What I don’t know is a lot! For example, all the petals of the echinacea are being eaten by a tiny worm. I can barely see it with my reading glasses. Sadly, only the center of the blossom remains on many of the flowers. I had several varieties in different colors. Honestly, it is always something!

Plus the big event of last weekend was awakening to an unfamiliar humming sound. A swarm of my own honeybees was trying to take up residence right outside my deck door. I was unable to let the dog out. As I write I’m in the process of planning my next action. The bees have yet to settle into their perceived new location in a wicker hamper I use for recycling.

Just what I need — more to do! I have to locate my extra bee equipment, have some cinder blocks to put under the new hive body, locate my suit, and hopefully relocate them further from my house. I’m thinking of a call to some other beekeepers to come for it. Why I insist on taking on so many projects is beyond me. This bespeaks my addictive personality once again.

Take note the next time you park at the Tashmoo Overlook. Too bad you still will not be able to see the full view of beautiful Lake Tashmoo, thanks to the memorandum of understanding signed by the Tisbury selectman against the wishes of a concerned citizens committee. The committee to preserve the view has been working since 2007 to have the large, invasive willows removed from the view corridor. A few were taken down a year or so ago when the view was practically nonexistent. These trees were planted in the wetlands in the 1970s as mentioned previously, and are an invasive species. Just saying!

Anyway, there is tons of butterfly weed in the field below the overlook and an impressive trumpet vine threading its way into a tree at the entrance to the waterworks and amphitheater. You will pass under it if you attend this year’s play, Shakespeare’s Henry IV. Speaking of impressive, check out the trumpet vine covering an entire side of the Square Rigger Restaurant at the Triangle in Edgartown. You will have plenty of time to look around what with the traffic. Yikes!

After pulling the garlic last week, I planted some leftover soybeans, peanuts and black-eyed peas. I was sick of saving said seeds year after year. I figure, the foliage can be turned into the soil for some nitrogen fixing since it is probably too late to get a harvest.

The remarkable thing... many of the old seeds are still viable if they were kept dry. I’ve heard stories of wheat found in the tombs of the pharaohs germinating. I think kamut is one of those varieties from ancient days.

I’ve been keeping up with refrigerator pickles. I boiled some vinegar, water, salt and garlic. After it cooled, I added dill and fresh cucumbers. We’ve been eating them by the dozens. Oh! Word to the wise — use a fork to retrieve the cukes from the liquid. The reaction of vinegar on your fingers will cause the pickle to spoil. The liquid can be used for several batches if you follow this advice. P.S. Make sure your cucumbers are super clean as well!

The crocosmia are at the height of their wonderfulness. The lucifer variety is simply breathtaking and attracts hummingbirds like crazy. They come back every year reliably and do not seem bothered by insects or deer.

Since, as you know, I am an avid food gardener, I am all the more upset by the new Farm Bill passed by the House of Representatives. It eliminates food stamps and Republicans in Congress want to cut funding to the program. Seventeen million children went hungry last year in America, the richest nation on earth. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, has been a lifeline to those children and their families. Also, since the stamps can be used at Farmers’ Markets, they stimulate the local growing economy.

I, for one, am sick of hearing that people abuse them, buying beer and cigarettes etc. First of all, there are no “stamps.” It is a credit card which does not accept any non-food items, even paper towels or toilet tissue. What about the corporate abuse of government funds with subsidies and tax credits?

At any rate, I’ve been calling the White House (202-456-1111) to pester President Obama into vetoing the Farm Bill.