We have had a series of “it’s great to be alive” days. The almost fall weather has lifted everyone’s spirits.

Islanders are coming out of the woodwork. I saw several old friends at Cronig’s and the post office. We all remarked how nice it is to have fewer people. Don’t get me wrong — I’m happy to live in a place that others want to visit and/or spend their summers.

Do not neglect your watering duties. Ornamental pots and window boxes are starting to droop. I, for one, became smug that a few days of mid-summer rain were enough.

My early August planting of sugar snap peas is beginning to bloom. Hopefully, there will be some pods to pick soon.

I picked a meal’s worth of the second planting of green beans. The crop looks promising.

Last year, I canned enough grape juice and applesauce from the yard to last two years of winters. Good thing, since both crops failed miserably this summer. I’m wondering if it’s an every other year situation or something I failed to do. I admit I did not prune and fertilize both the apple tree and grape vine. I hate it when I’m the only one to blame.

A few years ago, I put a three-foot wide black plastic weed mat along the paths in my vegetable garden. Each bed is less than three feet wide so I never need to set foot in the actual bed and can devote each bed to a single crop

The hideous wild morning glory has been growing happily under the weed mat and has now grown at an alarming rate across all the beds. I am hesitant to remove it since it’s now entwined in all the vegetables which somehow still are producing. It’s becoming a challenge to maintain any sort of good humor

I’m not a fan of the standard “foundation plantings.” They became popular in the 50s to cover what folks deemed ugly cement or cinderblock foundations. For starters the plants are often too close to the house causing rubbing, mold and who knows what all. Then, many people either do not have gutters or they need cleaning. Dirt splashes on the house and undermines the plantings.

Finally, it’s a “thing” to have all one type of plant. Hydrangeas or boxwoods seem to be the popular choice. I go for a border of good gravel next to the house and then a pleasing mix of different types of shrubs. Some choices are the dwarf crape myrtles, yellow leaved smoke bush, miniature ninebarks, andromeda, gold leaved spirea and St. John’s wort.

Here it is, late Tuesday afternoon and I’m having an uncharacteristic cup of caffeinated tea in hopes of staying awake for the Presidential debate. Perhaps some popping of corn is in order. One can only hope that she puts on her prosecutor’s hat.