Bricks 'n Blooms Weekly 292

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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 was all about enjoying summer while keeping up with the gardens.

In the garden, I tucked in a few new additions, including Veronicastrum, Invincibelle Spirit II and Mini Mauvette hydrangeas, several Skyrocket junipers, and a few Monty Blue spruce trees. Beyond that, it was mostly light maintenance. A little deadheading here, a little weeding there, and making sure everything stays healthy as the gardens continue filling in for late summer.

A lush garden with blooming hydrangeas in shades of white, green, and pink in the foreground, and additional flowering plants and greenery in the background.

Outside the garden, Chris and I celebrated our 30th anniversary this week! I can’t believe it’s been so long already – feels like just yesterday we met when I was back in law school. We had a busy week, but dined out to celebrate. I think we are planning a trip somewhere in the fall but haven’t nailed down what we are doing yet!

I crossed a big milestone off my list…I played my first full 18-hole round of golf with friends! I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I had such a great time and can’t wait to do it again. Between golf, pickleball, and a few rounds of mahjong, it’s been nice finding a little more balance and making time to spend with friends.

Four women in golf attire smile for a selfie on a golf course under a cloudy sky. The green field and a flagstick are visible in the background.

This weekend, my family and I headed up to Vermont, where we made even more memories together. We golfed as a family for the first time, spent time out on the boat, enjoyed some great meals, wandered through a flea market, and simply soaked up a relaxing summer weekend.

Four smiling adults pose for a selfie outdoors on a green lawn, with trees and mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Two people smiling on a golf course, holding golf clubs. Green grass, trees, and hills stretch behind them under a partly cloudy sky.

And today I’m off for something I’ve been looking forward to for quite a while. I’ll be visiting my good friends Eric and Christopher from Grow for Me Gardening to tour their gardens in person. I can’t wait to see everything they’ve created, spend time catching up, and, of course, come home inspired with plenty of new ideas for my own gardens.

Summer always seems to fly by, so I’m doing my best to enjoy every bloom, every round of golf, and every chance I get to spend time with the people I love.

Large bush with clusters of pale green and white flowers beside a paved pathway, surrounded by green trees and plants. — Limelight Hydrangeas

A well-maintained yard with lush green grass, blooming hydrangeas, shrubs, and a stone wall in front of a tan house with a porch and white railings.

A well-maintained garden with green grass, flowering plants, shrubs, and a stone retaining wall next to a tan house. A wooden archway stands at the back among trees.

A lush green lawn bordered by colorful flower beds, tall trees, and shrubs. A circular wooden arch and a wooden sculpture are visible, with a house partially seen on the right.

Seasonal Essentials

I’m pre-treating my supertunias with BT to keep the budworm at bay as they inevitably show up this time of year every season and I’d like to get a jump on the issue before they wreck my plants.
I’ve been asked alot about this obelisk in my welcome garden. It has been in my garden for two years and held up well through the elements. Very good quality – you do have to assemble it yourself. But I love it.
There were a few nibbles on my limelight hydrangeas, so I sprayed my entire garden with this deer repellent.
It’s time for another round of rose fertilizer. Have you been keeping up?
I bought a few more flower frogs for bouquets I’m making for my niece’s wedding.

A garden with purple, pink, and pale yellow flowers, green foliage, a green fence, and a rustic wooden anchor sculpture in the background.

From the Week

This Week on Bricks ‘n Blooms

This week we covered everything from reading your garden more intentionally to making the most of your summer harvest.

One of my favorite posts shares how I “read” my garden throughout the season. After nearly 30 years of gardening, I’ve learned that the plants are always telling us something. Whether it’s a shrub that needs a new home, a perennial that’s ready to be divided, or a flower that’s thriving in exactly the right spot, paying attention to those little clues has helped me create healthier, more beautiful gardens over time.

I also shared how I harvest sunflower seeds, something I look forward to every fall. It’s an easy way to save seeds for next year, feed the birds, or simply enjoy one more way your garden keeps giving long after summer ends.

Hydrangea bushes with pink and cream blooms in a lush green garden, with a stone wall, trimmed lawn, and a house with a porch and colorful flowers in the background.

Over in the potager, I reflected on how my kitchen garden has changed since we built it. What started as a simple idea has grown into one of my favorite places on the property, blending vegetables, herbs, flowers, and plenty of lessons learned along the way.

If you grow cut flowers, I also explained why garden-grown flowers behave differently from florist flowers and what that means for vase life. Understanding the difference makes it much easier to enjoy longer-lasting bouquets from your own garden.

And because summer flowers don’t have to end when they’re cut, I shared four easy ways to dry flowers at home, along with tips for preserving your favorite blooms to enjoy throughout the fall and winter.

From the kitchen, we’re celebrating zucchini season with two of my favorite recipes: a hearty garden-fresh zucchini lasagna and easy stuffed zucchini boats. Both are delicious ways to use up the abundance that seems to arrive overnight this time of year.

A fork holds a cheesy bite of baked zucchini lasagna over a plate, surrounded by colorful cherry tomatoes, zucchini, and herbs on a wooden board.

I’m hoping there’s something here that inspires you, whether you’re harvesting from the garden, arranging fresh bouquets, or simply enjoying everything August has to offer.

This Week on YouTube

This week I wrapped up my two-part summer tour of the potager, one of my favorite spaces on the property.

In Part 1, I take you through the entrance garden and share how this space has evolved over the last few seasons. From flowering shrubs and perennials to the pathways and garden structure, you’ll see how everything works together to create a welcoming entrance before you even step inside.

A lush garden with blooming flowers and green shrubs surrounds a tall wooden sculpture. A large stone planter with colorful flowers sits on a tiled patio next to a paved walkway. Trees fill the background.

Then in Part 2, we head through the gate into the heart of the potager, where the kitchen garden and cutting garden are beginning to hit their stride. I share what’s growing well, what’s been challenging this season, and how the space is recovering after the groundhog damage earlier this summer. It’s an honest look at the garden, the successes, the setbacks, and everything in between.