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I hope you had an amazing week!

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Random Things Happening Behind the Scenes at Bricks ‘n Blooms

A patio with wicker chairs around a wooden table topped with a planter of colorful flowers, surrounded by blooming garden beds and green trees, on a sunny day.
A lush garden bed filled with leafy green plants and colorful blooming flowers, including yellow and purple blossoms, bordered by a wooden edge.

In the Garden

Another busy week in the books between the raindrops! This week, I planted my container gardens and moved all of my houseplants outside. So it is a jungle on both my front and back porches! I have a lot of plants! LOL

I also planted my dahlias this week in my raised beds after relocating the tulip garden. That was a ton of work but hopefully they’ll return and bloom again in their new spot. We’ll see next year!

My kitchen garden took off and I’m so thrilled with the bounty this year. I started all of my cool season vegetables via winter sowing and decided to plant them more densely. Love love love the result!!! I will definitely do this moving forward. We are harvesting salads daily and I love how it all looks, don’t you?

And finally, I planted elfin thyme between the stone pavers in the secret garden. It took me two days to get it done but I hope it takes!

A pair of red gardening gloves, a blue-handled weeding tool, a small plant in a black pot, and loose soil are scattered on a concrete surface.

Plants of the Week!

I’m going to start highlighting some favorite garden blooms from the week so you can see the plants and varieties I’m growing. Here are a few that I’m loving this week!

A close-up of a flowering plant with tall spikes of small purple and pink flowers, surrounded by green leaves in a garden. The background includes greenery, a wooden sculpture, and a fence.
Pink Profusion Salvia
A large, leafy hosta plant grows in a garden bed with smaller green plants nearby, backed by a green wooden fence and trees in the background on a sunny day.
Not sure of the variety but that hosta foliage!
A stone planter filled with yellow, purple, and white flowers sits outdoors in a lush green garden, with small white blossoms and leafy plants all around.
Sweet alyssum, pansies and rise up lilac climbing rose
A lush garden with vibrant green hosta plants in the foreground and a beige planter filled with colorful pansies, set in front of a yellow house with white trim.
Another hosta plant I don’t know the variety but that foliage – gah!

Mother’s Day Fun!

Happy Mother’s Day to all the great moms out there! We spent the weekend dining, planting, and shopping around for statues and vintage garden decor. Last Mother’s Day Weekend, we found this great shop called Ziegler’s in Andover, NJ so I wanted to go back. It’s not close to where we live but a fun trip with the fam to get…stuff!

New Styles Added!

I’m so excited to share that new Get Your Bloom On T-Shirts AND Sweatshirts have been added to my shop! They are both super soft and I have been living in them!!! Check them out here.

A woman wearing a straw hat and sunglasses sits on a stone edge in a garden, smiling among blooming purple and yellow tulips, with green shrubs and trees in the background.

What I’m Shopping For This Week

In preparation for planting season, this week has been all about garden shopping! Here’s what I bought this week.

In the Garden

  • Deer Repellent – After planting, I’ve got a lot of new plants to protect.
  • Neem Oil – Some of my garden roses are a bit fussy and get black spot that need it. I usually lean toward growing roses that are more resistant, but these are plants that were planted well before I moved in. They are much more work!
  • Slow-release fertilizer for my annual flowers.
  • RoseRX for my roses – I’ve had a sawfly problem in years prior and want to be ready!
  • I love my lightweight cordless leafblower – it is PERFECT for me to use on the porches. I keep it tucked behind some potted plants for quick and easy clean up.
A colorful garden bed with blooming tulips and pansies curves along a stone border, surrounded by lush green grass and trees in the background on a bright spring day.

Around the House

  • This pool skimmer robot is hands down the best investment of the year. It works amazing!!!! I just got it and started using it and I don’t have to manually skim at all anymore. Woohoo! I did some online research, saw it had thousands of positive reviews, and just went for it. So worth it!!!
  • These side tables arrived for the zen garden and I could not be happier with the look! They are solid pieces and look great with my outdoor wicker set.
  • Thinking about getting this outdoor garbage can for the pool – not sure I want to invest in it but it’s in my cart.
A small white table outside displays several potted plants, including colorful foliage with red and pink leaves, green leaves with white spots, and large green leaves. Behind the table is a yellow sign that reads "Farm Fresh Eggs" against a beige wall.

Vacation and Summer Looks

  • I bought these super comfortable sandals last year in black that you can dress up or down. Seriously – it’s like I’m walking on air.
  • Love my teal blue boho dress.
  • This black boho maxi dress is perfect for those nights out.
  • These cozy loose overalls are perfect for hanging around or a casual night out.
  • Love my summer jumpsuit in laurel green. It’s lightweight and super comfy.
  • Sunscreen – We are running low and need it! If you are spending more time outside you need it too. I’ve had a few friends recently who were diagnosed with skin cancer.

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

A large stone planter filled with yellow, white, and purple flowers is placed by a garden path, surrounded by lush green plants and colorful flowerbeds, with trees and a cloudy sky in the background.

What’s Happening at Bricks ‘n Blooms

It was a fun week on the blog!

When to Cut Back Spring Bulbs: A Guide to After-Bloom Care

Learn the best time to cut back spring flowering bulbs (tulips, daffodils, etc.) to ensure healthy growth and beautiful blooms next year.

A vibrant garden bed featuring blooming pink and dark purple tulips, surrounded by green leaves, with a metal fence and more plants visible in the background.

Tulip Garden Ideas: Exploring Tulip Colors and Varieties

Discover the meanings behind the many tulip colors – pink, purple, white & more! Plus, a look at different tulip varieties in bloom.

A vibrant garden with orange, pink, and purple tulips in bloom surrounds a stone fountain on a patio, framed by green fencing and leafy trees in the background.

10 Outdoor Table Setting Ideas for Chic Alfresco Dining

Get inspired to create beautiful and inviting outdoor tablescapes for alfresco dining season with this collection of table setting ideas.

Collage of four outdoor dining tables, each set with colorful flowers, candles, fruit, and vibrant table settings. Styles vary with different tablecloths, dishes, and decor, all surrounded by lush greenery.

Cottage Gardening Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make

Cottage gardening made easy! Avoid the common pitfalls and mistakes while creating the dreamy garden you’ve always wanted.

A lush garden with blooming pink and purple flowers, tall sunflowers, vibrant greenery, and a carved wooden sculpture in the background. The garden is surrounded by trees and a gravel pathway. The scene is bright and sunny, depicting a beautiful, serene outdoor setting.

Quick and Easy Strawberry Dump Cake Recipe

Whip up this easy 3-ingredient strawberry dump cake recipe in minutes! Get the simple recipe for a fast & delicious treat.

A plate with strawberry cobbler topped with vanilla ice cream and a fork beside it, a baking dish of cobbler, fresh strawberries in a bowl, and extra plates on a table.

How to Create Stunning Window Boxes: Top Tips for Planting Flowers

Learn how to create stunning window boxes with my top tips for planting flowers. Perfect for adding beauty to your home all year round.

A rectangular wicker planter filled with colorful flowers sits on a wooden table outdoors, with a garden, blooming trees, a fountain, and rows of tulips visible in the background.

10 Easy Ways to Save Money in Your Flower Garden


Want a beautiful flower garden without breaking the bank? You’re in the right place! In this video, I’m sharing my top 10 easy ways to save money in your flower garden, from starting seeds to repurposing old containers. Let’s grow gorgeous blooms on a budget! 🌸

Watch it here!

A colorful garden bed with bright pink coneflowers and clusters of white and pale pink yarrow flowers. Bold text says, "SAVE MONEY" and below it, "GROW MORE FLOWERS!.

Stop Guessing, Start Growing: Why You NEED a Flower Garden Planner! 🌸

What was the variety of that coreopsis again? When did I plant those snapdragons and pinch them back? How long did the zinnias start blooming after planting the seedlings?

If these are the types of questions you’re struggling to answer each season, you’ve got to start using a garden planner! For years I jotted notes down here and there but it’s so important to keep it all in one place so it’s easy to use and reference later. Watch it here!

A vibrant purple dahlia blooms among green leaves, with terracotta pots on stakes in the background. Text reads, “THE ONE TOOL YOU NEED FOR BETTER BLOOMS,” next to a purple flower graphic.

Out with the Old, In with the New! Garden Tour: Tulip Update & Design Plans 🌷

This week’s garden tour is all about looking ahead! We’re saying goodbye to the tulips for now as I relocate them to rest and rejuvenate for next year’s display. I’ll also be sharing some of my favorite garden design tips for using spring-blooming alliums like Globemaster to create structure and visual interest.

And get ready for a burst of summer color! I’ll show you the newly planted supertunias, the promising seedlings for the cut flower garden (zinnias, strawflowers, gomphrena, china asters!), the emerging lilies, and my hopeful dahlia tubers. It’s all about planning and planting for continuous beauty in the garden! Watch it here!

Three purple allium flowers in focus with a blurred garden background. Text reads “Allium Design Secrets: Planning for Continuous Blooms” with a flower graphic.

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

Buy Now

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Stacy Ling

Stacy Ling is author of the best selling book, The Bricks 'n Blooms Guide to a Beautiful and Easy-Care Flower Garden, and writes the blog Bricks ’n Blooms from her 1850 farmhouse located in zone 6b northern New Jersey. She is a master gardener who’s been gardening for over 25 years and enjoys sharing her passion to help beginners find their inner green thumb, as well as discover a love for all things plants and flowers. Stacy loves to bring the outdoors inside her home and decorates with a comfy, casual, and cottagecore style. Come grow stuff and create beautiful spaces with her.

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2 Comments

  1. I so envy your gardens, the pictures are gorgeous, although I bet they do not compare to in person. So much enjoyment, so much care involved. How is the bedroom redecorate going, any updates ? Kim

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much Kimberly! It’s on temporary hold until I’m done with planting season but will get a post out soon!!!!

      Reply