July is peak season for many things on Nantucket. It can be the most difficult time to get an ice cream cone or a parking space, as many of us know, but it’s also peak growing season – when the highest biodiversity is visible on island. Blooming flowers, ripening berries, budding fall asters, and fledgling birds abound. There is so much to see in every habitat across the island. What’s the best way to see and enjoy this multitude of species? Join in on the Nantucket Land Council and the Linda Loring Nature Foundation’s July Bioblitz Challenge!
Island Science
Magic of Dark Skies
My first summer on Nantucket, in 1998 as a Maria Mitchell Association intern, was a magical experience for many reasons. Not the least of which was my first time to the beach at night. I will never forget the excitement of riding my bike in the dark with the other interns to catch a glimpse of the Perseid Meteor Shower one August summer night. Before I even saw one shooting star, I remember the awe-inspiring moment of looking up and seeing a sky full of bright twinkly stars. In a place like Nantucket, on this tiny island in the sea, the sky seems to go on forever into the ocean. Forget the sunsets that people “oooh and awe” about. The night sky of Nantucket is where the real show is!
Living with Water
Nantucketers have always been a people who live with water. We travel by water and recreate there. Many of our commercial endeavors depend on the ocean, and we rely on the ocean’s bounty. And now, with climate change impacts, we are going to have to learn to live with water in new ways.
Explore Sky, Land, & Sea
Starting Monday, June 7, the Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) will be offering another summer of education, research, and exploration of the sky, land, and sea of Nantucket Island. The Aquarium on Washington Street and Historic Mitchell House on Vestal Street will be open for tours on Monday through Friday […]
Stop the Spread… Invasive Scotch Broom
It’s that time of year again when a swath of bright yellow blooms can be seen across the island on bike paths, road edges, and conservation land trails. The non-native invasive Scotch Broom is loved by many, but is a nuisance to others. We are now finding it is becoming more invasive over time, particularly with climate change.
Protecting the Island’s Pollinators
April showers bring May flowers and hopefully those flowers are bringing in the pollinators! As the weather warms and the skies clear, Nantucketers are feeling like spring is truly in the air (finally!). Many of us are cleaning up our gardens planning and planting for the season ahead.
New Map To Help You Explore the Island
After a winter that seemed excessively long (in fact, it seems to have lasted a year) many of us are ready to get out into spring 2021. We have explored every inch we could of our island over the 12 months, and we may be ready for some new adventures.
Winter Staycations
by Dr. Sarah Treanor BoisDirector of Research & Education at the Linda Loring Nature Foundation After a rather mild fall, Nantucketers have been spoiled with the unseasonably warm weather. As winter looms and truly sets in, many of us may be in the mood to hibernate. During typical winters, many […]
The Season of Change
Fall on Nantucket usually heralds the slowing down of life on-island. Businesses change their hours, restaurants close for a few days every week, and the ferries have reduced schedules. During a typical fall, the rhythm of the island shifts from the manic excitement of summer to school schedules, Friday night football games, and making plans for winter travel.
Climate Change on a Local Level
In early September, the Coastal Resiliency Advisory Committee for Nantucket adopted September as Climate Change Awareness month, followed swiftly by a proclamation by Nantucket Select Board. What does that mean? As part of the proclamation, the Select Board “…encourages all residents to learn more about the threats of climate change and sea level rise and the planning efforts underway to increase community resilience.”