Community & Culture: Vermont’s Garlic Town USA returns to Bennington on Sept. 5 with expanded chef demos, composting tips, and family programming—plus a nod to home gardeners. Weather Watch: London braces for six days of rain and thunder from Aug. 26 to Aug. 31, a potential reset for drought-stressed lawns. Plant Care (Hydrangeas): Hydrangea experts say August is about deep watering, sun protection, and mulching—pruning is generally a no-go for varieties that bloom on old wood. Plant Care (Lawns & Trees): UK gardeners are reminded that brown grass may be dormant, not dead, while BBC Gardeners’ World warns newly planted trees can fail in extreme heat without enough water. Wildlife in the Garden: Snakes can be helpful pest controllers, but don’t handle unfamiliar ones; and slugs can be deterred with crushed eggshells instead of chemicals. How-To (Iris & Onions): Louisiana irises can be cut back over the next few weeks; onion bulbs should stay uncovered since the bulb isn’t a root. Local Retail: B&M reopens in Carmarthen with a bigger store and a new garden centre—more plant shopping, faster.