I have panicle hydrangeas and several other types in my garden for many years.
Not knowing where each plant is located in each garden in the neighbors gardens I suspect they were not receiving either enough water and or dappled shade in morning .
To much hot direct sun , afternoon sun with extreme heat , plus if the roots dry out between watering , that alone can dampen bloom production severely.
Whole neighborhood no blooms on panicles only ? It's really three things that hydrangeas like and will bloom profusely every year. Location, Location, Location.
Plant panicle hydrangeas in full sun in the north and afternoon shade in the south. They need plenty of light to form flower buds early morning to noon.
If you'd like to prune them to encourage more branching, do so in spring just as the new growth appears. You can trim the branches back by as much as 1/3 each year if necessary. Also, remove any dried flowers that have hung on through the winter at this time to tidy up the plants' appearance.
Water panicle hydrangeas regularly to keep them growing strong and to achieve the most notable color change from white to pink or red in the fall.
Pic taken today… lots of blooms…
Last fall pic changing colors to autumn pink.
