T.S. Elliott could have been living in Maine when he wrote, “April is the cruelest month…”
The week of April 12 brought rain, wind and more rain. Weather forecasters said we would see sun and warmer temperatures by Friday, but on April 16, it was still 32 degrees and snowing. Not yet time for Dip of the Month! Despite the cold, fishermen are going out more often to haul traps and the wood frogs are sounding their duck-like chorus in the gravel pit. Cara Spurling has returned to the island and it is especially nice to see the lights on at her house. Phyllis Colson has sold her house to Sonja Moser and Bill McGuinness, requesting that her buyers live on the island year round. What a fine example of how the CIRT housing has worked to bring new people to the island community. On Great Cranberry, Ric and Ingrid Gaither came to rent their CIRT house through an ad in the Working Waterfront. Thank you to all of the people who had the vision to create the Cranberry Isles Realty Trust for affordable housing on both islands, and to those who are currently serving on the board.
On April 23 another Islesford boat was back in the harbor. After surgery shortened his season last fall, it was great to see Warren Fernald launching the MOTHER ANN. He had 30 traps set by Saturday afternoon and he added to that number on Sunday. Joy Sprague and Stefanie Alley took their monthly dip on April 25. Cindy Thomas, Jesse Minor and your correspondent waited until almost the last moment to swim on April 29. The water did not feel much warmer than it did in March, but it was actually wavering between 39 and 40 degrees. While the grass was starting to get a bit greener, lobstermen reported that there were still patches of snow in places along the north shore of Islesford.
Linda Archambault arrived on April 27, from the Lobster Conservancy, with special tanks and a number of tiny lobster larvae to be raised and observed for a few weeks in the Islesford School. When the larvae reach the 4th stage they look more like lobsters and less like shrimp. During this post-larval stage they also resemble miniature super heroes, swimming with their claws out in front, propelled by their tails. At this point they will be released by the students into our local waters. Considering that it takes about seven years for lobsters to reach their mature marketable size, one might ponder that some of these lobsters could be caught in future traps by some of the same students who released them!
On May 1, many Islesford residents were surprised by May baskets, anonymously left at their doors. The perennials that have survived a winter with little protective snow cover are poking up through the dirt. Lobstermen are increasing their numbers of traps in the water and folks on shore are getting back to their gardens. Locations and types of island gardens have fluctuated through the years evoking strong memories of years past and pleasant reactions to present displays. In the first half of the 20th century, Irving Spurling had a large garden where Mark Fernald’s house now stands. Art Ham’s Islesford garden has evolved to the splendid lupine field next to Audrey Fisher’s house. Most of us have had the good fortune to recall the annual display of Emerson Ham’s vegetable garden which became overshadowed by a vibrant border of dahlias every August. Jim Cox’s herb garden was small but inspiring in its variety and organization. The beauty of Helen Ham’s perennial garden was aided by some dedicated slug snipping performed every morning by her husband, Lee, with his long-handled garden shears. A spot I remember from childhood, unlike any I’ve seen since, was the woods between the Morsemans’ (now Zuckermans’) and Bunker’s Cove. The spruce forest was groomed daily by Raymond Spurling, creating a quiet beauty so wondrous that my brother and I would never raise our voices above a whisper as we passed through. In our family that area of the island was always referred to as “the magic woods.”
During the summer, on Great Cranberry, lucky residents pass by Jan Moss’s incredible gardens whenever they go to the harbor to pick up the mail, catch the ferry or stop at the store. It was not too long ago that Gary Allen built a greenhouse and planted much of his land to create Cabin Creek Farm. How lucky we were to be able to buy our seedlings and plants so close to home! During those years Gary supplied the Islesford Dock Restaurant among others with incredibly fresh greens and vegetables. Though Cabin Creek Farm is no longer active, Gary has left his mark in many of the island gardens with his cedar fences and gates. One of his most notable gardens is behind the Islesford Neighborhood House. In 1997 a small group of people planned a perennial garden for the unused space behind the community building. Julie Alley was a member of that group and the garden was named in her memory when she died unexpectedly in January, 1998. Julie’s Garden is a quiet spot, open to the public, maintained by volunteers, supported by donations, and well worth a visit for contemplation and inspiration.
On May 11, it is partly sunny and 55 degrees. The bustle of gardening on Islesford and Great Cranberry has begun. Dan and Cynthia Lief have planted flats of annual herbs, flowers and tomatoes in preparation for another season at the Islesford Dock Restaurant. Seaweed that remains on gardens from last fall is being turned under to continue to enrich the soil. Many folks have already planted their peas, spinach and lettuces. On any good day the passenger ferries will be green with plants we’ve unloaded along with groceries from our mainland cars. While our friends on the mainland are battling black flies, we’ll remember to enjoy the last mosquito-free month of island gardening, and hope for warm sunny days in June.
– Barbara Fernald, Islesford
May 11, 2004