Nature & Science
Volunteers Needed
Volunteers are very important people at the Polly Hill Arboretum. As the Arboretum grows, volunteer opportunities grow as well. On Thursday, May 28 from 10 a.m. to noon spend a morning with volunteer coordinator Nancy Weaver, executive director Tim Boland, and other staff for this across-the-board introduction to the many ways you can become involved at the Arboretum.
The Polly Hill Arboretum has announced its summer lecture series, which will include programs on gardening, conservation and sustainability — all topics important to the Island community. Support for the programs comes from local sponsors Bartlett Tree Experts, Donoroma’s, Eden Market & Garden Center, Heather Gardens, Jardin Mahoney, Middletown Nursery, and SBS: The Grain Store.
This year many guest speakers will address topics related to sustainability including local landscapes, designing with nature and preserving biodiversity.
The Island Alpaca Company is introducing a new Sunday morning program called Island Alpaca Junior Discovery, wherein children ages 8 to 18 can learn all about this most noble creature. Participants will find out all where the alpaca come from and why they are important to humans. Educational opportunities include hands-on activities, such as barn chores, alpaca feeding and care, halter training, and possibly, a chance to witness the birth of a new herd member.
Europe has given us many great food and drink specialties — prosecco and spumoni from Italy, triple cream brie and wine from France, sangria from Spain and Guinness (need I say more?) from Ireland.
There is at least one culinary gift from Europe that we can do without. Botanists, butterfly lovers, and plant people of all types abhor this overseas present, the invasive plant, garlic mustard. And some folks have come up with very creative ways to eradicate it.
The results of Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary’s annual Bird-a-thon tops the news for this week. A total of 119 species were observed from 6 p.m. on Friday, May 15, to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 16. Twenty-three birders participated in this marathon Massachusetts Audubon Society event, scheduled to coincide with the peak of the northward migration.
By LYNNE IRONS
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.