Wildlife in the garden: A reader in Co Meath spotted a rare pair of cranes—turns out they were herons, with cranes returning to breed in a nearby bog after habitat loss. Community & care: Manor Park Care Home in Old Malton is building a resident-led garden-and-activities culture, while Diverse Abilities in Hurn is recruiting volunteer gardeners for its disability-focused Treehouse grounds. Food growing with purpose: Brinkley’s Mustard Seed Garden is feeding the needy with faith-backed harvests, and the South Carolina State Museum has opened a new Carolina Wildlife Garden to teach native plants that support pollinators. Practical gardening wins: September prep advice includes aerating and feeding lawns for winter, plus a quick lavender pruning “5-minute” task to boost next year’s blooms. Pest & protection tips: Citrus peels are being touted as a natural cat deterrent, and WA Health warns gardeners about Legionnaires’ disease risks from potting mix and soil. How-to for growers: Tomato suckers can be rooted to create free new plants, and a sharpened bulb planter tool makes fall planting faster. Local life & leisure: A Debenhams site in Essex is being repurposed after closure, and Burford House Gardens’ Gardeners Retreat bounced back from a hygiene setback with a full refurbishment.