HOA vs. harmless flowers: A homeowner says an HOA fined him $75 for planting marigolds and tulsi that looked “completely innocent,” raising fears the board is policing yards like a paperwork contest. Neighbor boundary drama: Another renter describes a neighbor’s “helpful” texts and garden-related monitoring that turned exhausting, while a separate homeowner faced legal threats over mature trees and a dangerous branch. Community gardening with purpose: Limerick’s Social Farms link people with disabilities to family working farms for hands-on skills from gardening to animal care, and Newport’s Urban Grows opens as a wellbeing-and-skills garden tied to climate justice. Gardening know-how for September: Heat-stressed veggies can often recover once temperatures ease; cover crops like oats/crimson clover and phacelia are pushed to protect soil and support pollinators. Practical tips: Skip weed-control fabric—newspaper/cardboard plus mulch can suppress weeds cheaply—and store tools for winter by cleaning and drying them well. Wildlife and oddities: Meet the shiny green figeater beetle, plus a reminder that the cassowary is “dangerous” even while it’s doing its ecosystem work. Local events: Green Mountain Gardeners hosts Page Dickey Sept. 14, and Log Cabin Days returns Sept. 11–12 with homesteading demos and a gardening-focused speaker.