Nature & Science
An extraordinary group of right whales — some 95 living specimens of the rarest of all large whale species — was feeding in the waters between Martha’s Vineyard and Block Island this week, while two mother and calf right whale pairs were spotted even closer to the Island.
On Saturday, federal scientists in the air saw one mother and calf pair just a mile or two off Oak Bluffs harbor, and on Tuesday, a distinct pair was spotted in Vineyard Sound.
The gibbous moon appears next to the bright planet Saturn, high in the eastern sky tomorrow night. If you haven’t yet seen Saturn in the night sky, the moon can be the guide. The two are in the zodiacal constellation Virgo.
Temperature: Precip.
Day Max. Min. Inches.
Fº Fº
April 16 62 41 .05
April 17 48 40 .70
April 18 45 37 .06
April 19 52 41 .07
April 20 59 42 .00
April 21 65 42 .00
April 22 70 48 .00
Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 57º F.
By LYNNE IRONS
It’s been a busy week in the garden world. The weather has been completely in our favor. So much so, in fact, I believe we are a few weeks ahead of last year. The cool evenings have helped hold the forsythia in full bloom for weeks.
Pollinators, start your engines!
I am hoping for a bounteous blueberry crop this year. Though only time will tell, we can get a hint as to what is to come by looking at the spring flowers that the blueberry bushes have started to produce.
Learn about the growing movement towards home vegetable gardening at a free talk with Chris Wiley, owner of Vineyard Gardens, at the Chilmark Public Library on Wednesday, April 28 at 5:30 p.m. Drawing from many years of experience growing with seed and determining the best varieties for the Island climate, Ms. Wiley’s lecture will focus on the what, when and how of planting a nutritious garden in your backyard. Topics include how to get started now with cool season vegetables and what to plant next month when the weather warms up.
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.