Bricks 'n Blooms Weekly 238

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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

In the Garden

The welcome garden Is looking so good despite all the construction equipment we’ve had around the property this week. So much is flowering and the blooms are beyond gorgeous. Because so much construction has been ongoing over the last week, I have not done anything out in the beds so I’m a bit behind and plan to go double time this week to clean things up – weeds I’m looking at you!

In the Welcome Garden, I’ve got ONE volunteer gladiola from last year and of course…it has to be orange. It looks so strange but she’s staying until it is done flowering. The odd part about this is the glads were actually planted on the other side of the garden by the porch so I’m not really sure how this one established itself here? LOL

My Salvia Rockin the Blues has taken off and looks so pretty with the yarrow and coneflowers. I love this combination and will do more of it next year in this bed. And the zinnias have really started blooming out here – I love the view! Because they tend to flop over, I bought these rectangular garden supports from garden supply and they look great filling in as the grow!

And look at how much my Petunia border has filled in! I’ve even got some pansies blooming in there still that I neglected to pull. They seem ok despite the heat – maybe I’ll just cut them back later in the summer if they make it that long to address their leggy appearance?

A vibrant garden bed filled with purple, pink, orange, and red flowers is bordered by a lush green lawn, with trees and a house visible in the sunlit background.

A lush garden filled with vibrant red and pink flowers, green foliage, and a house with a gray roof and white walls in the background, surrounded by trees and a white fence.

A vibrant flower bed with yellow and pink zinnias grows along a stone wall in a lush, green garden. Trees and shrubs surround the area, creating a peaceful outdoor scene.

The Pool Deck Renovation

We wrapped up the major part of the deck renovation and the gardens are TRASHED! They should bounce back but it’s going to take some doing. The guys still need to finish the lighting but overall the project looks soooooo good! We still have some small drainage issues and a few areas need some tweaking in the beds but overall, this project is coming along. I can’t wait to show you more over the coming weeks!

It’s going to be a great space at the end of the day. Here are some progress pics from last week!

A partially finished backyard with a clover-shaped pool surrounded by gravel and construction tools, set in a lush, green wooded area. Rebar is laid on the ground, and landscaping work appears to be in progress.

A backyard swimming pool surrounded by trees, with construction in progress. Gravel, orange metal rebar, and unfinished concrete are visible near the pool area, which is bordered by plants and a stone wall.

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!

Purple salvia flowers bloom in the foreground, surrounded by green leaves. In the background, colorful flowers in shades of red, pink, and orange fill a lush, vibrant garden scene. — Rockin the Blues Salvia

Clusters of vibrant purple petunias with white centers bloom among green leaves, creating a colorful and lively garden scene. — Supertunia Blue Tiara

A pink and yellow dahlia flower blooms among green leaves, with a closed flower bud and blurred terracotta pots in the sunny garden background. — Dahlia Kogane Fubuki

A close-up of a vibrant pink and purple hydrangea flower in full bloom, surrounded by green leaves and set against a blurred background of soil and more hydrangeas. — Hydrangea Let’s Dance Lovable

Close-up of light green hydrangea flowers in bloom, surrounded by lush green leaves and blurred greenery in the background. — Hydrangea Little Lime Punch

A vibrant pink lily with white-edged petals and visible orange stamens blooms among green leaves in a garden setting. — Stargazer Oriental Lily

Clusters of delicate pink flowers and vivid purple flowers grow closely together among green foliage in a vibrant garden scene. — Larkspur

Japanese Beetles Out of Control? Protect Your Garden Now!

If your garden looks like it’s been through a confetti cannon, but the “confetti” is actually chewed-up leaves and ragged blooms, you’re likely battling the notorious Japanese beetle. It’s mid-July, and these iridescent invaders are out in full force, turning beautiful plants into lace in what feels like mere hours!

We know how frustrating it is to see your hard work devoured. But don’t despair! While they can seem overwhelming, there are effective strategies to protect your plants now and proactive steps you can take to reduce their impact in the future.

Several Japanese beetles are clustered on a large green leaf, which shows signs of damage, surrounded by lush foliage and bright orange zinnia flowers in a garden setting. — EWWWWWW

Immediate Action: Stop Them in Their Tracks!

When beetles are actively feeding, quick action is key:

The Soapy Water Dunk: For a simple and highly effective method, head out to your garden in the early morning (when beetles are sluggish). Gently knock or pick them off your plants and drop them into a bucket of Soapy Water. They’ll quickly drown, and it’s incredibly satisfying!
Organic Protection with Neem Oil: For a natural deterrent and insecticide, consider Neem Oil. When applied to foliage, it can disrupt their feeding and life cycle. It’s a great option for protecting your plants without harsh chemicals.
Strategic Companion Planting: While not an instant fix for current infestations, planting certain companions can help deter them over time.Consider interplanting with Garlic, Chives, Catnip, White Geraniums, Chrysanthemums, or Tickseed, which Japanese beetles tend to avoid.

Important Warning: Avoid Japanese Beetle Traps!

You might see “pheromone bags” or Japanese beetle traps advertised to catch these pests. While they do attract beetles, they actually do more harm than good for your garden! These traps use strong floral and sex pheromones to lure beetles from a wide radius. This often means you’re attracting more beetles to your yard than you already have, potentially increasing the damage to your prized plants rather than reducing it. It’s best to avoid them entirely to keep your garden from becoming an all-you-can-eat buffet!

A stone wall borders a vibrant garden bed filled with bright pink flowers and lush green foliage. Trees, shrubs, and ornamental grasses create a layered, colorful background in a landscaped outdoor setting.

Proactive Prevention: Reduce Future Generations!

The battle against Japanese beetles starts in your lawn! Their larvae (grubs) spend their time feeding on grass roots before emerging as adult beetles.

Introduce Milky Spore: This is a long-term game changer! Milky Spore is a naturally occurring bacteria that specifically targets and kills Japanese beetle grubs in your lawn. Applying it can significantly reduce the population of beetles that emerge next year, providing years of control. This is the applicator I use too. If you’ve never done it before I’d get your supplies now so you are ready to go next month!
Rethink Your Lawn: Japanese beetle grubs prefer certain types of turf. If you’re looking for a long-term solution, consider transitioning areas of your lawn to Tall Fescue Grass, which is less appealing as a breeding ground for these pests.

Two blooming zinnia flowers, one light orange and one bright pink, surrounded by green leaves in a garden setting.

What I’m Shopping For This Week

I needed to purchase some more of this bloom booster to keep my flowers producing!
I also ordered some more slow-release fertilizer so my containers and annual flowers are continually fed into the fall when I’m ready to redo them.
With the pool deck renovation, Chris and I have been talking about potentially making an outdoor kitchen. Our grill that we have located in the potager is pretty shot so it needs to be replaced ASAP. Because we aren’t sure of the direction we want to go with the outdoor kitchen just yet, we are going all in on a blackstone grill . Do you have one? Since we haven’t made the leap yet, we are now! When we decide to build the outdoor kitchen, we will relocated it to our cabin in VT!
I found a deal on a blackstone pizza oven too so we may get both and just bring them up to VT when we create the outdoor kitchen.

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

A lush garden with a variety of colorful flowers, green shrubs, and leafy plants, bordered by a stone path and surrounded by tall trees under a partly cloudy sky.

What’s Happening at Bricks ‘n Blooms

It was a fun week on the blog!

Homemade Flower Food: A Simple Recipe for Beautiful Bouquets

Keep your flowers fresh for days with this easy homemade flower food recipe! Simple DIY solution for long-lasting blooms.

A vibrant bouquet of pink, white, and peach flowers arranged in a beige square pot sits on a woven chair outdoors, with green foliage in the background.

How to Save Heat-Stressed Plants: Your Guide to Summer Garden Heatwave Survival

Help your garden thrive in summer heat! Discover essential tips to protect & revive heat-stressed plants with proper watering, shade, mulch, and more.

A garden with blooming pink, orange, and peach zinnias in the foreground, green ornamental grass in the middle, and more yellow flowers and trees in the background on a cloudy day.

Best Grilled Chicken Recipe with Fresh Peach Avocado Salsa: Perfect for Summer BBQs

Enjoy this easy grilled chicken recipe with a fresh, tangy peach avocado salsa. Perfect for a healthy summer meal or BBQ. Ready in just 30 minutes!

Grilled chicken breasts topped with a colorful peach avocado salsa, garnished with chopped cilantro, are arranged on a white plate. The salsa includes diced peaches, avocado, red bell pepper, and red onion for a refreshing twist on your classic grilled chicken recipe. — Grilled chicken with peach avocado salsa

Organic Gardening: How to Naturally Protect Your Vegetable Garden From Pests & Diseases

Discover 10 organic gardening techniques to protect your veggies from pests and diseases naturally. Grow a bountiful harvest with these simple tips.

A hand is holding two ripe, red tomatoes in the foreground. The background consists of a lush garden filled with leafy tomato plants, showcasing the bounty of growing tomatoes. The sunlight highlights the vibrant colors of the tomatoes and the greenery.

Homemade Lavender Lemonade: From My Garden to Your Glass

Sip summer with garden-fresh lavender lemonade! Get our easy recipe and tips for using homegrown lavender in drinks & decor.

Two textured glasses of lavender lemonade garnished with lavender sit on a wooden board with a halved lemon, loose lavender sprigs, and a glass pitcher of lemonade, with lavender flowers in a jar in the background.

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.

This is a great reason to break your terracotta pot!
Have you ever decoupaged clay pots before? Get the tutorial here.
This New England clam chowder recipe sounds so good!
And this recipe of pink lemonade pie sounds divine!

Thank you so much for following along.

Enjoy a beautiful day! xo

Bricks ‘n Blooms Weekly 238