Bricks 'n Blooms Weekly 279

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Hi there!

I hope you had an amazing week!

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Behind the Scenes at Bricks ‘n Blooms

This week had a really nice mix of time in the garden and time with friends.

I got together with a group of friends to play mahjong as we’re all learning together. Have you played before? It’s so fun, but definitely not easy to pick up. We’re all still figuring it out, which honestly makes it even better.

I also met up with a good friend for a walk at one of our local parks and we ended up getting about five miles in. It felt so good to be outside, moving, and catching up.

Chris and I snuck in a dinner out too, which is always a nice break in the middle of a busy week.

In the garden, things are really starting to shift into the next season. The pool is officially open, and we took down two very large trees that had been leaning over it. I was honestly a little stressed about potential damage to the newly planted garden nearby, but somehow everything came down without a single issue. Not even a scratch, which felt like a huge win.

My warm-season flower seedlings are ready to go in the ground, so I’ve been busy planting them out this weekend. The weather has actually been a bit cooler than usual for this time of year, which has made it perfect for getting everything settled in.

The garden is still putting on a beautiful show. My tulips are hanging on longer than I expected and continue to look incredible. The peonies are starting to bud up and will be flowering soon, which I’m really looking forward to.

At the same time, I’m seeing some of the effects from that hard freeze we had not long ago. A few plants that had already started leafing out took a hit, especially some of my hostas. I’m still watching to see how the hydrangeas will respond.

It’s one of those reminders that you can’t control everything in the garden. I could have tried to protect more, but with the size of the garden, it’s just not realistic to cover everything. So I’m choosing to let things be what they are this season, even if that means a few things don’t look exactly how I had planned.

A lush garden with blooming pink, purple, and blue flowers, surrounded by green foliage. Trees and shrubs border the scene, with sunlight shining through the branches in the background.

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.

Books I’m Reading

The Tenant by Freida McFadden
A House to Call Home by Christie Purifoy

Skincare Over 50 – What I Use

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 why peonies sometimes don’t bloom (and how to fix it), along with companion planting ideas for lavender and hydrangea companion plants to help create a more layered, cohesive garden.

There are also a couple of easy recipes on the blog this week, including a simple strawberry dump cake and quick mozzarella and tomato caprese bites that are perfect for Mothere’s day brunch and other spring gatherings.

And over on YouTube, I shared how to troubleshoot peonies that aren’t blooming, along with a before-and-after look at a perennial garden makeover and the design approach behind it.

Thank you so much for following along.

Enjoy a beautiful day! xo