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Monday, February 13, 2012

By Hermine Hull
Published: May 28, 2009

Lordly horse chestnut trees are at their peak, their white panicles like soldiers at attention. There are several grand specimens around the center of town, on State Road, Music Street, and Old County Road.

The oaks have finally leafed out, red-pink early before turning to green. Wisteria adds its color and strong fragrance, blooming along trellises and pergolas, winding through trees. When I stopped by the Wassermans this morning to drop off a painting that their grandson, Henry, did yesterday, I saw the prettiest combination of wisteria and iris of the same lavender color by the side of their house. Suzi said the wisteria was always there and she replanted the iris from around the property before she knew what color the flowers would be. The serendipitous combination is perfect.

Many thanks to Hunter and Emmett Athearn. They do such a nice job decorating every veteran's gravesite for Memorial Day.

Dionis and Gary Montrowl and grandmothers Ann Fielder and Pat Montrowl were in Dartmouth this past weekend attending the graduation of Jared Montrowl from UMass Dartmouth. Jared graduated with a degree in electrical engineering.

Kaitlyn Maciel, daughter of Heather and Vincent Maciel, has earned her bachelor of arts degree in American Studies from Wheelock College. Her parents, accompanied by grandparents Bob and Barbara Maciel and Roberta Hearn, traveled to Boston to attend the event.

Samuel Bryant is home for the summer, following his graduation ceremony at Sarah Lawrence last Friday. Jeffrey Bryant and Ruth Kirchmeier drove to Branford, Conn., where they spent the night with Ruth's sister and brother-in-law, Eva and Truitt Allison, before driving to Bronxville Friday morning. Ruth's other sister and brother-in-law, Susie and Joel Goldstein, met them at the college to see Sam receive his diploma and to hear Rahm Emmanuel deliver a witty and inspiring speech. Sam and his friend, Marshall Pratt, will be working as Jeffrey's painting crew this summer.

Diana Cotter from Pacific Palisades, Calif., is here to celebrate "a significant birthday" with her sisters Cynthia Walsh and Jaime Hamlin. First cousins Bill and Sue Moll from Grosse Point, Mich., will join them for the quiet family party. Cynthia commented on the expectation of rain during Diana's visit. The rain, a "rare occurrence in her part of the world" will provide an unusual birthday gift. May it be a joyous birthday.

Happy birthday wishes for the following West Tisbury friends: Prudy Noon on May 27, Cheryl Stark and Lynn Marvin Dingfelder on May 28, and to Margery Meltzer on June 4.

Tony Mentzel has been visiting his mother, Hallie, for the past week. Sadly, they have spent a lot of their time together going through things and packing in anticipation of Hallie's full-time move to New York City. Although I acknowledge all the fun trips awaiting me when Hallie will be in New York, I and all of her friends will miss her being just around the corner on Old County Road. We have all promised her our spare bedrooms for frequent Vineyard visits.

Henry and Louise Bessire have been in residence over the past week, enjoying their beautiful garden, long beach walks, and getting their house ready for the summer. They plan to return mid-June with their granddaughters, Blakie and Clay Bessire, from Portland, Maine.

Nancy Cramer's Shaw Cramer Gallery is hosting a tribute to friend and fellow-artist Dawn Greeley, who died last year. Dawn's annual exhibitions at the gallery were always special occasions. A collection of work from Dawn's studio is for sale at the gallery.

Welcome back to Fiddlehead Farm, reopened for the season in North Tisbury. I have also noticed Ruth Adams's Treehouse Gallery entry bedecked with flowerpots and paintings. North Tisbury has never looked prettier. The rebuilt restaurant appears almost ready to reopen. Glassworks, the three nurseries, and Mrs. Blake's Pies all sport daily enticements on their street-side blackboards. Bananas and the paint store do too, as does Alley's in the center of town. The busy-ness of the season has begun

Library Director Beth Kramer is looking tanned and rested behind her desk. She and her husband, Douglas Reid, have just returned from a vacation in Vieques. Beth's description sounded idyllic. Mango trees beside their cabin door provided daily breakfasts. There were wild ponies on beautiful beaches. Five days of rain allowed plenty of time to read and still to walk on the beach. The final two days were sunny, hence the tans. No one more deserved a perfect respite. It's nice to have you back.

I was sad to hear that Nancy Richards died on May 17, so soon after her beloved Stan. My condolences to Ann and Grant and their families. There will be a graveside service for Nancy this Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock at Abel's Hill Cemetery.

This is the season of colors and fragrance, so luscious and intense, so quickly passing. Be grateful for every bit of it.