Bricks 'n Blooms Weekly 284

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Hi there!

I hope you had an amazing week!

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Behind the Scenes at Bricks ‘n Blooms

After several busy weeks, it was nice to slow down a little and enjoy the gardens this weekend. My daughter Shana came home for the weekend to hang out by the pool and get her hair done. We had the best time catching up poolside, made some pizzas in our pizza oven and brunches on the Blackstone. The best purchases I made for this outdoor living space. Can’t recommend both enough!

I ordered a floating mahjong board so I could play with my friends who are also learning the game in the pool or hot tub…and decided to get floating chess and a second scrabble board so Chris and I can play. I’ll let you know how it works – it hasn’t arrived yet!

Speaking of the pool, I am so glad we fixed the patio area and surrounding gardens last year. The beds took a beating but it was well worth it. The gardens look incredible right now!

The roses are in full bloom and smell amazing. Varieties planted include new dawn, oso easy red stripe, oso easy pink, reminiscent crema, flavorette pear’d and a few others that were here when we moved in (don’t know the varieties). Two of those roses are on a short leash this year because they have not performed amazing after the first bloom. And if I don’t see improvement this year (I treated with horitcultural oil earlier and am staying on top of fertilzing) then I may be pulling them out sooner than later and replacing.

Not sure yet – stay tuned. Anyway, here are some photos from the pool garden this week.

Bright pink phlox and purple cuphea flowers bloom in a garden bed with green leaves and stems, set against a backdrop of lush foliage and a partially visible fence in the background. — Cuphea and Phlox

A lush garden with blooming flowers, green plants, and shrubs sits behind a stone retaining wall. A path runs alongside the wall, and a blue fence and tall trees are in the background under bright daylight.

Bright pink roses in full bloom surrounded by lush green leaves; the flowers have layers of petals with some white streaks, and the plants are densely packed in a garden setting. — Oso Easy Red Stripe Roses

A cluster of blooming roses in shades of pink, peach, and white surrounded by lush green leaves on a bush. — Not sure of this rose variety but its gorgeous right now!

A garden bed with vibrant pink roses with kodiak fresh diervilla in bloom near a green fence, bordered by a walkway. In front, a bush with yellow-green leaves tinged with red adds contrast to the colorful, well-maintained garden scene. — Kodiak Fresh Diervilla and Peach Roses

A cluster of vibrant purple clematis flowers with layers of pointed petals and green centers, surrounded by lush green leaves. Some blooms are fully open, while others are partially closed. — Clematis Taiga

A cluster of double-flowered, light purple clematis blooms with pointed petals and green leaves climbing a dark green wooden fence in a sunlit garden. — Clematis Josephine Regal

Seasonal Essentials

This pet hair removal tool has 194k reviews for good reason! This has dramatically helped get rid of the my labs’ shedding fur! I

Now that I’m officially a pickleballer, I bought a racket, bag and court kicks. Do you play? My court shoes fit true to my size in that brand – I’m usually an 8 but I wear an 8.5 with Asics. I used the racket this week and it was great! The bag is really roomy so enough space for a racket, balls, my shoes, a hat, water and a change of clothes. Love it!

Been using the new pool vacuum and it does a GREAT job cleaning the pool. There are small spots it has trouble getting to with the shape of our pool, but I’m really happy with it. I can’t believe how bad our old vacuum was!

I bought the betta last year and it does a great job of skimming the pool. I almost never skim anymore…it’s great!

I have another bed of hostas where I need to apply organic slug bait. I should probably get the dahlias I planted in the ground too.

If you have any interest in preserving flowers from your garden. This is the flower press kit that I have.

My collapsible bin has been getting a ton of use lately. It’s so lightweight, easy to use and folds flat for easy storage.

A landscaped garden with blooming pink flowers, lush green plants, and hostas bordered by a stone retaining wall. A black garden lamp stands on mulch near the wall, with a green fence and trees in the background.

From the Week

This week was all about summer blooms, peonies, propagation, and creating beautiful garden spaces.

Earlier this week, I shared a few ways to get more from your peonies, including how to extend their bloom season in the garden and the simple trick I use to make cut peony bouquets last much longer indoors.

I also shared a tour of my backyard zen garden makeover and rounded up some of my favorite zen garden ideas if you’re looking to create a more peaceful outdoor retreat.

For gardeners looking to grow more plants for free, there’s a post on how to propagate hydrangeas, plus a complete guide to growing the beautiful Begonia maculata indoors.

And over on YouTube, I shared the five-year evolution of my zen garden makeover, along with a roundup of deer-resistant flowers that continue to perform beautifully in my gardens year after year.

Whether you’re enjoying peony season, planning a garden refresh, or simply looking for new ideas, there’s plenty to explore this week. 🌿🌸

Thank you so much for following along.

Enjoy a beautiful day! xo