It all started with the drive failure on one of the Volvo engines on Dovekie, my husband Flip Harrington’s boat. We found the best place to take it for repairs was East Edgecomb, Maine. Luckily, we were able to get a ferry off-Island on Thursday but were unable to book a return until Monday! Welcome to Vineyard summer. Instead of wringing our hands and moaning, we decided to make a trip out of the delivery.

There is no reason to be depressed when St. John’s wort is around.

Though physicians and herbalists will disagree as to the oft-stated benefits of treating depression with this plant, I prefer to avoid the debate. The conflict will surely make me sad. I would rather keep my spirits high with this herb.

Native Plant Talk

On Wednesday, August 11, at 7:30 p.m. the director of the Mt. Cuba Center, Rick Lewandowski, delivers the annual David H. Smith Memorial lecture at the Polly Hill Arboretum’s far barn , focussing on preserving native plants.

Living on an Island can seem closed off from the rest of the world, sometimes leaving you itching to reach the mainland so you can go faster than 45 miles per hour. But it does have its benefits: we leave our cars unlocked with the keys in the ashtray and our doors wide open.

And we use the honor system at unattended farm stands across the Island.