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By Hermine Hull
Published: June 25, 2009

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Just in case you missed it, we have been having another rainy week with more expected through this weekend. I prefer cool weather to hot, so although some sunshine would be nice, I am not unhappy with the current state. That said, I seem to be a minority of one.

Regardless, the viburnum, wild cherries, and multiflora roses are heavily flowered and fragrant along the roadsides. Anyone who makes wild cherry or beach plum jam will find a bumper crop of fruit this year. The mock orange in my Aunt Janice's yard is blooming, surrounded by white campanulas at its feet, a pretty combination. I remember the day we planted it together and how pleased she was to see it flourish.

Margaret Logue and I had an outing to Seaside Daylily Farm last Saturday. We expected to see colorful examples of our desired plants, but Wendy Forest's garden was no further ahead than either Margaret's or mine. Still, we both found "a little something" to catch our fancies and plan to return in July hoping to see more of a display. Wendy is trying to clear one of her early-planted fields, so is having a South Field Sale. There are some lovely daylilies included at a 10-percent discount, 25 percent for orders of over 10 plants. Farm hours are 9 am to 5 pm, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Congratulations to Kurt Freund, winner of this year's Crossword Puzzle Championship, held last Saturday at the Oak Bluffs Library. Kurt celebrates his birthday on June 24, planning a day doing things he loves best: fishing on his boat and a birthday dinner with Blue Cullen, Evinrude, and perhaps the new kitten they plan to name Johnson. Happy birthday, Kurt.

I was glad to see this year's double-sided painting out in front of Allen Whiting's house, announcing his gallery opening on Sunday afternoon, June 28. It is always wonderful to see Allen's new work and nice to have art along the road.

Beauty and the Best, the Martha's Vineyard Garden Club's exhibition and sale at the Old Mill will open Friday evening, June 26, from 5 to 8 pm, with an artists' reception. It will continue Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday, 10 am to 2 pm. It is an intriguing combination of art in all forms with companion flower arrangements by club members. It is also an opportunity to enjoy the historic old building and its views. Tickets for the reception are $20 per person, $5 on Saturday and Sunday.

Don't forget Marsha Winsryg's opening tonight from 6 to 8 pm at the Old Sculpin Gallery. It will feature her egg tempera paintings.

At the Granary this Sunday, painters Barry Rockwell and Jack Goldsmith, photographer David Fokos, and a selection of McAdoo rugs will open from 5 to 7 pm. Jhenn Watt and Jeffrey Hoerle are showing at the Field Gallery.

Condolences go to Libby Walbridge for the loss of her husband, Cope. He was a most gracious and elegant gentleman, and very handsome even at 95.

Karen Overtoom gave me a recital of the recent eighth-grade trip to Warrington, England. Karen and Ron D'Agostino served as chaperones. I hadn't realized that our students went off on adventures during the day while their English counterparts attended school. They walked to school together in the morning, then caught the bus by 9 am to begin their day. Their first outing was to the walled Roman city of Chester, where they toured an amphitheater and met gladiators. Tuesday they went to Wales, to the town of Llanadon, that reminded everyone of Oak Bluffs. Manchester Stadium and the United States Mall made up Wednesday's itinerary. Thursday they visited the 15 gardens and manor house of Aryle Gardens. Friday they were accompanied by their English housemates, spending the day at Alton Towers Amusement Park, a mixture of history and amusements including rides, a botanical garden, a castle, all set on a huge lawn and lake. The weekend was spent with the host families. Karen went to Beatrix Potter's house and saw many of her drawings and the settings they depicted.

Come to the West Tisbury Library this Saturday, June 27, at 11 am, for the Summer Reading Kickoff. This year's theme is Starship Adventure @ Your Library. Come see a rocket and sign up for your summer reading program.

The closing of Campbell & Douglas feels like the end of an era, and it is. It was always fun to see the latest in dog toys or polka-dot socks, sturdy clothes and boots for outdoor work, riding accoutrements, and the most spectacular compost pile anywhere. Birdseed of every variety, pet and animal food, fertilizer and straw for the garden - it was all there, conveniently located just up the road. No long trips down-Island; Campbell & Douglas was our own. There was always an invitation to linger, tacit or spoken. It is already missed.