Bricks 'n Blooms Weekly 280

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Hi there!

I hope you had an amazing week! And Happy Mother’s Day to all of you incredible moms.

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Behind the Scenes at Bricks ‘n Blooms

It was a busy week here — and I finally stopped to take a breather yesterday.

The week started with a big push to get seedlings in the ground before I headed out of town. Spring has been a bit cooler than usual here, so I’m moving a little slower than last year, but the timing of my trip meant I needed to get things planted regardless. So Monday and Tuesday were all about getting my zinnias, china asters, strawflowers, celosia, and gomphrena into the ground.

It’s also that point in the season where I start asking myself… what was I thinking starting all of these seeds? But I know it will be worth it once everything fills in.

Later in the week, I took a three-day garden tour through the Brandywine Valley in southeastern Pennsylvania, and it was incredible from start to finish.

Our first stop was Longwood Gardens — and if you’ve never been, it absolutely belongs on your must-visit list. We started with lunch at the 1906 Restaurant, which was just as beautiful as it was delicious. The views of the fountains, the atmosphere, the food… it was all so thoughtfully done. I would go back in a heartbeat.

From there, we explored the gardens, and every space offered something new to take in and learn from. The conservatory completely captured my attention — it blended what I think of as houseplants with outdoor favorites like hydrangeas, delphiniums, and canterbury bells in a way that felt seamless and inspiring.

One of my biggest takeaways was how impactful simple repetition can be. You don’t need dozens of different plants to create something beautiful — just a few, used thoughtfully.

We also visited the bonsai garden (some of those plants have been in training since 1907, which is incredible), the orchid room, the perennial ideas garden, and the kitchen garden — which is everything I hope my own potager will become over time. The fact that they use what they grow in the 1906 Restaurant made it even more inspiring.

A lush indoor garden with tall palm trees, vibrant purple hydrangeas, red and pink flowers, and hanging baskets of pink blooms, surrounded by ivy-covered columns and large arched windows.

A vibrant garden scene with tall clusters of purple flowers at the back and shorter light purple flowers with variegated leaves in front, surrounded by lush green foliage next to a stone path and window.

A vibrant garden bed features clusters of white hydrangeas, pink and orange trumpet-shaped flowers, and variegated green foliage, bordered by a stone pathway.

A cluster of vibrant purple bell-shaped flowers is surrounded by dark green leaves and pink flowers, with a garden and more colorful plants in the background.

A wall decorated with rows of black pots holding various colorful orchids and green ferns, positioned next to large windows in a greenhouse setting.

A Japanese Black Pine bonsai tree is displayed on a wooden table outdoors, with other bonsai trees and greenery visible in the background under a cloudy sky. A small sign labels the tree in front.

Large terracotta pots with green shrubs are lined up in a garden bed filled with blooming yellow and white flowers, with lush green trees and a wooden bench visible in the background.

Large terracotta pots with pink flowers and greenery are arranged on a stone patio, surrounded by smaller pots with blooming white, yellow, and purple flowers, in a garden with a wooden fence and metal arch in the background.

The next day, we visited Chanticleer, which had a completely different feel — more relaxed, creative, and full of unexpected combinations. There wasn’t an inch of unused space, and I loved how they incorporated compost areas right into the planting beds in a way that still felt beautiful.

Their containers were especially inspiring — layered with underplantings, twigs, and even lettuce. I had never thought to use lettuce in planters before, but I’ll definitely be trying that this fall.

A vibrant garden with blooming pink tulips, white foxgloves, and purple flowers, lush greenery, and a large planter with leafy greens atop a stone wall beside a white house and window.

A large, round clay pot sits in a garden surrounded by blooming pink tulips, purple flowers, and lush green foliage, with trees and a stone wall in the background on a sunny day.

Two women smile while standing on a stone path next to a vibrant garden with pink, purple, and yellow flowers. Both wear sunglasses; one is in a pink top and black pants, the other in a green sweatshirt and light blue jeans.

A small wooden footbridge crosses a winding path in a lush garden filled with green foliage and clusters of pink, purple, and white wildflowers, surrounded by tall trees on a sunny day.

A person with a camera stands on a grassy path in a lush garden, surrounded by vibrant yellow and purple flowers, green plants, and trees under a bright blue sky. Another person walks in the background.

Stone pergola with wooden benches underneath, covered in blooming white wisteria flowers hanging in clusters, creating dappled sunlight and shade on the flagstone path. Lush greenery surrounds the peaceful garden scene.

Stone steps lead down to a lush garden filled with diverse green plants and trees under a clear blue sky. A large planter with colorful foliage is on the right, and paths wind through the vibrant landscape.

On our final day, we visited the Shofuso Japanese House and Garden. It was much smaller, quieter, and more restrained — a peaceful contrast to the other gardens. The repeated plantings of azaleas, Japanese maples, ferns, and evergreens created a calm, intentional feeling, and the winding paths led to small spaces that encouraged you to slow down and take it all in.

I was especially excited to visit this garden for inspiration for my own zen garden, and it helped confirm that I’m on the right track. I’d just like to incorporate more focal points — things like sculptures, rocks, and natural materials — to give the space a little more structure and balance.

Overall, it was such a memorable trip, and if you’ve ever considered visiting this area, I highly recommend it. You can easily experience so much in just a few days.

Lush garden with vibrant pink and white flowers, green ferns, stone pathways, and a small stream flowing beside rocks and plants. Wooden fence and dense trees in the background.

A serene Japanese garden with a small pond, stone path, lush green grass, colorful flowering bushes, and a stone lantern surrounded by various trees and shrubs.

A stone lantern stands in a lush garden surrounded by green shrubs and bright pink flowers, with trees and a pond in the background on a sunny day.

A stone path curves past white flowering bushes and lush greenery beside a traditional wooden building in a serene garden under a partly cloudy blue 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.

Skincare Over 50 – What I Use

From the Week

Earlier this week I shared why I decided to stop growing ranunculus (at least for now), along with what to do if your garden took a hit after a late spring freeze.

I also wrote about how to keep annual flowers in pots blooming beautifully all season long, plus a few ideas for hosting a simple and beautiful outdoor garden party.

There are also a couple of easy recipes on the blog this week, including a fresh caprese salad and a simple hummus with rice cake flowers that’s perfect for Mother’s Day and other summer gatherings.

And over on YouTube, I shared why I use terra cotta pots on garden stakes, along with seven zinnia growing mistakes that can lead to weaker plants and fewer blooms.

Thank you so much for following along.

Enjoy a beautiful day! xo