The reign of the water queen is coming to an end.

We were packing to leave for a trip to Maine on Sept. 14 to visit old Vineyard friends and attend a wedding. Our backpacks were on the kitchen table and I had just filled the hummingbird feeder. One of the juvenile ruby-throated hummingbirds flew up to the kitchen window, hovered for a few seconds and then flew off. That was the last time we saw our hummingbirds.

Family scalloping begins in Edgartown Oct. 1. In Oak Bluffs Sengekontacket Pond opens Oct. 12 for family scallopers. In both towns the forecast for the season is fair.

The Martha’s Vineyard Wind Festival takes place on Saturday, Oct. 12, but no need to wait to get in the kite-flying mood. The poster for the event was created by Traeger di Pietro and is available now for $20. Sales of the poster benefit the American Cancer Society’s breast cancer research. Posters are available at the Field Gallery in West Tisbury, Craftworks in Oak Bluffs, the Island Art Gallery in Vineyard Haven or by contacting Holly Alaimo at 508-693-5444.

I could not be happier to see the first week of fall. It is so wonderfully cool and clear. The gardens are looking spectacular in this lower light. One must look, of course, with a soft eye to avoid seeing weeds and dead flower stalks. The wild goldenrod I neglected to pull now looks like I planned it. Once again, I shall take credit for Mother Nature’s work.

One more plus in the fall season — I found a parking space twice this week.

Sassafras Earth Education in Aquinnah has a full lineup of events during the off-season. There’s Nature’s Nest for young children on Fridays, Squirrels and Coyotes for the 6 to 14 year-old set on Sundays, and some Saturday events for “wild families.” If mom and dad are interested in seeking a deeper connection with nature, there are special events for them as well. A couple of upcoming workshops include a Saturday, Oct. 19, offering on bird language and then Nov. 16 features an open fire cooking session using locally harvested foods.

Take to the road on Saturday, Sept. 28, as Featherstone presents its third annual art studio tour event. Sixteen artists open their studios to visitors and showcase their artwork.

Island artists include Jeri Dantzig of Vineyard Haven, Deirdre DeCarion of Edgartown, Ruth Kirchmeier of West Tisbury and Joan LeLacheur of Aquinnah. Visit featherstoneart.org to get a complete list of those participating.

For tickets, which are $30, call 508-693-1850.

The Trustees of Reservations offers a new StoryWalk this fall at Menemsha Hills Reservation. The book Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey will be posted page by page along the trail so as hikers continue to walk they will also move deeper into the story. Fitness and literacy, finally walking hand in hand together.

The StoryWalk Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, Vt., and developed in collaboration with the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition and the Kellogg Hubbard Library.

Marlene Snecinski, also known as Mushroom Marlene, leads a fall walk foraging for wild mushrooms at Polly Hill Arboretum in West Tisbury on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 2 to 4 p.m. She will point out fun fungi facts and discuss mycophagy along the way.

Preregistration is required for this mushroom walk-and-talk so call 508-693-9426 for more information or visit pollyhillarboretum.org.

Wendy Taucher Dance Opera Theatre brings a bit of its fall season to the Island in October. Chef Matthew Passachlacqua collaborates with Ms. Taucher for an evening of food, wine pairings and song at an opera dinner on Saturday, Oct. 19. The event is part of the Martha’s Vineyard Food & Wine Festival and will be held at the Lure Grill at Winnetu in Edgartown. Singers will perform in a cabaret-style setting.

The following week, on Oct. 23, the theatrical group will present Ms. Taucher’s production of Heathcote Williams’s Whale Nation.