Bricks 'n Blooms Weekly 288

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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 brought some much-needed good news in the garden.

After last week’s battle with the groundhog, I’m happy to report that the potager has stayed damage-free. Hopefully I’m not jinxing myself by saying that! We put several new defenses in place, but the biggest project was one Chris tackled over the weekend.

He built the most beautiful gate for the entrance to the potager garden.

Honestly, I was expecting something simple and functional, but he completely exceeded my expectations. It finishes the space perfectly, and now I can’t imagine the garden without it. I can’t wait to share more photos once everything fills in around it.

A lush garden with green fencing, a decorative archway, and string lights hangs above. A potted plant sits by the entrance, a vintage bike leans on the fence, and dense trees fill the background. — My new gate to the potager

The cutting garden is really beginning to hit its stride too. I’ve been able to cut several bouquets this week, and the snapdragons have been incredible. But the biggest surprise has been Bells of Ireland. This is my first year growing them, and I completely understand why florists love them. They add so much height, texture, and movement to arrangements, and I already know they’ll be making a return next season.

Green Bells of Ireland plants with tall spikes of bell-shaped calyxes and serrated leaves grow among other foliage, with dark red flowers visible in the background. — Bells of Ireland

A raised garden bed filled with various green plants and tall sunflowers, surrounded by a paved path. In the background, there’s a stone fountain and lush trees, with string lights hanging above.

A hand in a blue sleeve holds a small bouquet of purple and lavender flowers, with a garden of pink and green plants, grass, and trees in the background near a road.

Tall sunflowers and colorful snapdragons bloom in a raised garden bed, surrounded by a green trellis and wooden posts, with trees and houses visible in the background.

Outside the garden, we were hit with our first major heat wave of the summer. We escaped to Long Beach Island with family for a few days while our house sitters stayed behind to care for the pets and keep an eye on the gardens. I’m heading home today, and I’m crossing my fingers that everything weathered the heat as well as I’m hoping.

And apparently, I’ve become someone who golfs now.

I met up with my friends for another round this week, and despite the scorching temperatures, we had the best time. We rewarded ourselves with a long lunch afterward to cool off, and while I still have plenty to learn, I’m definitely catching the golf bug. I have another lesson next week and may have somehow agreed to play nine holes three different days.

What has happened to me? 😂

I never thought I’d say this, but I’m really enjoying having a hobby that gets me outside with friends while still leaving plenty of time to come home and dig in the garden.

Four women wearing sunglasses and golf attire smile for a selfie on a sunny day at a golf course, with green grass, trees, and blue sky in the background.

Seasonal Essentials

The slugs have arrived so I bought some more organic slug bait to protect my hostas from damage.
This plant destresser to help my plants thrive after this heat wave.
Restocking these under-eye patches – I use them everyday!
I need to do another round of slow-release fertilizer for my annuals. This is what I use.
I bought this dress for my niece’s wedding.
I love this tote.
Now that I travel a lot more, I needed something to house my jewelry when on the road. This organizer is perfect for my basics.

A vibrant garden with clusters of pink and purple flowers, bordered by a stone wall. Green shrubs, a wooden trellis, and trees are in the background, with a winding road visible to the left.

From the Week

Summer definitely arrived this week, and the garden is feeling it.

We were hit with our first major heatwave of the season, so much of my attention shifted from planting to helping the garden cope with the extreme temperatures. Thankfully, everything came through pretty well, but it was a good reminder that summer gardening is often less about adding plants and more about helping the ones you already have thrive.

On YouTube this week, I shared two videos that I think you’ll really enjoy. First, I rounded up some of my favorite cottage garden plant pairings that are putting on an incredible show right now. Then I shared one of the easiest ways I plan beautiful planting combinations without all the guesswork.

On the blog, I also answered some of the questions I get asked most often this time of year. I covered the best cottage garden plant combinations, common petunia problems and how to fix them, explained why flowers from your own garden behave so differently than florist blooms, and shared my favorite tips for helping heat-stressed plants recover after extreme temperatures.

And because summer isn’t just about gardening, I also shared one of my favorite warm-weather cocktails. If you’re looking for something light and refreshing to sip on the patio after a day in the garden, you won’t want to miss my Hugo Spritz recipe.

As always, I hope something from this week’s posts helps you enjoy your garden just a little bit more this season.