The Mitchell House Nursery

Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • Jul 19, 2021

Well, we continue. I have already noted the abundance – many times – of the crops and crops of baby bunnies we produce here at 1 Vestal Street. We also have quite a few bird nests. I like to think these animals appreciate the relative quiet but also that our pollinator native species gardens are really supporting this life.


This year, again, we have a Mourning Dove nesting in the Peleg Mitchell grape arbor at the back of the House. Doves are not known for being the best nest makers. It’s sort of like your 5-year-old decided to help fold the laundry or help make her or his bed. It’s sort of half-done with things partly pulled closed, some tucking, some sheets hanging out, and the pillows just tossed on the bed or the clothing sort of balled up and squished flat to fit in the drawer. That’s what a dove does for a nest. They bring in mainly sticks and sort of toss them (my opinion) to see what’s going to stay put and then they call it done. It’s a nest that has big gaps and you wonder 1. How can she sit on it without making it collapse? and 2. How is that going to hold an egg or two let alone a few baby doves? The other sort of lack of nest ability is in her choice of the grape arbor – its right over a flagstone patio so I live in fear of someone falling out to not a grass hit but a stone hit. Ouch.



This dove decided to toss in a grape leaf or two – never seen that before – but she’s been sitting up there for maybe two weeks – I’m getting a bit nervous – and I still have not heard or seen anything. She could be diligently sitting on babies now – believe it or not they nurse their babies so she has no real need to go anywhere if her partner makes sure he is bringing her some food. I see another dove around occasionally. Let’s hope he is sustaining her!


JNLF

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Shards

By Jascin N. Leonardo FInger • 06 May, 2024
I have written of my love for sea glass and pottery shards in the past and the recent replacement of the sewer and water lines on Vestal Street created a small shard collection over the last month. Since the work required the asphalt to be completely removed (all twelve inches of it!) and the road to be dug up multiple times as they worked to remove pipe, relay new pipe, hook up the water meters, and install drainage and manhole covers, this resulted in the earth in the street being tossed about quite a bit. And, with that, came the shards! Some of these likely came from the sewer line (yes, yuck) but others came from being simply in the dirt of the road – which was not paved until 1946/1948. Pieces were likely tossed out at times, made to act as filler in holes, or simply tossed. So I found all sorts of pieces I will keep here at the Mitchell House. They included: a lovely piece with a red floral, many pieces of plates, glass, the top of a late nineteenth or early twentieth century (medicine) bottle, glass shards, a flattened spoon, a brass knob (found by a neighbor) some nails, a spike, pieces of a larger container or two based on the size and curve and coloring of the shards, and possibly a Wampanoag stone tool. One person’s trash is another one’s treasures! JNLF

Is That A Wrap?

22 Apr, 2024
Yes. Well, almost. After about a month of working – and some living (staff and or neighbors) – on Vestal Street with all the sewer and water replacement work, the paving happened today (April 17, 2024). This is the first “layer” – a three-inch binder coat. In the fall, once time has passed, they will return for the final one inch of the finish layer. Some of the other things along Vestal Street will also be repaired and updated between now and the final coat – and a bit after that. But we are very happy, after all these years to have a modern system of piping – and all new drainage we never had before! While the curator in me loved the old clay pipes, they were riddled with roots from the trees, holes, and in some places, collapsed, and the twelve inches of asphalt had to go. Vestal Street was only paved in about 1946/1948 – and has not been paved in maybe twenty years so that is a lot of asphalt in about fifty years! And with climate change and the increase in how much rain we get in these heavy rain events, all that water rushed down Vestal Street with nowhere to go – except our cellars. I am sure the neighbors are happy too! A thank you to the Town of Nantucket’s Sewer Department, especially David Gray (who may regret giving me his cellphone number forever), N&M Excavating and Utilities (Dean, we appreciate you being so nice when we had too many questions), Victor-Brandon Corp for paving, and numerous others. We are looking forward to great flushing, powerful hose lines, and rainwater being whisked away via the new, never-before-had storm drains! JNLF And to all the N&M workers who wondered why I was constantly looking down as I walked along Vestal Street, you should see the trove of porcelain shards, glass, old nails, a bottle neck, 19 th century spoon, and even possibly a Wampanoag stone tool I found!
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