By LYNNE IRONS

While enjoying my morning cup of Joe, I looked out at my blooming white rhododendron, fragrant viburnum, fully budded miniature lilac, weeping crabbapple, mature old apple in all its glory, the remnants of the flowering quince, and watched a pair of orchard orioles flitting about in the apple tree. Now there is a sight to write home about. I confess I don’t do that as often as I would like. Good thing the folks receive the Gazette weekly. Hi Mom and Dad . . . . Love you!

By LYNNE IRONS

I love living on the Vineyard. What with all the depressing news in the world, we have a fairly idyllic lifestyle. There is a bustle of activity out and about preparing for the onslaught of summer guests. It is wonderful to live somewhere that others choose to live on their summer vacations. National Public Radio aired a segment the other day about Massachusetts being in much better shape than the rest of the nation.

By LYNNE IRONS

How is it even possible that the weeds have already overtaken my gardens? You have to admire them. They get pulled, cut, cultivated and mulched and yet they persist. I wish I knew my weeds better. I need to give Abigail Higgins a ring and get some identifications. I have several with which I am learning to live. They bloom and provide living mulch, so to speak. One is jewelweed. The foliage is attractive as well as the yellow flowers. The orange juice from inside the stem somewhat relieves poison ivy itch.

By LYNNE IRONS

The other day on the radio, they were discussing the rising cost of rice and how it is affecting a great deal of the world’s people. In fact, many cultures eat rice at every meal. They blamed part of the problem, of course, on the price of oil needed to haul that rice around.