I take full responsibility for the errors in last week’s column. As most of you know, I hand-write on Tuesdays and my editor is kind to swing by my house, collect it, and enter it into the computer.

My penmanship leaves much to be desired. My third/fourth grade teacher, Miss Field, would turn over in her grave. It was common practice at the Earl J. Hyatt Elementary School in Rew, Pa. to smack our little knuckles with a ruler if we failed to hold the pen or pencil properly. Remember, this was most likely 1952.

How about that rain storm last Friday? The word Biblical was thrown around. I swear the Mississippi River was headed down State Road right into the Five Corners. I do, however, remember it worse in the seventies. People were paddling around in canoes back then. The drainage seems much better these days. Nevertheless, by Monday, the beds were bone dry. I guess most ran right off.

If you happen into Heather Gardens, the Betty Corning clematis at the entrance is still blooming. It’s been at least three weeks. Also, there is a magnificent stewartia across from the cashier shed. It’s worth a trip. The exfoliating bark is especially nice, not to mention the hundreds of flowers.

I have some pretty healthy fleabane in my perennial beds. It is a weed but I just don’t care. It sets off the various Monarda varieties, the daylilies and rudbeckia so nicely, one would think I did it on purpose.

This past spring we cut some huge woody lavender right to the ground. I never got around to replacing it or removing the roots. It has come back absolutely perfect. It looks like a brand new planting. Hopefully, I’ll do it again next spring to another big bed of the aromatic herb. Nature is grand.

Sadly, however, once again Japanese beetles have destroyed the leaves of the perennial hibiscus. They are totally lace. I guess the plants will still bloom but they will look ridiculous on top of bare stems.

A highly underrated crop is the fava bean (aka broad bean). It can be started very early (with peas) outdoors or in big plug trays in the greenhouse. I start them inside in early March for no other reason but impatience. The very large seed is super easy to plant. When they are a couple inches tall, I transplant into the open ground. Not to worry, they can take a freeze.

The flower is a lovely black and white. It attracts the early pollinators on a warm day. I pulled mine up over the weekend and harvested nearly a bushel from a couple of rows. I boil the entire pod for a few minutes in a large pot and cool in the sink with cold water. The beans pop right out of their shells.

The one annoying characteristic is their inner skin—covering each individual bean. It takes a bit of time to slip those skins. It is not altogether unpleasant if you can gab on the phone or listen to music.

Because I had so many and limited time, I froze several packages with a note to self: “to be skinned.” I’ll finish preparing them this winter. I have every intention to replant the area with beets and/or carrots. Let’s see if I do!

Donnie Trump the Younger is the subject of news this week. As the late Craig Kingsbury would say, “He’s got gravy on his necktie this time.”

For the President’s son and son in law to meet with a Russian attorney to hear some dirt on Hillary and not tell him is a stretch. I didn’t come down the stairs yesterday. The incredible irony, after everything during the presidential campaign concerning Hillary and her emails, we have the damning email released by Don Jr.

Once again, let me quote my son Reuben. “If the internet were a real place—you’d be ashamed to be there.”