Island Light: June Heralds
Traditional holiday bunting decorated the Bandstand in Ocean Park.
Traditional holiday bunting decorated the Bandstand in Ocean Park.
Wetting a line off West Chop in the golden hour of day's end.
Wetting a line off West Chop in the golden hour of day's end.
Look closer at the beauty that is all around us.
Look closer at the beauty that is all around us.
Island Home crosses the sound to her Vineyard port.
Island Home crosses the sound to her Vineyard port.
Boats are queued up to be dropped back into the water.
Boats are queued up to be dropped back into the water.
Heading out.
Heading out.
Harbor waters are calm on a peaceful day in Vineyard Haven.
Harbor waters are calm on a peaceful day in Vineyard Haven.
Rockers await someone to watch the setting sun at the West Chop Club.
Rockers await someone to watch the setting sun at the West Chop Club.
A fine time for a party on Tashmoo.
A fine time for a party on Tashmoo.
A gathering of jets appeared before my eyes.
A gathering of jets appeared before my eyes.
The heralds are all about, from migrating birds to flowering bridal wreath. While we weren't looking, the trees have come into stronger leaf, although the laggard scrub oak still lacks its summer raiment. The beach plum and beach pea are sure to please us, and swamp honeysuckle, sheep laurel, wild iris and chokeberries all have their admirers. The gorgeous pompoms of rhododendron are still with us, and nothing surpasses the delicate beauty of the simple buttercup.
In honor of June and for the selfish pleasure of it, stroll through a downtown, hike through one of the nature preserves, and drive an up-Island road. Don't hurry. There's so much to see that wasn't even there yesterday.