Bricks 'n Blooms Weekly 264

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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

We had a little snow day yesterday, which was really nice. But overall, it was quiet week as I mainly spent time observing, watering and pruning my houseplants while still getting organized for winter sowing seeds. I haven’t started sowing yet, and I think I am going to wait until the first week of February to get it all going. I’m just not ready to begin yet.

I have been water propagating cuttings from a few of my plants. They’ve got really good roots but I’ve been soooooo lazy about potting them up! Is it just me or do you do that too?

But I’ve been bingeing some gardening TV lately – love watching Gardener’s World with Monty Don, do you? It’s really inspiring. We watched one episode where the gardener was planting around a reflecting pond, so of course I thought to myself…we need a reflecting pond. Ha!

A sunlit living room with a wooden table holding a floral vase, stacked books, baskets, and a potted plant. Cushioned sofas, more plants, and a large window with sunlight streaming in are in the background.

A hand holds a glass vase with green water, showing plant cuttings with visible roots and spotted leaves. The background includes a sofa, cushions, and a framed artwork on the wall.

Lunch With a Friend

Met up with an old friend this week that I haven’t seen in a few years since we moved. We ran into each other during a holiday event and decided to meet up for lunch at my favorite place, Sally Lunn’s Tea Shop. It was so great to see her and catch up!

Dinner With the Fam

Tori is heading back to school today, so we took her and Clay out to dinner Friday night. Love having her home and wish she could stay longer!

A sunlit living room with dark leather sofas, cream and brown pillows, a large patterned rug, a wooden coffee table with potted plants, and large windows letting in natural light.

Fur Family Update

Our cats are settling in quite nicely. I’m in a routine with them, they’ve become super social when I’m in the room. And our shy girl, loves to rest on my chest. It’s really sweet to see them warm up.

My puppy Gus – who is a year old now – he has made his way through the gates we set up on occasion and sniffs under the door when I’m in there. I’m happy to see the cats not get startled and more curious about him. So that’s a good sign for a super slow introduction in the future.

A black cat sleeps curled up on a red blanket, bathed in warm sunlight coming through a nearby window. The surroundings include a closed door, a striped blanket, and a TV mounted on a green wall.

Two Garden Guides for This Season

One is all about three easy ways to start a cut flower garden, and the other helps you mix and match your way to a cottage garden you’ll love. Both are simple, approachable, and designed to help you dive deeper into your flower garden with more confidence and direction.

You can grab each guide for $10, or get both together for $15

👉 Explore the garden ebook bundles here

If you’ve been thinking about starting (or refining) a flower garden this year, these are a great place to begin.

Two digital download book covers about gardening: one highlights cut flower gardening, the other showcases cottage garden ebooks. Both are set against a green background with text promoting a digital download bundle.

What I’m Shopping For This Week

Things I’m Shopping For This Week!

It’s seed starting season and I am stocking up on the essentials, plus some other odds and ends. Here’s what I’m shopping for this week.

This bag caught my eye. I love the color!
Loving this sweater in blue. And it’s not trendy so it’s a look that will transcend for years to come.
I love to be warm and cozy when I sleep but being 54 and sweating in the middle of the night – I need to wear something more lightweight when I sleep. And I have to say, this set feels luxurious and light. Fits true to size.
Love this plant stand for my family room.
This sphere for my garden would be so pretty!
Restocking my skin glow serum. Makes a huge difference for brightening – gets rid of that dullness in aging skin!
Potting soil for winter sowing seeds outdoors.
Seed starting soil for indoor seed starting. I need several bags because I always wind up needing more.

A large black dog rests its head on the back of a brown couch, looking relaxed. There’s a plaid pillow beside it and a leafy green plant in the background near sunlit windows.

Houseplant Essentials I Use

After years of growing houseplants and learning what actually makes a difference, I’ve narrowed down a collection of indoor plant care products I truly use and trust. These are the tools I rely on to keep my plants healthy, growing, and looking good all year long, even when light is low and the heat is running.

Here’s what I reach for again and again:

An organic fertilizer I use year-round so plants stay green and healthy without complicated feeding schedules
A time-saving watering solution that cuts down on trips to the sink
My go-to soil mix additions for better drainage and healthier roots
Moisture control tools and planters that help prevent overwatering (I’m slowly switching all my plants over to these)
Organic pest prevention I trust indoors
Simple ways to add light and humidity, especially during the winter months

👉 Explore all of my houseplant must-haves here

A leafy green potted plant (hoya plant) with trailing vines sits on a wooden shelf in front of a window, letting in natural light and revealing a garden with rocks and plants outside.

What’s Happening at Bricks ‘n Blooms

It was a fun week on the blog!

Tradescantia Care: A Beginner’s Guide to Inch Plant

This guide makes Tradescantia care simple, from light needs to propagation tips.

A vibrant plant with green and purple striped leaves sits in an ornate floral-patterned pot on a wooden shelf. Sunlight streams through a window behind it, casting a warm glow on the scene.

Best Flowers to Winter Sow: Beginner-Friendly Picks That Actually Work

Best flowers to winter sow for beginners, including reliable favorites and cool-season experiments, based on years of gardening experience in Zone 6b.

An array of colorful larkspur and snapdragons (Antirrhinum) in full bloom, showcasing tall spikes of purple, pink, and yellow flowers, creating a vivid tapestry in a lush deer resistant garden with scattered terracotta pots overhead." — Snapdragons and Larkspur I started from seed via winter sowing

Chic Rustic Italian Dinner Party Table Setting Ideas

Create a warm and inviting Italian dinner party atmosphere with these chic rustic table setting ideas.

Elegant rustic Italian dinner party setting with a crystal chandelier overhead, vibrant red and orange roses, and lush greenery centerpiece on a wooden table — Rustic and Chic Italian Dinner Party Ideas

How I Manage So Many Garden Beds (Without Doing Everything at Once)

Managing a large garden doesn’t mean doing everything at once. This is how I care for many garden beds by breaking the work into manageable, low-stress routines.