Frank Drake’s garden, which was very visible up and across the Edgartown Road, always seemed a remarkable achievement. He planted it every year on the Fourth of July. Within weeks it had not only caught up, but surpassed the efforts of everyone else in the neighborhood who had dutifully put in early crops in April and hot-weather plantings around Memorial Day. His tomatoes, pole beans, and corn reached the sky, covered with perfectly formed vegetables in astounding abundance. No animal, bird, or insect ever dared interfere. His wife Helen cooked and put up whatever Frank grew, feeding their family much of the year from this relatively small and productive rectangle. Oh, and it didn’t have a fence around it.
I have been thinking about this as I survey my tomato plants still in peat pots, beans and summer squash seeds as yet unplanted. Potatoes and garlic are coming up, and it’s a good raspberry year. I have nothing to say about the packages of sweet peas and other annual flower seeds, most of which instructed me to sow after the last frost. I know I’ll get them in eventually, and with good soil and compost, will hopefully have some flowers and good vegetables this summer. Meanwhile, I am picking delicious Sungold cherry tomatoes off my spindly plants, and making artistic bouquets for the house from ferns and hosta leaves, with a few blossoms from cooperating perennials.
This has all come to mind as Mike and I went to celebrate Bill and Betty Haynes’s 50th wedding anniversary last Saturday. Bruce and Jennifer Haynes held the party at their house. Co-host and hostess were Janice Haynes and her husband, Jeremiah Brown. Jennifer’s parents, Margaret and Bill Burke, came to help, and Betty’s brother and sister-in-law, Fred and Linda Lewis. And, of course, all the grandkids: Nathaniel, Jessica, Lily, and Hannah. It was a beautiful day for a party, and being West Tisbury, the company and the food were exceptional. The point of my story is that Bill always teases me about how lackadaisical I am about getting my garden in every spring, so I wanted to bring something that came from my garden. I did, a rhubarb and raspberry crisp, and he was duly impressed.
Continuing the horticultural theme, the Polly Hill Arboretum’s seasonal Walk Through Imagination has been set out by imaginative duo potter Bill O’Callaghan and storyteller Robin Tuck. This year’s story is “The People of Pim.” It’s fun to walk through the arboretum, and you have till the end of August to find out about the people and secrets of Pim.
Julia Humphreys and her golden retriever Xochi traveled to Litchfield, Conn., to compete in Level 2 Nosework Trials. Xochi found all the hidden scents in all four elements (containers, vehicles, interior, and exterior) with an overall time of 3 minutes 57 seconds, a minute and a quarter faster than the next dog. “But best of all, because the judges in each of the four elements stated that our teamwork was outstanding, his title was ‘Pronounced,’ which means with honors. He was awarded first place overall,” said Julia. Karen Ogden was there, too, as the official photographer.
Louise Bessire took her three granddaughters on a Viking River Cruise on the Danube, from Budapest through Bratislava, Vienna, Salzburg, and Passau, ending in Prague. Blakey, Clay, and Emma Bessire all enjoyed exploring the cities for treasures and learning the history of each place.
The West Tisbury Church will have tents and tables set up and banner flying for their annual Blueberry Festival, one of the signature events of summer. There are always delicious sundaes and smoothies to enjoy on the lawn, and jars of jam to take home. It’s this Saturday, July 18, noon to 4.
On Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock, the West Tisbury library presents the sixth annual performance of “The World of Troubadours” and “Trobairitz: Poems and Songs from 12th and 13th Century Southern France.” Tenor Jason Wang is the soloist, accompanied by lutenist Richard Maloney and members of Ensemble Passacaglia. Paul Levine will give historical background and explain the origin of the works. The event is free and open to the public.
Other library programs this week and next include, on Saturday, July 18, art projects in the morning, and the Lego Club meeting from 3 to 4:30. Monday Night Movies are “City of Bones” for teenagers and “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day” for families. Both begin at 6:30 and are free, popcorn included. Meet on the front porch at 9:30 Monday night for Star-Gazing with Lenny Schoenfeld. The library, in collaboration with the Yard and YOU, presents “You Can Dance If You Want To,” a family dance party, from 4 to 6 on the 22nd and 23rd. Also on Wednesday, the 22nd, at 5 o’clock, Tom Dunlop and John Wilson present clips from home movies and theatrical films shot on the Island, some dating from the 1920s, part of their effort with the Vineyard Gazette to save a cinematic record of Martha’s Vineyard. And I have it on good authority that there will be a surprise guest at Thursday morning’s preschool story time.
The Friends of the Library are in full force preparing for their annual Book Sale. They could use some help from energetic, book-loving volunteers. If you are interested, come to the West Tisbury School gym Monday through Friday mornings, 9 to noon. And if you have books to donate, please bring them to the school during those hours.
The West Tisbury Personnel Board needs a new member. Their job is to administer policies and procedures covering town employees. If interested, please call Maria McFarland, 508-696-6404, or email personnel@westtisbury-ma.gov.
A retirement party is planned for Superintendent James Weiss at the Grange Hall next Saturday, July 25, 5 to 8 pm. Tickets are $25, sold at the door, the superintendent’s office, or the MVRHS. Proceeds will go to the James Weiss Student Activity Fund.
The Howes House Friday Watercolor Painting Group is having a two-day exhibition of members’ work. It’s open on Friday, July 17, noon to 4, and Saturday, July 18, 9 to 2.
Rez Williams’ new paintings of Ireland and his continuing series of fishing boats will have an opening at A Gallery on Saturday, July 18, 5 to 7 pm.
Wendy Weldon, who was inspired by her travels in Asia this winter, opens “Color” at the Field Gallery Sunday afternoon, 5 to 7.
A call to the community: My friend Giulia Fleishman is leaving for Israel on July 23, where she will study Torah and Talmud for 10 months at the Pardes Institute for Jewish Learning. She is desperately looking for a home, temporary or permanent, for her 3-year-old dog, Fia. Fia is a mix of mostly husky, a very pretty brown and tan girl with a sweet temperament. If you are interested, please call Giulia at 917-903-9038.
Driving down New Lane the other day, I saw a new farm stand at the intersection where New Lane branches off to Tiah’s Cove Road to the right and down to Flat Point Farm to the left. I saw that the proprietor is Milo Brush, youngest in a long line of West Tisbury farmers. His great-grandfather was Arnie Fischer, who started Flat Point Farm. Arnie Jr. is Milo’s grandfather. His mom, Emily Fischer, and dad, Doug Brush, are continuing the tradition at Flat Point. And now Milo. His Swiss chard and bok choy looked healthy and delicious. Do stop by.