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Bricks ‘n Blooms Weekly 237

ByStacy Ling Posted on
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Hi there!

I hope you had an amazing week!

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Random Things Happening Behind the Scenes at Bricks ‘n Blooms

In the Garden

It was another hot one this week! The cutting garden is well underway and I’ve started making bouquet almost daily now. My zinnias and snapdragons are popping off. The dahlias are getting there…not quite blooming just yet. The strawflowers are starting to flower and my gomphrena is starting to fill in the raised garden beds.

I’ve got to get out there and pull the cool season vegetables that are overgrown, bolting and totally finished for the season. But with our pool deck renovation, I didn’t really want to be out there working in the gardens. It was so loud and not enjoyable to be out there watching things get ripped up so I just avoided it like the plague. I will have my work cut out for me next week, I am sure.

A vibrant garden with blooming orange and pink flowers, small terracotta pots on green stakes, and a yellow house with an American flag in the background surrounded by trees and string lights.

The Pool Deck Renovation

Speaking of the pool deck renovation – it was no joke! It took them all week long and it was a huge mess but it looks really good so far. The space is much larger and more usable. My gardens took a beating but they’ll recover over the next year. It’s hard to look at them right now but it will be worth it long term.

I am shopping for a table and chairs and some additional pool loungers now that we have so much more space! Here are a few pics from the project this week. I’ll share some finished projects hopefully next week. The concrete has been drying and we need to clean things up.

Several workers in safety gear are repairing or renovating a stone walkway leading to a backyard pool, with lush green trees and landscaping surrounding the area. Tools and construction materials are scattered nearby.
Before as they started demo
A yellow excavator sits behind a green fence in a garden, with broken concrete and debris in the foreground. Lush green trees and plants surround the area, and a red construction vehicle arm is visible at the top.
Oh boy – this is going to get messy
Excavators and construction equipment are parked near a backyard swimming pool, surrounded by trees and greenery, indicating ongoing landscaping or renovation work. The equipment displays "Fusco Rentals" branding.

Plants of the Week!

I’m 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 bright pink oriental trumpet lily in full bloom with prominent orange stamens, surrounded by green leaves and unopened buds, in a garden setting.
Lily Oriental Trumpet ‘Purple Prince’
Bright red and yellow daylilies in bloom surrounded by green leaves, with white daisies and other foliage in the background in a garden setting.
‘Ruby Spider ‘Daylily
Pink and yellow zinnias blooming in a lush garden, water droplets on green leaves, with a house, fountain, and string lights visible in the background on a cloudy day.
My Zinnias!
Tall green stems with narrow leaves and vibrant purple, feathery flowers bloom in a garden bed. A green fence and other foliage are visible in the background.
Blazing Star
A garden with clusters of white daisies in the foreground and vibrant red and yellow daylilies blooming behind them, set against a green fence.
‘Spun Silk’ Leucanthemum
A cluster of vibrant pink coneflowers blooms beside a winding garden path, with lush green shrubs and a yellow house in the background under a slightly overcast sky.
Purple Coneflowers

Avoid the Mid-Summer Slump! Recharge Your Garden for Endless Blooms Now!

Is your garden starting to look a little… tired? Mid-summer is a beautiful time, but it’s also when many annuals begin to fade, and early-blooming perennials have had their moment in the spotlight. If you’re longing for that vibrant, continuous burst of color that summer promises, you’re not alone!

The good news is, you don’t have to settle for a mid-season slump. With a few simple strategies and the right tools, you can easily revitalize your plants, encourage new flushes of blooms, and keep your garden looking spectacular all the way through fall.

Here’s how to recharge your garden’s summer show:

1) Fuel the Flowers: Bloom-Boosting Fertilizers

After weeks of continuous flowering, your plants are hungry! Give them the energy they need for a second (or third!) act with a Bloom-Boosting Fertilizer. These formulas are specially designed with higher phosphorus (the “P” in NPK) to promote abundant flower production, stronger root growth, and overall plant vigor. Depending upon when you planted, it may also be time to add more slow-release fertilizer so you have blooms well into fall! A quick feed can make a dramatic difference!

2) Snip for More Blooms: Essential Deadheading Tools

One of the simplest secrets to endless summer color is consistent deadheading. Removing spent flowers prevents plants from putting energy into seed production and instead redirects it into creating more beautiful blooms. Our sharp, comfortable Deadheading Snips or Pruners make this task quick and easy, encouraging your annuals and perennials to keep flowering profusely.

3) Refresh & Replenish: Fresh Potting Mix

Container plants work extra hard and their potting mix can become depleted over time. Give your potted beauties a new lease on life by refreshing their Potting Mix or top dress with compost. You can gently remove some of the old top layer and replace it with fresh, nutrient-rich mix, or even repot if they’ve become root-bound. This provides new nutrients and improves drainage and aeration for healthier roots and more blooms.

4) Fill the Gaps: Fast-Growing Annuals

Notice any empty spots where early bloomers have faded, or just want to inject more instant color? Now’s the perfect time to plant summer flowers. Varieties like zinnias, celosia, or marigolds establish quickly and will provide a fresh wave of color to fill any gaps and extend your garden’s peak season well into fall.

What I’m Shopping For This Week

  • This flower press kit has been great for pressing flowers. I think I’m going to modge podge them on some oversized mason jars.
  • I bought some more organic plant food for my houseplants.
  • This sunflower wall art is gorgeous! I bought the largest size for my living room but decided to move it to my bedroom and love it!
  • I’m thinking about getting this dress for a wedding – I love the color!
  • I also bought this gorgeous wall art for my dining room but ultimately decided to move it to my bedroom too!
  • In my wish list, I’m also thinking about getting this one – I love the look.

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

A garden bed with green hydrangea bushes and clusters of small yellow flowers, bordered by tall ornamental grass with striped leaves and a lawn in the background.

What’s Happening at Bricks ‘n Blooms

It was a fun week on the blog!

Rustic Summer Charm: Your Guide to a Beautiful Outdoor Tablescape

Discover how to create a beautiful, rustic summer outdoor tablescape with charming decor ideas and natural elements. Perfect for al fresco dining!

An outdoor tablescape featuring flowers, candles, and plates sits in a lush garden filled with green plants, blooming flowers, and tall trees, creating a scene full of rustic charm.

The Petunia Flower Whisperer: Solve Common Summer Problems for Non-Stop Blooms

Become a petunia flower pro! Learn to fix holes, boost blooms, and solve common summer problems with organic solutions for your flower garden.

A flower bed with clusters of vibrant purple and pink petunias bordered by rocks, set against a green garden background with leafy plants and a fence.
Petunia Supertunia Blue Tiara

Easy Peach Burrata Recipe: A Delicious Open-Faced Sandwich

Discover a delicious peach burrata open-faced sandwich recipe with creative variations. Perfect for summer meals and quick to make!

A white rectangular plate with slices of toasted bread topped with creamy burrata, arugula leaves, and fresh peach slices, drizzled with balsamic glaze. A whole peach and additional arugula are in the blurred background, evoking a delightful peach burrata recipe.

Homemade Weed Killer With Vinegar

Looking for easy ways to get rid of weeds naturally? There are lots of simple ways to suppress or kill weeds without herbicides. This post shares a simple recipe for homemade weed killer with vinegar that works, plus some bonus methods to naturally kill weeds.

close up of spraying simple homemade weed killer recipe that works on weed in between pavers

Easy Stuffed Zucchini Boats Recipe With Sausage and Cheese

Try this easy stuffed zucchini boats recipe with Italian sausage and cheese. This delicious, low-carb meal is perfect for using fresh summer zucchini from your garden!

Two zucchini boats filled with a mixture of ground meat, tomato sauce, and melted cheese, garnished with chopped parsley, are presented on a white plate. Surrounding the dish are fresh cherry tomatoes, whole zucchinis, and a sprig of basil.

How to Harvest Lavender Flowers

Learn how to harvest lavender flowers the easy way! Capture summer’s best scent for sachets, dried arrangements, and a touch of tranquility at home.

A woman wearing a straw hat and white tank top kneels in a garden, trimming lavender plants with scissors. She smiles, surrounded by greenery and purple flowers, on a cloudy day.

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

An illustration of a pink flower with green leaves on the left, accompanied by the words "Stacy Ling" in an elegant, cursive font to the right—a perfect piece for any garden decor.
Stacy Ling

Stacy Ling is a trained master gardener, content creator, and author of three gardening books focused on creating beautiful, easy-care spaces. She shares practical gardening advice, seasonal inspiration, and ideas for bringing the beauty of the garden indoors.

Stacy gardens and films from her 1850 farmhouse in northern New Jersey (Zone 6b) and has 30 years of hands-on experience.

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4 Comments

  1. It looks like this is a loud job. It will be worth it. It’s been so humid this summer. I have been outside twice. It’s a NJ summer.

    How’d the dogs do with noise and mess?

    Reply

    1. It is a very loud job – gardens are a bit trashed but should rebound for next year. It will be worth it. Dogs are fine! They just miss swimming! It has been so hot this summer so far and a lot of rain!

      Reply

  2. Stacy
    I’m sure your pool renovation will be amazing. Thank you for sharing my decoupage clay pots.

    Reply