What a sad little rain last Sunday evening. I was hoping against hope for some significant moisture. I should be grateful for anything at this point. At least it washed the mud off the rear window of the car.

People, please, start watering your shrubs and trees.

I read in The Gardener’s Bed-Book that it is an abhorrence for the earth to freeze dry. For the important trees to make it safely through the winter, they need a deep soaking in the next few weeks.

I was surprised to read in last week’s Times that we are not officially in a drought. Wow! How dry does it have to be? We dug some holes for some large trees and found it bone dry over four feet deep. I guess we are not California. Thank goodness we had a good amount of snow last winter to replenish the water table. Hopefully the same will happen this year!

I have tons of little birds in the gardens enjoying the sunflower heads and the spent blooms of echinacea. I hesitate to cut things back even though they look ghastly.

So birds and bees can have their way with them!

My irrigation guy, Tyler Stapleton of Green Gardens Irrigation, told me something sad and adorable. He has been fixing leaks in soaker hoses like crazy this month. It seems small rodents are chewing through the hose to get water. They are so thirsty, poor things.

Also, I cannot even muster up any anger over the tremendous deer damage this year. There is nothing for them to eat in the woods.

In mid August I planted a wide row of cherry bell radishes. I’ve been religious about watering all the new fall plantings (unlike my serious neglect of the perennials).

The radishes are already almost the size of golf balls and still tender and delicious. Planted for fall, they do not seem to attract flea beetles like they do in the late spring.

I know I’ve mentioned this before, but it bears repeating. I’ve mentioned everything before — I’ve done this entirely too long.

At any rate, slice radishes very thinly and mix them with a creamy dressing (I use blue cheese). They make a wonderful sandwich on a wrap or some thick white bread. I think the French breakfast radish was developed especially for making into sandwiches. The bread takes away some of the heat.

I guess I’ll segue right into heat from food. Supposedly the women who work picking tabasco peppers down in Louisiana soak their arms in milk after a day’s work.

I know a glass of milk hits the spot after eating too spicy chili. Water only seems to prolong the agony.

Speaking of peppers, I only grew one variety this year — King of the North from Pine Tree Gardens. None of them has yet to ripen although they are thick-walled and a wonderful green.

Rusty at Ghost Island Farm has several varieties available in every color. I eat them like apples in the truck.

Last week there was a front-page article in the New York Times about Kentucky. They interviewed a 49-year-old woman about her new health insurance. Called Kyneck, it is the state’s version of affordable health care. She was absolutely delighted with the care she can now receive and afford. When asked about her voting in the senatorial election this November, she adamantly supported Mitch McConnell because she is opposed to Obamacare. I’m one of the baffled ones!

Then, Alison Lundergan Grimes, a Democratic senate candidate, came on NPR to distance herself from the President. She says she opposes him on coal, guns and the EPA. Wow! Wonder if she knows what a Democrat even is?

This year’s midterm elections should be mighty interesting.