Bricks ‘n Blooms Weekly 128
Hi there!
I hope you had a great week!
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Random Things Happening Behind the Scenes at Bricks ‘n Blooms
What a week it was!
And Happy Earth Day Weekend!
The potager garden is fully up and running now. I’ve been slowly planting it and even whipped up a quick centerpiece for the outdoor dining space that I made with a few terra cotta pots and some lavender.
We also installed the arbor that I finished painting last weekend and it LOOKS SO GOOD! I can’t believe how badly the other one looked.
But I guess I thought that since the lonicera was on it you couldn’t really notice, but it was very noticeable after seeing it look like this.
I am shopping around for a water fountain like this one or this one to add to the potager but I haven’t found the right one yet.
We spent the early part of the week mulching all of the gardens too. And when I say “we” I mean my assistant gardener and his helpers.
While I used to mulch all of the beds myself at our former home, it is too big a job here and I am not THAT fit. It would take me months to get all these beds done.
I’m often asked how much I actually do here and the answer is…a lot. But for some of the heavier lifting projects, I ask my assistant to help me because he’s a lot stronger than I am and can get things done much faster.
On another note, the trees are in full bloom here and the property looks incredible. I love seeing it in full bloom like this. And the best part is it lasts at least a good week.
In my former garden, we had one flowering crabapple that bloomed for a day or two and then finished. It was beautiful when it flowered, but it did not last long.
I wanted to quickly share the lastet tulips to bloom in the front porch garden.
These are called ‘Creme Upstar’ and they are beyond gorgeous.
Isn’t she fabulous? It’s a double flowering tulip with a sweet fragrance. I planted it last fall and am definitely getting more for next year. Wow! 🌷
What I’m Shopping For This Week
I had A LOT of requests this week for my boho dress in the above photo. It is SO COMFY and it fits true to size but it’s also ok to size down because it is so flowy.
Here’s what else I shopped for or have been asked about this week!
- I stocked up on some new garden gloves as mine are getting a little worn out. And am I the only one who misplaces them all the time?
- In addition to garden gloves, I bought sunscreen because I’m outside all the time and it’s important to protect your skin from UV damage.
- I’ve been asked how I get pots, plants, and other garden supplies from one end of the property to another and while I don’t have a gator just yet, I’ve been using this gorilla cart. It is AWESOME. Mine is gray but I couldn’t move things around here as easily. We have a wheelbarrow, but this keeps everything level so it’s easier to transport.
- To prepare for sowing seeds outdoors, I ordered some peat pots. Yes, I can direct sow in the raised garden beds, but my other gardens are already mulched so not ideal for starting seeds. To get around that, I like to start things like sunflowers, nasturtiums, calendula, etc in these peat pots because they can be directly planted in the ground without disturbing the seedling.
Not sure what to get friends, family, and others in your life this year? I got you!
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My hope is that this guide will help you knock this part of the hustle and bustle off your list so you can sit back and savor the season a bit more.
Grab your free guide here.
- If you’ve ever had a bad case of poison ivy before, you know how awful it can be to get rid of the rash. I got it really bad one year and this lotion was the ONLY THING that helped get rid of it for good. Before using it, I was ready to burn my skin off it was so bad. I just bought a few tubes of this to be prepared!
- Speaking of poison ivy, you can also use a cleanse or scrub to help get the oils off if you know you’ve been in contact with it. I tend to use the scrub in the shower after a long day in the gardens but keep that cleanse handy too. And yes I know you can use good old soap, a washcloth, and water, but when you’ve had a case as bad as I did, you don’t mess around anymore. I just bought some of each so I am prepared.
- While I didn’t just buy this garden kneeler, I have been using it alot in the gardens lately and it has really saved my knees and back. I highly recommend. I had one for years that broke and I replaced it last year with this one.
- I stock up on these half-moon plant supports every year because I always late to the party with some plant that needs to be staked. And these half-moon supports are a great solution because there is less damage to the plant as you try to stake it upright.
What’s Happening at Bricks ‘n Blooms
It was a fun week on the blog!
To kick off the week, I shared a beautiful bouquet that I styled in a thrift store vintage crock in my family room for a fun pop of color.
Wait until you see how it brightens up the room!
And since I am all about the gardens this week, I shared my early spring garden tour so you can see just how beautiful everything is!
Finally, I shared the basics of deadheading flowers.
Not all flowers should be deadheaded, so it’s important to know what you have so you know whether that plant will benefit from deadheading or not.
Amazing Inspiration from Around the Web
I love finding cool inspiration from around the web and wanted to share some of what I’m loving right now.
- These closet organizing ideas to maximize your space.
- This delicious poke tuna stack recipe.
- I LOVE this DIY succulent wall!
- This DIY frame moss gallery.
- This lemon poppy seed scone recipe.
- These vintage decorating ideas for the bedroom.
- These tips for painting plywood floors.
- This DIY flower pot napkin ring.
- This potting shed update is really coming along!
If you enjoy these posts, you can find past Bricks ‘n Blooms Weekly posts here.
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Garden Supplies I Use
I’m often asked about the garden supplies and tools that I use most. From pruners to deer repellents, here are some of my favorites in no particular order.
- I like to use a good-quality garden soil, compost, and perlite when planting.
- I have used this deer repellent with great success. It smells minty and doesn’t clog like other brands.
- But now, I’m all about this deer repellent that is systemic instead of topical. This means the plant takes it in as opposed to it just smelling bad.
- Hands down this is my favorite hand-weeding tool. You can use to get underneath roots, loosen soil, and it cuts down on the weeding time because you work much faster.
- But I also love this long, stand-up weeding tool to really get around roses from afar.
- I like to use THIS ORGANIC FERTILIZER for roses because the blooms are more prolific and it’s organic.
- You’ll need a sharp set of pruners when working with plants and flowers. I buy a few so I can stash them around.
- Where pest and disease problems are concerned, I generally use this insecticidal soap or neem oil to help control infestations depending on the issue.
- This is my favorite set-and-forget slow-release fertilizer for houseplants, annuals, and container gardens.
- Whenever I stake my peonies or other plants, I generally use these grow through garden supports because they work really well and keep the blooms upright.
- But sometimes I don’t stake things quickly enough and have used these half moon hoops with great success too. You can help support after the fact and use a few for the same plant if need be. It is worth stocking up on them.
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About Me
Want to learn more about me?
I’m a master gardener who’s been gardening and growing things for over 25 years. With a deep passion for gardening, I enjoy helping others find their inner green thumb with all things plants and flowers, as well as find ways to bring the outdoors inside their homes too.
Get the inside scoop about my background as a master gardener, education, and experience, as well as why I started blogging.
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Enjoy a beautiful day! xo
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