Bricks 'n Blooms Weekly 272

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Hi there!

I hope you had an amazing week!

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Behind the Scenes at Bricks ‘n Blooms

In the Gardens

I saw the first signs of spring this week – hellebore and crocus flowers have arrived. Let us rejoice!

After a warm start to the week and accomplishing quite a bit in the gardens, the weather got pretty cold here. I was considering shopping for some pansies and ranunculus but decided to hold off until next week when temperatures become a little more seasonable again.

My assistant helped me in the beds this week fixing bed shapes that were in need of a design change after renovating the driveway in the fall. We got a lot done – once we add some compost and mulch they’ll start to look more intentional instead of an afterthought.

I also planted 36 hellebore plugs in the formal garden. They’ve already doubled in size after getting them in the ground! Because they are doing so well and I want to do more with the formal garden, I’ve decided to get more so hopefully I’ll have more hellebore flowers for cutting in a few seasons. They won’t bloom this year, but maybe next? We’ll see!

Winter Sowing Update

Since it was so warm out, I checked on my containers. Everything is doing quite well so far for the most part. Lots of winners, a few losers, but mostly all good stuff.

I noticed my container starting all of my carrots was SOAKED so something must’ve happened with the drainage in that container. They likely won’t germinate, so to compensate, I planted some seeds in my raised beds.

I also noticed that one of the two statice seeds I planted looked a little odd after germinating. But I left them a lone for a few days and they seem to look better now, so we’ll see. I kind of thought they may have dampened off? But after relooking at them, it may just be how they look after starting off. At any rate, one variety looks great – the other is questionable but looking better. So time will tell!

All my lettuces, broccoli, kale, cabbage, and cauliflower look healthy and good. They grew alot from the nice weather, so if we get another warm stretch, I may start popping those covers off later this week or early the following week. We’ll see.

My flowers all look really good too! Most of them all germinated and are growing…we’ll check on their progress later in the week. But so far, I’ve got stock, feverfew, sweet peas, yarrow, snapdragons, larkspur, calendula, and lupines. Sometimes it is hard to see in the containers through all the condensation and air vents, so there may be small seedlings in some of the others I planted that I just can’t see with my old eyes! LOL!

Bright purple, yellow, and maroon pansy flowers with green leaves growing closely together in a garden bed. The petals display a striking pattern with the colorful markings radiating from the center.

Indoor Seed Starting Update

Indoors, we are rocking and rolling! Verbena bonariensis looks great and appears like I need to thin them out already.

My foxgloves look great! All the snapdragons germinated and are steadily growing. I started gomphrena and bells of ireland. My gomphrena looks great after popping the covers off. I’m not so sure about the bells. I see some germination, took them off the heat mat and removed the covers. They almost look like some of them dampened off but IDK…I’ll see what they look like by tomorrow.

I am starting my seeds in the basement here for the first time – it is a bit warmer and humid down there so things may grow differently in this space that I’ve not dealt with before. For the most part, things are going great, but it also seems like germination is happening much faster down there.

A lush green lenten rose plant with clusters of deep purple flowers blooms in a garden bed, surrounded by mulch and additional greenery, with blurred foliage in the background. — Hellebroes

On the Home Front

With the warm weather this week, I spent some time sitting out in the backyard zen garden with the dogs, just soaking it all in. Bodie, our lab who passed away in the summer of 2024, used to sit out there with me on the sofa enjoying quiet afternoons like that. Our girl Koda will hang out for a bit, but not quite the same way. Gus, our one-year-old lab puppy, curled up beside me just like Bodie used to do, and I really appreciated that moment. I miss Bodie a lot; so it’s nice that Gus is at the point where he’s calming down enough to sit with me like that.

Tori and Clay were home again this weekend – I love when they come back! It’s so fun to hang out with them. We went out to dinner, made some pizzas, and had some laughs. Always a good time.

I’m also starting to prepare for Easter, as I am hosting again this year. I just sent out the invitations and am planning our annual brunch.

Close-up of vibrant pansies flowers in a garden, showcasing purple blooms with striking black centers amidst a backdrop of red and pink blossoms. The lush greenery complements the scene set against a blurred, natural outdoor background. Perfect for stunning stock photography. — Pansies

My 3rd Book!

A quick reminder…my new book, Filling Your Home with Life, is now available for preorder!

This book is all about bridging the gap between the outdoor garden and inside your home — helping you build confidence with houseplants, style them beautifully, and create spaces filled with life. If you’ve ever felt like you can grow anything outdoors but struggle with plants inside, this book is for you.

If you’re planning to get a copy, preordering truly helps. Early orders show publishers and booksellers that readers are excited about the book, which can help it reach more homes and plant lovers when it launches.

You can preorder your copy here — and thank you so much for supporting my work. 🌿

Book cover for "Filling Your Home with Life" by Stacy Ling, showing a cozy porch with a white swing bench, floral cushions, potted plants, and greenery in the background. Subtext: a guide to styling your space with plants.

Seasonal Essentials

A Few Good Finds

I tried to buy the small and large of these last year, but the large went out of stock. I was super disappointed…until now! I set them up in the pool garden. The small looked ok by itself, but two would be much better like the picture shows. Can’t wait for it to arrive.

I decided to update my family room pillows for spring – I didn’t love what I bought last year and didn’t want to use them. They were pretty but more pale terracotta than I wanted. I bought these because I have been eyeing them for a few years now, and they look very similar to my plaid pillow covers that have held up SO WELL with my dogs.

And I also updated my kitchen towels for spring.

Last year, I wanted to jazz up my planters more with round obelisks. I bought these from Amazon and really love them! They are a good price, come in a pack of two (so perfect for flanking your front door) and have stayed out all year round. The set is on sale for 10% off – so if you are looking for something similar to flank your doorway, grab them here.

A black urn planter filled with pink and purple flowers, surrounded by white blooms, sits on a stone porch in front of a brown door with a gold handle. A "HELLO" doormat is by the door. — sweet alyssum, pansies, and rise up lilac days

With the snow melting and warmer temperatures this week, it is go time in the gardens. I am stocking up and getting ready with supplies so I can start working in the beds.

🌷 Spring Garden Supplies I’m Stocking Up On

Bulb Fertilizer — gives spring bulbs the nutrients they need for stronger blooms and healthier returns next year
Evergreen Fertilizer — helps evergreens bounce back after winter and supports strong new growth
Rose Fertilizer — encourages vigorous plants and abundant blooms all season long
Slow-Release Fertilizer — an easy way to feed garden beds gradually as plants wake up for the season
PlantSkydd Wildlife Repellent — my go-to organic deterrent for rabbits, deer, and other garden visitors
Deer Out Deer Repellent — a second line of defense when deer pressure ramps up in spring
Wire Cloches — simple protection for tender seedlings, yarrow, and other plants rabbits love to nibble
Raised Bed Soil — rich organic mix that helps raised beds start the season strong
Potting Soil — my favorite organic blend for containers, seed starts, and transplanting
Collapsible Garden Bins — perfect for hauling weeds, garden debris, and cuttings around the yard

A vibrant garden bed filled with blooming hyacinths and daffodils. The hyacinths display a range of colors including purple, magenta, and pink, while the daffodils have bright yellow and white petals. Green leaves and stems contrast against the soil and mulch. When to cut back spring bulbs

From the Week

Earlier this week I shared a few early spring garden tasks, including how to prune hydrangeas properly and how to care for hellebores as they begin waking up for the season.

I also wrote about how to design your shade garden so it never looks empty, plus how I start snapdragons and gomphrena from seed for summer blooms.

Inside the house, there’s a post on reviving struggling houseplants — something every plant lover deals with from time to time.

I also shared a few backyard living ideas as we start thinking about spending more time outdoors again, along with some Easter brunch inspiration if you’re already planning spring gatherings.

And over on YouTube, I talked about some of the easiest flowers I love starting from seed and how to plant around hellebores to create a fuller garden throughout the season.