Leave it to Henry David Thoreau to find stirring strength in putrid plants.

In a town renowned for irony, colorful characters, and stories the Wesley House Hotel stands alone. The harbor-front, Victorian-designed structure was built for $18,000 in 1879 by French Canadian cook Augusten Goupee who changed his name to Augustus G. Wesley as a paean to John Wesley, the founder of Methodism.

You can take the cheesecake out of New York but you can’t take New York out of the cheesecake. Or can you?

Coat on, coat off. That seems to be the way the weather has been working these past few days. The wind has not helped that situation but we will take the sunshine and the warmer weather.

The shadbush bloomed suddenly late last week. The foggy days seem to be an essential factor. You get up one morning and realize that there are small clouds of white blossoms hovering in the woods and you are pretty sure that they weren’t there yesterday. If they were, wouldn’t you have noticed them?

Chilmark is in for some spring repairs this week. Please be alert for roadwork scheduled to begin on the 19th. There will be the repaving of sections of Tabor House, North and Middle Roads, in that order. It is hoped that the work will be completed by the week after the Memorial Day holiday. Just be prepared for delays on those roads. It will be nice to see the last of some of the potholes!

Frank Rapoza, the West Tisbury artist and boat builder, started producing wampum mosaics in 2012. The intricate pieces, made with shells, ebony from a shipwreck, and even a swordfish bill, depict Island scenery.

It has been in the 70s most days this past week, with a few days of significant fog but for the most part rather sunny. The mayflowers and the shad are in bloom, as are the lilacs and paperwhites.

A majority of Edgartown homeowners who were polled about a possible expansion of the historic district said they’d like their properties to be included. Surveys were mailed in February. Public hearings are planned for this summer.

The regional high school boys’ varsity baseball team is having a great season. In fact, it is its best season ever.