Letter: Bird arrivals help dispel moth misery

Posted 5/11/17

To the editor

Finally it is safe to say Spring has arrived. A bit chillier – it’s been in the 50’s a lot – and certainly a lot wetter – over one inch at Kentucky Derby time – than we …

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Letter: Bird arrivals help dispel moth misery

Posted

To the editor

Finally it is safe to say Spring has arrived. A bit chillier – it’s been in the 50’s a lot – and certainly a lot wetter – over one inch at Kentucky Derby time – than we might have wished, but our world is becoming green. Every year I talk about our beautiful swamp loving shad bush which is now in full bloom. I hope you have seen it as it doesn’t last long.

Over time a faithful reader in Oak Forest has kept me up to date on the damage done by that miserable winter moth. This spring seems to be an exception but perhaps the disgusting gypsy moth has taken over as the tiny black caterpillars are just beginning to hatch and soon you will see the filmy tents in which they shelter at night. I used to take rags soaked in kerosene attached to a long pole, light them, and then burn these tents. A very effective way if the tents are where you can reach them.

May 5 was always a day I looked forward to as our summer visitors from the south, the catbirds and the orioles would arrive.This year the catbird pair arrived, but I have not heard that clear, piercing song of the orioles. Perhaps they have heard that my bird guru is trying out two Droll Yankee marmalade feeders which have proved very popular according to some photos he sent me. I am hoping that when my continuous drip bird bath gets going that they will come back.

This year Sakonnet Garden will be open the Saturday after Mother’s Day, May 20, and 21, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Come early before the crowds, and enjoy the totally original and beautiful series of garden rooms.

Sidney Tynan

Little Compton

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Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.