Nature & Science
Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation has received an $8,000 grant from the Edey Foundation for a coastal otter research project led by biologist Luanne Johnson, to document the diet and habitat of river otters on the Vineyard. The community-based project asks Island residents, conservation groups, teachers and students to help map otter trails and latrines and help analyze otter diets.
Summer visitors are beginning to arrive. I have a few reminders for them and for locals as well. It is important to keep your cats inside. There are several bird species that nest on or very close to the ground on the Island. Ground nests containing young birds are very vulnerable to cat predation. Adults are fair game for cats as well. You say you feed your cat well and therefore they don’t hunt. Not so! Cats have a hunting instinct and no matter how full they are, they will hunt birds. And the bell you put around the cat’s neck does not effectively warn birds of cat strikes. A bit of information from the American Bird Conservancy: “Indoor cats live an average of three to seven times longer than those that are outdoors.”
Temperature: Precip.
Day Max. Min. Inches.
Fº Fº
June 11 63 56 .05
June 12 70 53 .00
June 13 71 60 1.04
June 14 68 59 .01
June 15 70 59 .00
June 16 73 56 .00
June 17 74 62 .05
Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 70º F.
Tonight’s crescent moon appears right under the bright planet Saturn. The two are in the zodiacal constellation Virgo.
Thorny, yes; fragrant, certainly; invasive, sometimes.
Wild roses, even with their imperfections, have many fans. Anne Bronte noted the tradeoff of pain and pleasure when she observed, “He that dares not grasp the thorn Should never crave the rose.”
Flower Photography
The Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club will hold its monthly meeting on June 15 at 1 p.m. at the Old Mill on Edgartown Road in West Tisbury.
Seasonal resident and Vineyard artist Nancy Noble Gardiner will present her flower photography. Members are invited to bring samples of their own flower photography to get advice or feedback from Ms. Gardiner. Send an e-mail in advance of the meeting with any special interests, requests or questions for Nancy to consider to [email protected].
Almanac
A comprehensive guide to weather and tides on the Island.
Vineyard Gardener
I guess this past week weather-wise is called a January thaw. We did not really experience it the last several years as December was unseasonably warm.
Farm & Field
Beige and brown and tan and black, with horns spiraled or semicircular or in undulating waves, a legion of goats marched up the hill toward us, bleating in anticipation of fresh grass and leaves.