Island Light: Fall Favorites
Sheep dot the misty fields at Allen Farm in Chilmark.
Sheep dot the misty fields at Allen Farm in Chilmark.
Colorful clay of Gay Head Cliffs is muted by rolling fog.
Colorful clay of Gay Head Cliffs is muted by rolling fog.
Bob Daniels sets out his produce at Oak Bluffs Sunday market.
Bob Daniels sets out his produce at Oak Bluffs Sunday market.
Sandpipers chase each other along the wrack line at Lucy Vincent Beach.
Sandpipers chase each other along the wrack line at Lucy Vincent Beach.
Surfer eyes the waves at Squibnocket.
Surfer eyes the waves at Squibnocket.
Clear water of Ice House Pond reveals fish.
Clear water of Ice House Pond reveals fish.
The rain came Tuesday and tourists fled for shelter in Vineyard Haven.
The rain came Tuesday and tourists fled for shelter in Vineyard Haven.
No shoes are recommended at Lucy Vincent.
No shoes are recommended at Lucy Vincent.
Sunset time at Nashaquitsa.
Sunset time at Nashaquitsa.
September's beaches offer solitude.
September's beaches offer solitude.
Sun sets over the Atlantic at Philbin Beach in Aquinnah.
Sun sets over the Atlantic at Philbin Beach in Aquinnah.
Everywhere the Island countryside stands at parade rest, weary and dusty from the long summer but ready for the now changing light that returns clean clarity and new energy to the Vineyard landscape. The Island remains in bloom. It is as if spring has returned to play tricks with the calendar. Late season roses, honeysuckle and fountains of clematis tell us the time of year by scent alone. Pause long enough to discover the color of September. It appears in sea lavender, the violet shades of thistle, in baskets of seckle pears and bittersweet and in the purple of asters, always the herald of the Vineyard's march into autumn. Squash and pumpkins ripen in farm fields and September's warming days allow late plantings of lettuce.