Bricks 'n Blooms Weekly 278

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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 Garden

After a 90 degree week last week, we had a bit of a freeze this week where some of my plants did not love it. My tulips were loving life until that freeze hit…then they drooped a bit but wound up bouncing back (more on this later).

Before the freeze hit, I covered my unplanted snapdragons. They can withstand a light frost but I wasn’t sure how bad this would be so I popped some plastic domes over them and they were fine.

Other plants I thought would do ok…did not fare so well. The empress wu hostas that I dug and divided laster year are not thrilled at all. Their foliage does not look good and I’m not sure they will have a season at all this year. I know they’ll survive but the foliage is so far gone…we’ll see.

Dark side of the moon astilbes I planted in the fall also had some issues with the freeze. Which is odd, because others I have planted in a bed across from them are totally fine!

I could have tried to cover them all but where would I even begin? There are so many plants here…it is survival of the fittest. It has to be or I’d stress myself out.

Anyway…I wrapped up my cool season flower plantings. Now, I’ve moved onto hardening off my warm season flowers like zinnias, strawflowers, celosia, and china asters. It looks like we should be good moving forward to keep them outside and eventually plant them out but I will still keep my eye on the weather cause you never know.

I’ve decided I will not be growing ranunculus anymore. I love them so much but my climate is not great for them. Last year, I had a better season with them and I thought that was pretty short.

But this year, I planted them out while it was still pretty cool, then we had the 90 degree heat for a few days and they are essentially done! I think I had them planted for two weeks. Not worth it and I don’t feel like starting them from corms so for now, this ship has sailed.

Sad…but sometimes, we have to make the decision. And to remind myself that I feel this way, I wrote it down in my planner. So when I look back…I can recall how disappointing they were this year.

Weather happens. This is why I recommend going for longevity and ease when choosing what to grow.

A lush garden with pink and purple flowers, green foliage, and a grassy path. Sunlight filters through trees in the background, creating a peaceful, natural scene.

Blooms and Bubbly

I want to start opening up my gardens more with my friends this year, so I hosted my first annual Blooms and Bubbly party this week so they could see all the beautiful tulips blooming in the beds. The evening could not have been more perfect!

For the party, I made some lavender lemonade and strawberry lemonade as my beverages with some prosecco. And I served some light apps like my spinach artichoke dip and charcuterie board. My friends brought some apps and desserts so that rounded it all out really well.

We had such a great time! I would have loved to cut some, but my pink impression tulips were done and they would have been the variety to cut because I grow so many. Ah well…next year! Overall, I think they enjoyed seeing all the different types of tulips you can grow and it was a pretty vibe.

And that is a wrap on the tulips for this year. We are expecting some rain this weekend so I’m sure that will speed up the petal drop. I feel grateful for two weeks of pure spring bliss!

A group of ten women pose together outdoors on a grassy lawn, with trees and flowers in the background under a partly cloudy sky. They are dressed in casual spring clothing and appear to be enjoying a gathering.

stacy ling in an orange floral boho dress walks along a garden path lined with blooming tulips and yellow flowers on a sunny day, surrounded by green grass and tall trees.

stacy ling in an orange patterned dress and sunglasses stands on a grassy path next to blooming tulips in a garden, with trees and other people visible in the background on a sunny day.

Six women smiling and posing together outdoors in front of a house with a porch and garden. They are wearing sunglasses and casual clothing, enjoying a sunny day.

A group of six women gather around a raised flower bed in a garden, some leaning in to look at the flowers. A stone fountain stands nearby, and trees with green foliage fill the background under a partly cloudy sky.

A woman in a red floral dress stands beside a raised garden bed filled with pink and purple tulips. She wears sunglasses and is looking at the flowers. A green fence and trees are in the background.

Two women stand together smiling in a garden filled with pink and purple tulips. They are surrounded by green trees and a wooden fence in the background on a bright, partly cloudy day.

A group of women pose smiling and waving around a raised garden bed filled with colorful tulips in a park, with trees and a fountain in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Bring the Outdoors In With My Third Book!

A quick reminder that my new book, Filling Your Home with Life, is available for preorder.

It’s all about bringing the outdoors in — helping you grow and style indoor plants with confidence. If you’ve ever struggled with houseplants, this one is for you.

Preorders truly help support the book and get it into more hands when it launches. Thank you 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

🌷 Mid-Spring Garden Supplies I’m Stocking Up On

Slow-Release Fertilizer — an easy way to feed garden beds gradually as plants wake up for the season
Bloom Booster – A great add on to help keep flowering annuals blooming strong throughout the growing 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
Potting Soil — my favorite organic blend for containers, seed starts, and transplanting
Drip Irrigation for Pots – keeps your summer containers hydrated in the heat of summer without the work from you. Do this – you’ll thank me later.

My OOTD

I LOVE this dress and have it in a few patterns, so there is a color for everyone. I bought it a few years ago so the colors are a little different but it is a go to look for me and I receive compliments on it all the time. This dress looks great on all body types and fits true to size.

I usually wear a white bralette under it or camisole because the wrap can gap near the girls and I don’t want to have to think about it.

Last year, I was forced to upgrade my birkenstocks when my puppy chewed one of them up and these do not disappoint! I love the gold buckle detail on them.

Skincare Over 50 – What I Use

A woman in a red patterned dress stands smiling beside a garden bed filled with pink and purple tulips. She wears sunglasses and sandals. Trees and another person appear in the background on a sunny day.

A vibrant garden bed features blooming pink and purple tulips with yellow daffodils. The flowers are bordered by a stone wall, with trees and a wooden garden structure in the background on a spring day.

From the Week

Earlier this week I shared a few common zinnia growing mistakes, along with how far apart to plant them and whether or not you should pinch them for better blooms.

I also wrote about some of the best flowering annuals for summer if you’re looking to keep your garden full of color all season long.

There are also a couple of easy recipes on the blog this week, including a chicken salad with grapes that’s perfect for quick lunches and a simple pineapple dump cake for easy summer desserts.

And over on YouTube, I shared why cut flower gardens sometimes stop producing (and how to fix it), along with what happened when I didn’t support my zinnias and the lesson I learned from it.

Thank you so much for following along.

Enjoy a beautiful day! xo

4 Comments

Barbara says:

April 26, 2026 at 6:44 am

Your Garden Party looked lovely and the tulips were absolutely stunning. So many vibrant colors. By the way, have you ever considered opening your garden up for visitors. I am a Somerset County Master Gardener and I know our group would love to see your garden and hear your advice. You could charge a small fee and donate it to a deserving group. (I also volunteer at the Somerset County Animal Shelter) A woman named Jennny Rose opens her gardens up in Bucks County twice a year and it is a treat to go visit. You do a wonderful job sharing the garden on your blog, but it would be incredible to see it in person.

1. Stacy Ling says:
  
  April 26, 2026 at 7:26 am
  
  Thank you, Barbara! Let’s chat more about it – my email is bricksnblooms@gmail.com.
  
Claudia Bassano says:

April 27, 2026 at 8:54 am

Hi Stacy!
Looks like so much fun!
Do you replace the tulips every year?
Virginia bluebells in the first pic?
Thank you for all the shares!
I’m looking forward to your new book and I already have some gifting in mind!

1. Stacy Ling says:
  
  April 29, 2026 at 5:37 am
  
  Hey Claudia! I’m so excited you are getting a book! It’s been a labor of love…Yes they are virginia bluebells with hellebores (mostly), and some bleeding hearts. In the welcome garden, I replaced them all because not all tulip varieties return well. My pink impression tulips are solid and return every year. But the peony-looking varieties are like 50/50 and I love them so I replant that. If I want a full bed like this, I replant all to ensure there are no gaps in the border. I don’t toss them though – I just replant them elsewhere when they’re done and see what comes back the next season. It’s a little more work doing that but I get to enjoy a bed of tulips like this. So there’s a tradeoff…