Edgartown had strong words and instituted a daily fine against a Katama Bay homeowner who illegally had nearly 20 trees cut down on his property.

Centuries ago, the branches of cleft-leaved hawthorn trees, covered with two-inch thorns and adorned with budding white blossoms, could be seen all over the Island. Now only about 30 remain.

In a steamy greenhouse in West Tisbury, in the warm aftermath of a summertime downpour, there are leaves, mostly green with hints of red, sparsely topping a collection of spindly stems.

On Saturday, the tree stewards of Oak Bluffs hosted an inaugural tree planting at Niantic, Nashawena and Wesleyan parks, planting 10 trees with the help of 26 volunteers.

Beech leaf disease has made its way to the Island and its devastation to the Vineyard's abundant beech tree population is starting to show.

Two towering American elms are returning to West Tisbury for the first time in decades after the species was wiped out by Dutch elm disease.