early-morning risers will have the best view.
Temperature: Precip.
Day Max. Min. Inches.
Fº Fº
April 10 56 36 .00
April 11 61 44 .21
April 12 45 37 .57
April 13 46 33 .01
April 14 53 37 .00
April 15 53 43 .00
April 16 53 40 .00
Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 48º F.
“Look up, it’s a bird, it’s a plane”
No, it’s not Superman, but it is super-natural. The superheroes of the sky this week will be the Lyrid meteors, showering the night sky with a light show from April 16 to 22.
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.