It seems ridiculous to state the obvious, but my memory is failing. Has it always been so hot and humid for days on end?

Growing up in northwestern Pennsylvania on top of a mountain, summers were always pleasant. One thing I don’t miss about those days was the constant annoyance of mosquitoes.

In the evenings we children would build what we called “punky smudges” — an open fire into which we placed fresh grass clippings. Then we would jump over and through the thick smoke. Our smoky skin repelled bugs. I do not remember our parents ever concerned about us building fires. In fact, we pretty much ran wild for hours. We lived and didn’t burn the town down.

Nowadays, I rarely get a bug bite (except ticks — ugh) but then my skin is probably too old and tough.

It’s been nice to get some much-needed rain. The gardens have been thriving.

I’ve noticed some trumpet vines blooming in my travels. There are a couple on State Road just past lower Lambert’s Cove Road.

I noticed a yellow one on Indian Hill Road on the backside of up-Island Cronig’s.

A native of the northeast, it grows up to 30 feet. It would be nice on a pergola. I do not grow it but always appreciate it along the roadways. It’s somewhat invasive but not such a pest as bittersweet.

On Middle Road just past Mermaid Farm there is a large variegated willow. There is also one at the storefront of Ghost Island Farm.

Sometimes called dappled or tri-color willow, Hakuro Nishiki is a semi-shade loving bush that can get up to 10-feet tall. It’s very pink in spring, more subtle in summer, and has a red fall color. I’m always interested in some unusual shrubs around houses. I’m not a fan of the single plantings of, say, 20 hydrangeas or boxwoods. To each their own.

I know it was popular in the landscape world around the 80s to plant monochromatically (is that even a word?). We tend to do the same things as each other. For example, it was popular in the 50s to have foundation plantings around our housing. This was done as a way to hide cinderblocks.

I’ve found that planting anything close to one’s house leads to problems. Wind-caused rubbing of branches can worry shingles, cause mold and rot and transport pests inside (ants, etc.).

I’ve said many times as a gardener for others that my own is the cobbler’s children’s feet. Why should this year be different? I’ve been happy with my growing of garlic for years. I usually grow enough to last the whole year plus enough to replant late fall for the following summer.

This year my crop isn’t what I had hoped. I think in the fall it’s time to purchase some new bulbs and replenish the stock. The hard neck varieties should be used first as they do not keep as well as the soft necks. I noticed both Ghost Island and Mermaid Farms have bumper crops this year.

Speaking of Mermaid Farm, their feta cheese in wonderful in a chickpea/cucumber salad. A simple yogurt dressing of yogurt, olive oil, lemon, garlic, and dill makes it a light summer meal.

What a week — the shooting at the Trump rally, Judge Ailene Cannon dismissing the classified documents case and the selection of J.D. Vance as Trump’s running mate.

After some consideration of all these events, I decided that nothing pays off like the restraint of tongue and pen. Believe me this is very difficult for me, a lifelong over-talker. I think my second-grade teacher at Earl J. Hyatt Elementary School in Rew, Pa. sent a note to my parents: “Lynne talks too much in class.”