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I hope you had a great week!

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What a week it was!

In the Gardens

I can’t believe we still have had no rain! Everything is super dry, really brown, and I’m really concerned about the trees and plants at this point. I’ve been trying to water what I can to keep things going but it’s not easy! because there is so much!

We did our first round of leaf pick up this week and the property looks a little less cluttered now. When we clean it up we keep piles of it in the woods so it can break down and create leaf mold for the gardens. (Not sure what leaf mold is and how it benefits your garden? Read this article about how to make leaf mold here.

Stacy Ling smiles while holding a vibrant bouquet of pink, purple, and red celosia flowers. She stands near a green lattice fence, surrounded by lush greenery and autumn-colored leaves in the background.

I cut back all of my dahlias, gomphrena, and celosia last week and will be planting my spring flowering bulbs this week. Typically, I plant them in late October/early November but it has been so warm and dry, I held off. But I need to get about 2000 bulbs into the ground – so this week it is!

I had SOOOOO much celosia that I hung a bunch of them to dry in the she shed. I can’t wait to use them in future decorating projects. It looks so pretty in there now.

I JUST ordered my amaryllis bulbs. Have you done it yet? I love to grow them every year because you get these gorgeous flowers with no work! It’s a lazy gardener’s dream.

A wicker basket holds tall, vibrant red and white Christmas amaryllis flowers with broad, green stems. The background features a cozy room with a dark-colored couch and more plants, creating a comfortable, homely atmosphere.

Indoor Gardening

My Christmas cactus is still blooming. If you are not growing a holiday cactus yet, you should def get one this year. Mine flowers 3x a year and it’s a thrill when it does. The plant is easy to care for and pretty hard to unalive. I’ve had mine for over 15 years now!

Those plant shelves I told you about arrived last week and Chris put them together for me. Let me tell you…they hold a lot of plants! I used to have a mish mosh of plant stands and had plants all over the floor. And now they are easier to see, take care of, and prettier to look at! My sunroom looks a lot less cluttered now.

I’ll probably order more in the near future, but for now this works.

A green pot with a vibrant pink flowering christmas cactus sits on a bamboo stand in front of a glass door. Sunlight illuminates the wooden floor and leaves outside, creating a cozy indoor garden scene.

Something Cool is on the Way!

I’m announcing something crazy cool the week before Thanksgiving that’s happening on my blog. Stay tuned for details cause you do not want to miss this one, but I’ll give you a little hint.

It’s a vibe.

My Second Book is Coming!

I’ve been keeping a little secret but am happy to announce it here…I’ve got a second book publishing with Harvest House Publishers on March 11, 2025! The Bricks ‘n Blooms Beautiful and Easy Flower Garden Planner is available now for preorder and is a great accompaniment to my first book.

In this planner, you’ll find cheat sheets, mood board ideas, garden designs, and so much more. This planner will help you in six key areas that include:

  • Understanding your garden
  • Designing and planning
  • Planting and growing
  • Tracking seasonal gardening tasks   
  • Creating a gardening calendar
  • Reviewing flower and plant performance
A dining table with a checkered cloth is decorated with a wicker tray holding a ceramic jug of orange leaves, decorative gourds, and mushroom ornaments. Two ornate candle holders are on either side, and a sparkling chandelier hangs above.

My Top Christmas Decor Finds

Did you see my curated holiday shop yet? While shopping for myself, I tagged some items I thought you might love too and pulled them all into one place. Check out all of my favorite holiday decorating finds here.

It’s been a random week of stuff! I’m starting to look at Christmas decor for my home and of course, needed a few odds and ends for the garden. Here’s what I’m shopping for this week!

  • These gingerbread snowflake plates are ADORABLE!!!!
  • I am a huge fan of the scalloped candles from Target. I get them every season because they burn well, look pretty and I love the scents!
  • I love these towels for my kitchen. I have the throw blanket version of it and love the pattern.
  • These are gorgeous faux stems that will add that pop of red to your festive decor.
Christmas mantel in the dining room decorated with rustic elegance with touches of gold, christmas greenery and twinkle lights

My Favorite Faux Greenery

Every year, these gorgeous faux Christmas garlands fly off the shelves by mid-October. In fact, one is already gone that I was going to share with you today (it was really gorgeous by the way)!They’re so realistic and versatile that they’re always in high demand. And once they’re gone, they’re gone.

I’ve got several of these and want to be the first to tell you how fabulous they are. Since I order a few more yearly to build up my own stock, I wanted to let you know that now’s the time to get them. So if you’re dreaming of a festive home filled with beautiful greenery without the needle drop, I would not wait. Now’s the time to buy them before they sell out.

These are the ones that I have and use every year:

A display of various Christmas garlands on a beige background. Includes greenery and wooden bead designs arranged decoratively. Text at the top reads "CHRISTMAS garlands" and a tag at the bottom reads "@bricksnblooms.

These are the most popular products on my blog this week!

It was a fun week on the blog!

How to Grow String of Hearts: A Beginner’s Guide

Dreaming of a beautiful string of hearts plant trailing down your shelves? Discover the secrets to growing this popular houseplant with this easy-to-follow guide.

A hanging plant with heart-shaped, variegated leaves in a green pot is displayed in front of a sunlit window. The leaves trail down in delicate vines, creating a lush, natural look.

Easy Thanksgiving Centerpiece Idea: Turn Pumpkins Into Vases

Easy DIY Thanksgiving centerpiece idea! Turn pumpkins into vases for a rustic Thanksgiving aesthetic with this simple tutorial.

fresh pumpkin centerpiece idea for the dining table with garden mums that is perfect for your Thanksgiving Aesthetic using fresh pumpkins and garden mums on a farmhouse table with neutral table decorations, cedar branch placemat, dinnerware and tapered candles on brass candlestick holders
Pumpkins and Chrysanthemums

25+ Creative Ideas for 2024 Thanksgiving You Haven’t Tried Yet

2024 Thanksgiving: 25+ fresh ideas for decor, food, and fun! Impress your guests with unique twists on traditions.

friendsgiving table with pumpkin centerpiece and fresh fall flowers under a crystal chandelier on the dining table for Thanksgiving

Apple Crisp for Two: An Easy Recipe for a Small Batch

Apple crisp for two made easy! This recipe is perfect for a date night, a quiet evening, or anytime you want a delicious dessert without the leftovers.

close up of apple crisp easy recipe in bowl and on fork

Creamy Butternut Squash Risotto: This Sage-Topped Dish Will Be Your New Fall Favorite

Creamy butternut squash risotto with crispy fried sage. A cozy fall recipe that is perfect for weeknight dinners or cozy gatherings!

A bowl of risotto garnished with sage leaves and sprinkled with grated cheese. The risotto includes diced butternut squash and herbs. It is placed on a yellow napkin with a spoon alongside.

23 Inspiring Christmas Aesthetics and Decorating Themes for 2024

Are you looking for ways to spruce up your home for Christmas? Get inspired with these creative Christmas aesthetics that include rustic, vintage, coastal, and more to make your holiday decor unique and festive.

A beautifully decorated Christmas tree stands in front of a window, exuding rustic elegance with its gold, brown, and beige ornaments, including ribbons, flowers, and baubles. Wrapped gifts with red and gold ribbons are placed underneath the tree on a beige rug. The christmas aesthetics perfectly capture the holiday spirit.

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.

Thank you so much for following along.

Enjoy a beautiful day! xo

The bricks \'n Blooms guide to a beautiful and easy-care flower garden book by stacy ling
The Bricks ‘n Blooms Guide to a Beautiful and Easy Care Flower Garden
  • Have you never met a plant you couldn’t kill?
  • Have you dug around in the dirt with nothing to show for it except a sunburn and a sore back?
  • Do you currently enjoy growing flowers, but are looking for more tips and ideas to level up your gardening game?

Then the Bricks ‘n Blooms Guide is for YOU

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4 Comments

  1. I am definitely getting a string of hearts the day after I put all the Xmas stuff away! It’s the cutest plant! Thanks for sharing my snowflake wreath, it was a cute one.