Saltwater Sounds Weekly: The Flower Garden Comes Alive
Welcome to Saltwater Sounds, a collection of ideas, tips, and inspiration. This is where I share all that’s been happening in the world of Shiplap and Shells, what’s to come and the inspiration I have found from other bloggers around the web.
This and That…
I hope you’re enjoying your weekend!
This was such a fun week and I can’t wait to share some highlights with you including a day of shopping, the summer garden finally taking off, and enjoying some early birthday celebrations.
Our weather is changing as we speak. We’re going from the high 70s to the high 80s and 90s next week. I know it’s nothing like what many of you have been experiencing all summer with the extreme heat though.
Time to drag out the Costco portable air conditioners that we seem to need only once or twice a year.
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A Walk in the Garden
Let’s start the weekly wrap-up with the summer garden.
The flower garden is finally coming to life and I couldn’t be happier about it. I will be posting an end-of-month garden tour in the next week or so to show you even more fabulous flower pictures.
I can’t tell you how much I love the summer daisies. I’m creating a tablescape today with SO MANY daisies and will publish it next week.
Aren’t they just the happiest flower?
This cafe au lait dahlia is starting to bloom. This dahlia came from Brecks Bulbs last year and was the first time I had ever grown this variety. It’s now my favorite.
And the lilies continue to wow me. Look at this amazing color! This is called a Lily Oriental Corvara.
We bought these 2 white picket fence panels a year ago and never really figured out the right place for them in the garden.
As I was deadheading and walking the garden the other morning a lightbulb went off.
I love them in this space and how they tie in with the white arbor. Now the vintage bike can lean against them as well.
Every cut flower garden needs snapdragons. They are so beautiful! I have a mix here of Madame Butterfly Cookies & Cream and Sherbet Toned Chantilly Mix. Both varieties of seeds were from Floret Flowers.
Some of my hydrangeas are blooming. And then there are some that aren’t. What a weird gardening year!
Lilliput Zinnias are so bright and beautiful. This variety is my favorite I think. I grew 4 zinnia varieties this year.
Aren’t these the most incredible gladiolas?
These are from Longfield Gardens and are Gladiolus Large Flowering Sorbet Blend.
These gorgeous flowers are allium drumsticks and should have bloomed from late spring to early summer.
As you can see here, our cool weather forced them to bloom much later.
A Day of Shopping in Poulsbo, WA.
I have the best friends.
Some of them took me to Poulsbo for my early birthday. We went shopping at our favorite places for home decor and vintage finds.
Saltwater Antiques is such a wonderful store. Not only do they have the best people working there but there is so much vintage and at a better price than most of the shops I regularly visit.
I bought so many great things but ran out of time and haven’t taken pictures of them. I’ll share everything I took home next week.
Details Home and Garden is another great store in Poulsbo. Whether it’s something new or a chippy vintage piece, they have so many things to choose from.
I love the unique furniture pieces they carry. In fact, the vintage white cabinet with the copper top in my living room came from here.
You’re not going to find any thrift store prices here but you’ll love the selection.
All About the Candles
Fall Candle Testers
It’s ALMOST that time again when you can become a fall candle tester! Here are the perks when you become a tester…
- Test 4 brand new potential fall candle scents and give your feedback.
- Help decide what the next fall candle will be.
- Get awesome perks including a fabulous 30% off coupon code.
HERE ARE THE SCENTS YOU’LL BE TESTING…
- Salted Caramel
- S’Mores
- Butterscotch
- Vanilla Chai
Testers will be available July 28- Aug.3 so keep THIS LINK handy!
The Candle Restock
There are still candles from the restock available! Your favorite candle fragrances have been poured into depression and milk glass pieces.
CLICK HERE TO SHOP FOR CANDLES.
I do get a commission (you do not pay any extra) every time you use the unique link I provide for their website. Any money I get from being a brand affiliate goes right back into paying to run my blog.
What’s Happening at Shiplap and Shells…
How to Show Off Your Garden Flowers Using Vintage Thrift Store Finds
Are you looking for fun yard art and creative outdoor container ideas for your beautiful blooms? I’ll share how to show off your flowers by using vintage thrift store finds as containers and fun props in the garden.
How to Create a Tablescape with a Coastal Cottage Vibe for Summer
Do you like dining al fresco? I’ll show you how I created a tablescape with a coastal cottage vibe for summer dining.
Coming Up…
- Christmas in July
- Backyard BBQ tablescape and recipe
- End of July Garden Tour
- August Gardening To Dos and Tips
- Our Trip to Venice, Italy
My Favorite Inspiration Around the Web…
You will love my friend Jennifer from Cottage at Bunker Hill‘s day trip to Rockport. After reading her blog post I have put this location on my bucket list for one of these summers.
Are you looking for a delicious cheesy pizza for summer? Tieghan from Half-Baked Harvest shares a delicious white corn pizza recipe with homemade pizza dough that you won’t want to miss.
Rachel from The Ponds Farmhouse is sharing her top 10 best dining alfresco table ideas. My favorite tables of Rachel’s are the ones that are on her dock on her pond. What a magical place to dine.
More Inspiration
The most beautiful chapel conversion in Sweden.
Simple pleasures to enjoy this summer.
Raising chickens and the cutest custom henhouse.
How to clean galvanized metal and revive vintage patina.
Easy centerpiece ideas for summer.
How to transform the exterior of your home.
This Michigan lake cabin.
Simple tips for thrifting for your garden.
This 100-year-old garden.
This summer beach tablescape.
Summer thrift store decor finds.
The perfect pop cycle to cool you down from the summer heat.
Have you gotten your copy of a Lovely Life yet? Written by Melissa Michaels, this book is about discovering the beauty always in front of us.
It’s about slowing down to savor the moment, finding more joy in our home-making rituals, and practicing soul-tending rhythms in every season.
CLICK HERE to buy your copy.
An Oldie But a Goodie
9 Simple Ideas to Start Preparing for Christmas in July
I’d love to hear from you! Leave me a comment and let me know what you’d like to see on the blog! Thank you for being here.
Until next time,
Wishing you a wonderful week ahead,
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Love your new cafe au lait Dahlias! I’ve never seen that color before – it’s wonderful. Blue hydrangeas always remind me of the Cape Cod and Nantucket areas of Massachusetts. Hydrangeas don’t do as well in Florida, but Blue Plumbago does have flowers similar in color. It’s hardy and blooms all year. So many of my favorite flowers are from New England where I grew up. Zinnias were one of my Mom’s favorite and they never fail to remind me of the bed of them planted by our back door. I’ve been to Rockport many, many times and am glad you have added it to your bucket list. Motif #1 has been painted by innumerable artists and has become an icon of New England waterfront scenery. Maybe a small painting of it might make a nice souvenir from your someday trip!
How beautiful your gardens are! The flowers are lovely! We missed you today! Thank you so much for sharing my summer beach tablescape! Hugs to you! Happy cruising!
Thank you so much, Chloe. They have finally caught up after a season of cool temps. We definitely made up for that last week with all the heat though. Hugs right back at you.
Hello Kim! I’m new to your blog, and love it! I live in the hot portion of the San Francisco Bay Area, and sadly my Shasta Daisies are all ready done blooming for the season. I have started the task of cutting them back. About 15 years ago I bought one pack of seeds from the local drug store. These were planted in the front yard, and now they are in the side yard and back yard! The investment of that one pack of seeds has really payed off! They get so tall, so now I use square tomato cages to keep them from falling over. I look at your postings while at work (I’m bad) and can hardly wait to get home to play in the garden! Thank you so much for your beautiful pictures.
Hi Peggy! I’m so glad you found my blog and are following along. It is absolutely amazing how one or two daisies will fill your entire yard. Putting tomato cages around them is such a great idea. I need to divide mine better so I can do that next year. They’re just too big, I didn’t do a good job splitting everything in the garden. Time just got away with me. Thank you so much for reaching out and welcome to the blog.
Each time I catch a glimpse of your gardens, it instantly lifts my spirits, sweet friend! I truly appreciate how you nurture the plants and your friendships with us all at the same time. Even though I’m in a completely different zone, I learn something new from you each time I visit. Thanks so much for sharing my simple summer pleasures list. I really appreciate it! Hope you’re having tons of fun soaking up the summer season. Big hugs and thank yous, CoCo
What a kind message CoCo. Thank you and I am so glad that you learn something new each visit. That makes me so happy to hear. Big hugs right back at you sweet friend.
Kim, your post today is filled with so many beautiful things-that chapel conversion, the lake house, the 100-year old garden-all so lovely. Thank you for sharing our henhouse too. When is your official birthday? Sending you happy wishes! And those daisies-oh my!
Thank you, Mary. I love finding all of this inspiration on the web. It’s my favorite part of writing my blog. My b-day was the 25th.
Kim I loved that antique store, so many wonderful things there. Happy birthday by the way! Hope you are having a wonderful summer. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you so much Ann.
Kim your gardens look so pretty! My dahlias just started blooming but some have not done much at all yet. Thanks for sharing my post!
Dahlias always take so long to bloom but they last such a long time once they arrive.