When I was a little girl and we had a stretch of hot, humid weather at the end of August, we were forbidden to play outdoors. This was before the polio vaccine became the norm and our parents were terrified we would get the dreaded infantile paralysis. A first-grade classmate died and several were wearing leg braces. Then, in 1952, I was in a nationwide group of second-graders known as Polio Pioneers.

We hated it. Nine times in one year we were bussed into the big town (Bradford, Pennsylvania) to receive shots. Some were probably placebos but, as you can imagine, we were not very happy! You may wonder why I bring this up. Only so I can remember that things could be worse. We are doing an incredible amount of grumbling on the job sites.

Several weeks ago, I mentioned some critters who are devouring my cabbages. They were new to me – a cross, it seems, between a slug and a snail.

One of my young women workers, Sakiko, found them to be Amber snails. They are found mostly in North America and western Europe, especially in the UK.

I may have to pay attention to them as their population seems to be growing in my vegetable gardens.

Last winter, I came across some Dara ammi in a seed catalog. They are a pink Queen Anne’s Lace. I grew some. They are simply lovely. I made an arrangement with them and some raspberry limeade zinnias and was very happy. Both flowers look like they belong in a Victorian living room. Keep your eye out for them next year. The raspberry zinnia is a new hybrid. It is pale pink and lime green. I got the seed for it at Select Seed.

This week I went to SBS to purchase winter rye. I have some beds empty of their onions and garlic and wanted to seed rye before the onslaught of fall weeds.

I noticed they already have the seed garlic out and ready to be purchased. Yikes! I thought we had plenty of time. I’ve been known to plant it around Thanksgiving and still get a good crop the following July.

Every spring I forget to plant a couple of crepe myrtles. Then a trip down Clevelandtown Road in Edgartown makes me regret that oversight. There is a property close to the Katama Road with three very impressive ones – two pinks and a white.

I am eating radishes planted a mere three weeks ago. Granted they are small, they still pack a bite. Unlike my family members, I am fond of them, especially with a touch of blue cheese dressing.

I am quite impressed with my Lutz Winter Keeper beets this year. They are an old-time variety good as both large roots and nice greens. Some are already the size of tennis balls. Isn’t it funny how we refer to the size of foods with sports references – ping pong balls, golf balls, softballs, etc. and physical ailments with fruits, i.e. tumors the size of almonds, grapefruits, cantaloupes, etc.?

How I digress! It was a sad week for our nation to hear of the death of John McCain. It’s hard to imagine that his 106-year-old mother has to bury a son. I love that both Barack Obama and George W. Bush are speaking at his funeral at the National Cathedral. Both of those men were political rivals who defeated him in his two bids for President.

It is comforting to know that political disagreements are not personal and that the three men had mutual respect and love of country.