Bricks 'n Blooms Weekly 258

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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 My Garden

Protecting Hydrangeas in Winter

This week, I wrapped my hydrangeas to help protect them from winter damage. Now, I didn’t wrap every single one – just the macrophyllas, which was still pretty voluminous. And I ran out of burlap while wrapping so I grabbed some frost cloth that I had laying around. I probably should have insulated them better by filling these wraps with leaves, but I want to see how they do this year with just wrapping them.

I also planted up my winter planters for the porches and they look so good! Of course I waited until it was super freezing out to make them but they look so pretty. I am still decorating my front porch but am happy with where it’s going. More to come!

But I wrote a post that shares what I did, why, and how I hope this helps them bloom a little better in 2026. That’s not to say the didn’t bloom well this year, but I had a few rebloomers that did not flower much on their old wood. So that’s a sign they need winter protection! If you’d like to hear more about how I protect my hydrangeas in winter, read this post: How to Protect Hydrangeas in Winter

Two large garden shrubs covered with burlap sit in front of a tan house with white trim and a porch. Bare trees and dry hydrangeas are visible in the background on a sunny day.

A garden with several shrubs wrapped in burlap for winter protection, surrounded by green grass, trees, and a stone wall on a sunny day.

Oh Deer…

We also have a herd of deer who have been coming through snacking on my crabapples. Which…I really don’t mind per se…but this is like inviting them to have me on their path, so…I’m going to need to work on changing that.

How?

I will spray all the greenery in this area pretty heavily with repellent just to have them smell it and hopefully, not want to come through here anymore. Although, once the apples are done, they’ll probably find a new path.

I’ve got a few small trees that I planted wrapped so the young buck will stop damaging them with his antlers. One of the small dwarf alberta spruces was pretty much destroyed from him. I’ll see how it looks in spring, but it looks like it will need to be replaced in spring. Sigh.

Four deer graze on a grassy lawn near leafless trees in a yard bordered by a stone wall. The foreground shows a garden bed with dried plants and green grass. The background is wooded and slightly foggy.

Snip ‘n Sip: Pinot & Pine

I hosted another fun evening with friends in my home for the festive season. Since my garden doesn’t have blooms for cutting, I invited a crew over to decorate some holiday wreaths with me. I taught everyone how to make a bow (you can’t eff it up…seriously!) and the wreaths all looked amazing!

Since we usually host Thanksgiving in our library with four folding tables, I kept them in there for the week for this party so we could work indoors instead of outside. It was super cold this week!

Oh and a little backstory about buying supplies. Instead of buying all of my supplies online, I went to my local nursery who usually has the best stuff for the holidays! I waited until a few days before my party to go thinking they would have everything. But they really didn’t! They usually have boxes and boxes of everything you could possibly need to make wreaths, garland, etc. but not this year. I don’t know if they are scaling back on their xmas supplies but there were things I held out for that they just did not carry this year. (Like berry picks!)

So I think moving forward, I may just order online so I can get more of what I want and won’t need to run around looking for stuff. It was a little disappointing but I made it work, noone knew, and everyone loved it.

We had the best time – here are a few pics from the night!

Ten women gather and smile in a kitchen around a counter with wine glasses, bottles, empty plates, and salad, suggesting they are enjoying a meal and each other's company.

Two women stand smiling in a room with large tables covered in greenery and wreaths, appearing to work on holiday wreath-making. The room is well-lit with windows, shelves, and plants in the background.

Two women smiling and standing close together indoors, behind a table with a decorated holiday wreath made of pine branches, pinecones, and dried orange slices. Scissors and greenery are also on the table.

Four smiling women stand close together indoors behind a table decorated with pine branches, pine cones, and holiday ornaments, appearing to enjoy a festive craft or holiday gathering.

Two women are decorating a holiday wreath with ribbons, pinecones, and ornaments on a table indoors. One woman is holding a red ribbon bow while the other adjusts it. A glass with a floral design sits nearby.

Five women smile and work together on holiday wreaths at a table covered with greenery, pinecones, ribbons, and festive decorations in a warmly lit, cozy room.

Four women stand closely together, smiling at the camera in a warmly lit room. They are surrounded by festive decorations and greenery, suggesting a holiday craft activity. Shelves and framed art are visible in the background.

Two smiling women stand indoors making holiday wreaths. One holds a decorated wreath with pinecones, gold ornaments, and a red bow. Shelves with books and decorative items are in the background.

A smiling woman holds a large, decorated holiday wreath with a red plaid bow, pine cones, and dried orange slices. Another woman stands beside her, facing away. They are indoors, in a warmly lit, festive room.

A group of ten women stands behind a table displaying handmade holiday wreaths decorated with bows, pinecones, and ornaments in a warmly lit room with shelves and plants in the background.

Festive Christmas wreaths decorated with pinecones, dried citrus slices, berries, and red plaid ribbons are displayed on a table covered with a beige cloth. The background is softly blurred.

A festive display of holiday wreaths made with pine branches, pinecones, berries, and decorated with bows, including a prominent large red bow in the foreground, all arranged on a table.

What I’m Shopping For This Week

Things I’m Shopping For This Week!

I’m on the hunt for some festive cocktail party looks, as I’m going to a champagne tasting at Roxiticus in a few weeks – but I’ve also got other parties I’m going to as well. So far, I’m between…this sweater dress, this tartain plaid skirt with a black sweater (think I could get away with tall black boots with this one?), this slip skirt with off the shoulder sweater, this sequin vest with matching pants looks super fun.

I love this top, And these pants are really fun…with a cute black top (maybe not for the club but another festive gathering?). Ok this twist velvet top looks cozy and comfortable with these pants? I love that tone on tone look!

I did buy these plaid tops for those holiday cocktail parties with friends – this one and this one paired with a nice pair of denim? Super cute, festive…and easy!

Two hands holding festive christmas cocktail with vodka that has a with sugared rims, garnished with cranberries, orange peel, and rosemary. Background features holiday decorations and a warm, cozy ambiance.

My Curated Gift Lists From Amazon

Its one of the biggest sale weekends of the year! And I’ve curated my finds from Amazon and broken these down by category so you can find exactly what you need without the scrolling fatigue.

Gift Ideas for Her
Gift Ideas for Him
Best Gifts Under $25 (Stocking Stuffers and More!)
Gift Ideas for Gardeners
Gift Ideas for Cooks
Gift Ideas for Plant Lovers
Gift Ideas for Pet Parents
My Top Tech Picks (Headphones, Chargers, Smart Home)

A festive arrangement in a beige ceramic pot with pine branches, pine cones, red berries, birch logs, and a gift wrapped in green plaid paper with a red ribbon, sits by a cozy fireplace.

What’s Happening at Bricks ‘n Blooms

It was a fun week on the blog!

How to Make a DIY Tree Topper

Create a stunning rustic tree topper for free! This easy DIY pallet wood star adds instant farmhouse charm to your Christmas decor.

A decorated Christmas tree with lights, red and gold ornaments, and a star topper stands by large windows. Wrapped gifts and wooden lanterns with candles sit nearby. The room is warmly lit and festive.

Perennial Garden Design: A Guide to Continuous Bloom

Learn how to design a perennial garden that blooms from spring through fall. Simple tips for structure, layering, color, and low-maintenance beauty.

A lush garden with blooming purple flowers, vibrant green plants, and a stone border in the foreground. In the background, there’s a wooden footbridge surrounded by trees and greenery.

Christmas Charcuterie Board Wreath Recipe

Wow your family and friends with a Christmas charcuterie board wreath! This unique appetizer is festive, flavorful, and easy to enjoy.

How to Renew an Aging Perennial Border

Learn how to refresh an aging perennial border with my step-by-step method. Simple tips for dividing, redesigning, and reviving tired garden beds.

A vibrant garden with yellow, purple, and pink flowers in bloom, bordered by lush green grass and tall trees under a clear blue sky. A white house is visible in the background.

Irresistible Tiger Butter Fudge Recipe

With just three ingredients and a few minutes, you can have a batch of this creamy, dreamy fudge ready to devour! Get my tiger butter fudge recipe here.