That was some serious rain over the weekend. I may have heard the word biblical thrown around. The good news was we did not lose power and there was minimal wind damage. This was only in comparison to last winter’s big blizzard. I totally enjoyed the time at home and managed quite a bit of puttering. Now it’s time to get some fall projects done. Hope I get to some of them,
When Danny and Marie Larson sold the Edgartown Fish Market, Danny gave me a number of fish totes. They are handy planting containers. I grew all my potatoes in them covered with hay.
After harvesting a large number of spuds, I tipped out the dirt and hay — mixed it up — and placed it back into the totes with a healthy dose of compost. Right before the storm, I seeded lettuce, spinach, kale and carrots. On Tuesday, everything had germinated. When it gets really cold I can cover with Remay, although all those crops can take a freeze.
We checked several job sites for storm damage. On a construction site there was an overturned Porta Potty, which amused the crew for some time.
Dahlias were beat up but not ready to be lifted and stored. They need a freeze before digging for winter storage. I took apart several ornamental pots. Any perennials were popped right into garden beds.
Because I’m crazy, I save the geraniums. I cut them back and repotted several into larger pots. They spend the winter in an unheated but not freezing back room. Most survive with little to no attention.
On State Road right before the turn onto the Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road, there is a house which, years ago, belonged to Nancy Bailey. There is a flock of chickens in the yard who spend the day entertaining passing pedestrians. On Tuesday, they were perched on the porch railing, flanking a cement pig. Honestly, I love the Vineyard and am happy to be a year-rounder.
I am equally happy to live in a temperate zone that experiences seasonal changes. Folks often ask why would people live where they cannot be outside in the cold months. I feel equally baffled why they need to be in air conditioning all summer. Guess, as the saying goes, “That’s why there are horse races!”
I’m looking for the right word, either loathe or detest, for three weeds that are coming back like crazy: mugwort, wild morning glory, or as Gratia Herrington called it, “Robin run over the ground.” It’s hopeless. The only solution might be to sell the property.
SBS has some hard neck garlic as I guess it’s time to plant. Wouldn’t it be great if I had a prepared bed ready to receive? Because hope springs eternal I bought a few bulbs. I usually buy from a seed company but I think I’ll put a few in the aforementioned fish totes. They should grow happily alongside lettuce. I’ve planted garlic as late as mid-December with success.
What has not been successful is the tenure of Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. So far there have been over 3,000 confirmed cases of measles in my home state of Pennsylvania. RFK and DJT have chosen to distance themselves from the documented cases including four deaths.
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases. We have a new baby in our family — a great-granddaughter for me and a grandchild for my oldest son. Babies cannot be vaccinated for a year so this is concerning for us personally and should be nation-wide.
The dismantling of many of our federal institutions under the present administration should be alarming to all of us.
This article appears in October 2 2026.