I had my maternal grandmother, Nonnie, until I was well into my 30s with children of my own. She wrote me every week and enclosed a five-dollar bill if that week had any sort of holiday. She began all her letters with the weather and usually included some affair she attended and mention of the menu. She always told the origins of certain foods. For example: “they served bought cookies.” It was never a judgment, just the pure facts.

This all brings me to the weather. I know many of the non-gardening types think we’ve had plenty of rain. Not so if you are really paying attention. As you remember, I always mention the lack of water in Whiting’s Pond. Both astilbe and New Guinea impatiens languish if they get inadequate water. We have been cutting astilbe to the quick at some of the job sites. They are simply toast. The only good news is that they will try again next year.

Hostas, on the other hand, seem to take drought in stride. Granted, the leaves may brown out slightly but bounce back after a good soaking.

The perennial garden could use attention. Besides dead-leafing of the daylilies, the Shasta daisies are mostly over. Trust me, they will not bloom again but if the flower stalks are cut right to the ground, attractive new growth will form and stay nice right through the fall.

I’m also cutting quite a bit out of the baptisia. The spent flowers form pea-like pods which look great in an arrangement but will drag the plant down into its flowering neighbors. Don’t be shy—just get rid of them.

I replanted both cucumbers and summer squashes. They take under 60 days so I should get another crop.

Also, now is the time to think about that fall garden. Peas, carrots, beets, lettuce and spinach can all be seeded now. I’ve planted carrots as late as November and still picked in the spring. A bit of protection, such as Reemay, will help as the days really cool.

Recently on a job site I heard a terrible annoying sound. It was as if someone didn’t know how a weed wacker functioned. Because I wear a wide-brimmed hat I did not notice that the noisy culprit was a very low-flying drone. Talk about freaky! It was taking photographs and hovered around us for nearly an hour. What’s become of our world? Aside from the privacy issue, I feared it might actually hit us. Gardening should be quiet and a respite from our daily cares.

Speaking of the world, since last column we got “The Mooch” as communications director at the Trump White House and here it is a week later and he’s gone. I didn’t even get to criticize him.

No matter, there is plenty more material. Both the Boy Scouts and police chiefs needed to apologize for our commander-in-chief. Who raised the man? It is as if no one taught him how to behave. We all say things in private which could warrant a good soaping of the mouth but for Pete’s sake, Donald, read the room!