Island Science

Jimsonweed on Nantucket
Island Science

Pioneers Species You Don’t Want Colonizing

In our society we tend to idealize and idolize pioneers. Think of those intrepid travelers who went west in the mid-1800s. Or those who explored somewhere for the first time. It takes a certain character to be the first to do something: not only spunk, but grit and determination. If you’re the first to settle in a new area, you have to figure out space, resources, safety. How are you going to survive? We admire these qualities in people who start from scratch, find new territory, put a flag on the moon.

Continue Reading
common lowbush blueberry fruits
Island Science

July on Nantucket Is a Forager’s Paradise

I am spoiled this time of year, lucky to be working out on the Linda Loring Nature Foundation landscape or going out for walks with my dog on one of the various conservation trails around the island. This time of year, mid- to late-July is when the berries are at their peak, and I can easily find a snack while out in the hot summer sun. It’s a fun time to start foraging for your snacks.

Continue Reading
Men in a dory fishing for herring in Madaket (NHA, 1900s)
Island Science, Nantucket History & People

Secrets of the Ditch

The Madaket Ditch…it doesn’t have a very sexy name, but it is one of the most fascinating and vital parts of the western end of our island. For something so essential to the water quality of Long Pond, it is an often-missed feature of the landscape. Most islanders and visitors have never even seen it.

Continue Reading
Nantucket drought water conservation
Exploring Nantucket, Island Science

Water, Water, Everywhere, But…

Last week, Nantucket was placed under a Level 1 drought by the Massachusetts Drought Management Task Force, prompting mandatory restrictions on outdoor water use. Then, over last weekend, we learned that the town’s primary water pump suffered a mechanical failure, leaving the island’s water storage tank at “critically low” levels. The ensuing water use ban has included all non-essential water use, and applies only to properties connected to the municipal water system.

Continue Reading
Poison ivy on Nantucket
Island Science

It’s a Love-Hate Relationship

As June settles into true summer, the flora of Nantucket really comes alive. The beach roses scent the air along the dunes, our yellow thistles open for pollinators, and the golden heathers carpet the moors. This past week, while enjoying the early summer splendor, another blossom caught my eye: small clusters of whitish-green, each flower only ¼-inch in size. The delicate five-petal flowers aren’t showy or brightly colored, but they are pleasant, gently draping in small clusters. These flowers, however, aren’t the kind to put in an arrangement or bouquet. These deadly beauties actually belong to the poison ivy plant.

Continue Reading
1 2 3 4 5 … 49