November Blooms

No doubt encouraged by the mild late fall weather, flowers are still blooming around the Island. Stray purple asters pop up in farm fields here and there, staying low to the ground as if to guard against Jack Frost’s incoming assault. Dahlias are down for the winter in Island gardens but a pot of chives recently divided thinks it might be springtime again and is making small purple flowers, perfect for a salad at suppertime after chopping wood for an evening fire.

Pink and yellow roses persist on the white picket fencelines in downtown Edgartown, nodding bravely on gray days, their buds tightly furled against the chilly wind sweeping down narrow streets that seem suddenly empty and wide. Even the autumn bus tours have ended. It’s just us now, the roses seem to be saying, only the hardy Islanders left, so why don’t we brighten your day a bit?

Well, thanks for that, you just did.