Island Light: August Blooms
Season's bounty overflows from coffee can vases at the farmers' market in West Tisbury.
Season's bounty overflows from coffee can vases at the farmers' market in West Tisbury.
Adirondacks blend into the beach landscape along Lobstervill Road in Aquinnah.
Adirondacks blend into the beach landscape along Lobstervill Road in Aquinnah.
Stained glass windows add colorful touch to St. Andrews Church in Edgartown.
Stained glass windows add colorful touch to St. Andrews Church in Edgartown.
Nothing could be finer than playing with sticks at Squibnocket.
Nothing could be finer than playing with sticks at Squibnocket.
Sunset over Menemsha harbor jetty always brings spectators and fishing poles.
Sunset over Menemsha harbor jetty always brings spectators and fishing poles.
Model airplanes bring out the kid in all of us, at Katama Airfield in Edgartown.
Model airplanes bring out the kid in all of us, at Katama Airfield in Edgartown.
A panoply of colored pants brighten the festivities at Edgartown's Reading Room.
A panoply of colored pants brighten the festivities at Edgartown's Reading Room.
Rub a dub dub, how many people can fit in this tub?
Rub a dub dub, how many people can fit in this tub?
Lagoon reflections beneath the drawbridge under construction.
Lagoon reflections beneath the drawbridge under construction.
'Tis the season for sunflowers at Morning Glory Farm in Edgartown.
'Tis the season for sunflowers at Morning Glory Farm in Edgartown.
Ukuleleists hoists their instrument of choice at Featherstone in Oak Bluffs.
Ukuleleists hoists their instrument of choice at Featherstone in Oak Bluffs.
A sense of wonder over Sengekontacket along Beach Road.
A sense of wonder over Sengekontacket along Beach Road.
The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. The weeks that come before are only a climb from balmy spring, and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn, but the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color. Often at night there is lightning, but it quivers all alone. - Natalie Babbitt