It is probably a good thing that July has its days of doldrums. We hear plenty of complaining. Too hot. Too muggy, too dry. Too much rain. Too hot.

July brings a bounty of such irritants, and more that include stinging sea nettles and mosquitoes. But it has many positive attributes, including but not limited to the following:

—General apathy. The clanging in Washington, D.C., and the upcoming political races seem to be noises in the background. Let them stay there for a while.

—Pleasant mornings, during which, before the heat mounts, one can water flowers, enjoy a walk, pick the garden.

—Good neighbors and friends, who are more than willing to share the bounty of their gardens, not limited to gifts of zucchini. Fresh cantaloupes, tomatoes, and ears of sweet corn may appear at the door, and everyone can be grateful for this. There are fresh-picked cucumbers, blueberries and peaches in abundance.

—In our area, the chance to catch a nice mess of spot or...