Hi there!
I hope you had a great week!
(Posts on stacyling.com may contain affiliate links. Click HERE for full disclosure.)
Random Things Happening Behind the Scenes at Bricks ‘n Blooms
What a week it was!
The weather has been so wonderful here this week that my daffodils, crocuses, and hellebores are all blooming! And it’s still early March!
I’ve lived in New Jersey all my life and I’ve not seen this…ever. And I’m not mad about it. But it’s got me thinking about spring. So I started my new garden this week.
Remember when I told you about the cottage and how I was creating a new cottage garden there? Well, we started removing all that liriope and pachysandra. It was so overgrown and boring that it was time to go.
I’ll relocate to other areas in my yard, but for now, it is coming out. My assistant gardener has been really great at helping me remove it all. Because let me tell you, it is a lot of work!
As we were cleaning things out, we uncovered a whole bunch of drain pipes that were totally clogged and not helping the property drain well. Because our property slopes down to a brook, the ground can really hold moisture.
The former homeowners installed drainage pipes all over the property. Over the last year, we’ve noticed an increase in drainage issues so we’ve been trying to locate and find where all these pipes begin and flow out.
The cottage houses both my planting and garden garages together with my decor storage. Over the last year, my planting garage has seen an increase in moisture getting inside. I figured once we started removing the liriope and pachysandra we’d find some pipes but never expected to have several in one spot.
And let me tell you, it is the hot mess express here right now looking at it! But we will have it cleaned out and fixed this week. Good thing I was all in on removing all these plants so we could get to and repair it all.
What I’m Shopping For This Week
While it was a week focused on spring gardening, I also shopped around for odds and ends for our home here and the cabin in Vermont. Here’s what I shopped for this week!
For the Home:
- Our toaster oven in the VT cabin was on the fritz. It was old and had needed replacing for a while. So I bought this toaster oven/air fryer combination and cannot wait to use it!
- We also needed a new electric griddle for the cabin, so I bought this one.
- Love love love this microwave splatter cover. It saves the mess in my microwave when reheating. You need this!
- And I bought this slow cooker for the cabin too. What we had was a garage sale find that just didn’t work well.
For the Garden:
- I bought some wire cloches for the garden. Every time I start sunflowers in the ground the chipmunks or a rabbit get to them. BUT NOT THIS YEAR! I’m covering them with these wire cloches.
- To organize my seeds a little better, I bought this organization box.
- I started stocking up on slug bait – my hostas will break ground soon so I want to ready when it fully leafs out.
- I also bought a few bottles of this deer repellent. I’m starting to hit my tulips while they break ground and hydrangeas as they start to leaf out. Since this repellent is systemic, you want to apply it early while the plant is growing and filling out.
What’s Happening at Bricks ‘n Blooms
It was a fun week on the blog!
Choosing the Perfect Planter
Discover creative planter ideas to elevate your potted flowers. Learn about drainage, material options, and styling tips to bring out the beauty of your plants.
Planting Dahlias Like a Pro
Growing dahlias this year? Create a summer explosion of blooms with this beginner’s guide to planting dahlia tubers. Learn the secrets to HUGE, healthy flowers that will steal the show.
5 Curb Appeal Landscaping Hacks
Want to know how to make your house look better? Boost your home value & impress the street with 5 easy curb appeal landscaping hacks. No renovation is required!
Zen Garden Ideas
Escape the chaos, and create your sanctuary! 13 easy & affordable Zen garden ideas to transform your backyard into a haven of peace. Read on to learn how to create a calm and relaxing space in your garden for the body and mind.
27 Water Features for Your Yard
De-stress and unwind with the soothing sounds of water. This post explores 27 beautiful water feature ideas for your yard, designed to create a peaceful and serene outdoor haven.
10 Easy Spring Crafts
Spring has sprung! Celebrate the season with 10 EASY & ADORABLE Spring Crafts you can make in a DAY! Perfect for kids, adults, or DIY beginners! Let’s get crafting!
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 10 stunning milk glass centerpiece ideas
- This daffodil bulb arrangement is GORGEOUS
- These tips for decorating for spring reusing what you already have.
- These tips for slipcovering furniture.
- These tips for deep cleaning a mattress.
If you enjoy these posts, you can find past Bricks ‘n Blooms Weekly posts here.
And… If you’re catching up on blog posts you may have missed, be sure to sign-up to get my newest posts via email to stay up to date with everything that’s happening here on the blog and more.
Viral Apple Dump Cake: The Dessert Taking the Internet by Storm
Easy Thanksgiving Centerpiece Idea: Turn Pumpkins into Vases!
Drying Herbs: The Easiest Way to Preserve Your Harvest
The Lazy Person’s Guide to Spider Plant Care
How to Overwinter Dahlia Tubers for More Blooms Next Year
Sustainable Fall DIY Decor: Craft Ideas for a Greener Home
Thank you so much for following along.
Enjoy a beautiful day! xo
