What a relief on Tuesday morning to finally have a reprieve from the humidity. I heard a weather forecaster refer to it as air you could wear. The talk of so many feet of rain in the southeast as a result of Hurricane Debby is a bit alarming.

There are few flowering trees and shrubs in August. Crape Myrtle tops my list. It is in full bloom right now and comes in white and varying shades of pink. It’s late to leaf out in the spring but all the other spring flowering makes up for it. There is a white one at the bank in North Tisbury next to Vineyard Gardens. It’s especially nice in the winter with its exfoliating bark.

I always think I dislike Rose of Sharon but then when in full bloom it proves me wrong. There is an impressive hedge of the aforementioned at the corner of Katama Road and South Water street just as you could enter Clevelandtown Road. Rose of Sharon blooms on new growth so can be pruned aggressively in late winter.

I often talk smack about hydrangeas. They are over-used, too maintenance intensive and only pretty for a short time. That time has passed. In my travels, I’ve noticed them looking washed up and sad.

The PeeGee varieties on the other hand are fabulous. The very stunning, large, white blooms are eye-catching. They can also be pruned within an inch of their lives and come back all the better. A dose of Pro-Holly in late winter helps them along.

I also like the annabelles with their white flowers. They can be cut to the ground in late winter.

The vegetable garden is finally producing. I harvested a boatload of perfect zucchini. So as not to waste any or risk my friends’ patience with ill-timed gifts, I sauteed them with a couple of fresh onions, hit them with the hand-held blender and froze several containers of purée. It’s great to add to soups and sauces mid-winter.

I usually wait until half of the onions look dry or are laying down but since we are supposed to get tons of rain over the weekend, I pulled them. Now many of the horizontal surfaces in the house are covered in newspaper and onions. What they lack in size this year they make up in quantity.

The perennials are looking great right now: phlox, echinacea and rudbeckia. Good thing since my annuals could use some spiffing up.

The Goldsturm rudbeckia at down-Island Cronig’s are really making a statement. I guess the common name is Black-Eyed Susans. On a cloudy day, the vibrant yellow color really stands out.

Remarkably, I have started to receive seed catalogs already. Back in the day, they arrived right after Christmas and made for enjoyable mid-winter reading. I know I’m too old when I keep looking fondly at the past. I am guilty of saying “They don’t make things like they used to.”

What a few weeks in news. Where do I start?

Good on Joe Biden for negotiating the complicated prisoner exchange. DJT gave credit to Putin (eyeroll!)

Kamala Harris has jumped into her campaign with both feet. It’s wonderful to see the enthusiasm from the Democrats.

As I was writing on Tuesday, the news broke about the pick of Tim Walz. I admit I know little about him, but from reports and speeches the last few weeks, he is a great choice. Can’t wait for the vice-presidential debate.

Will be popping corn!