Home-Grown Joy: Flower gardening is getting a fresh wave of fans, with advice for beginners to start small, match plants to sun levels, and avoid trying to do too much at once. Pepper-Proofing: Heavy August pepper harvests are snapping stems—readers are urged to stake early with soft ties to keep fruit off the ground and improve airflow. Low-Maintenance Succulents: A new “Skyscraper” senecio is being pitched as a dramatic, water-wise, heat-tolerant architectural plant for containers and xeric gardens. Grape Protection on a Budget: Simple mesh/organza bags and good garden hygiene are highlighted as practical ways to stop birds and insects from stealing ripening clusters. August Garden Reset: With shorter days approaching, gardeners are encouraged to refresh tired beds, adjust watering, and prep plants for fall color. Weed-Free Gravel Hack: A stainless “crevice” tool is marketed as an affordable way to cut weeds from gravel without chemical battles. Forgotten Edibles Trend: Skirret, scorzonera and other “forgotten” vegetables are making a comeback for reliable harvests and unusual flavors. Fall Planting Calendar: Alabama Extension shares August-to-September windows for fall crops like broccoli, collards, beets, radishes, spinach, and turnips. Community & Care: Volunteers helped spruce up outdoor spaces at Basildon Hospital’s family accommodation, planting flowers and repainting fences ahead of reopening. Gardening as Therapy: A program called “Plant a Seed & See What Grows” is expanding free resources to schools and daycares to connect kids with growing food.