Saltwater Sounds: May in Bloom and a Quiet Mother’s Day
Welcome To This Week’s Saltwater Sounds…
A collection of ideas, tips, and inspiration. Here, I share everything happening in the world of Shiplap and Shells, what to look forward to on the blog, and the inspiration I’ve found throughout the week.
I hope this week has been kind to you.
May always feels like such a hopeful month. The garden is waking up fast, the days are getting longer, and everywhere I look, something new is blooming.
It’s busy, but it’s the kind of busy I’ve been waiting for.
As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. My blog also contains other affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

A Quiet Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day can hold so many different things at once.
For some, it’s a joyful day, with flowers, family, and celebration. For others, it arrives with a tender heart and many memories.

If you’ve lost a mother or a child, or if the day finds you on a path you didn’t choose, I see you. I’m sending so much love your way today.

For me, it’s always been a personal day. I lost my daughter Katie eight years ago, and my mom 4 years ago. Mother’s Day has looked different ever since.

This year, I’m under the weather, so I’m keeping things simple and close to home. If I can manage it, I’ll head to the nursery to pick out a rose or hydrangea bush… something to plant in their memory, which is the one thing I always try to do.
Some years, the gesture is small. But it still matters.
Whatever today looks like for you, I hope it brings a little peace and a lot of gentleness.
In the Garden This Week

The alliums are back! They are one of my favorites in the garden, and really add a pop during a month that doesn’t have much color yet.




The containers are planted and are another gift to the garden while we wait for the perennials and cut flower garden to really get going.


The peonies are ssssooooooo close. Every morning, I check them, hoping they magically opened overnight. I know I’m not the only one who does this.

Jax and Ollie have been supervising every bit of it. Every container I plant, every garden bed I work in.

They take their jobs very seriously!
“There is no time to be bored in a world as beautiful as this.”
UNKNOWN
From This Week in Years Past

This time last year, I had the chance to hop aboard my friend Ramona’s beautiful new boat for a tour around Gig Harbor.

The weather was perfect, and seeing Gig Harbor from the water always gives me a new appreciation for it.

Going under the Tacoma Narrows Bridge never gets old.

There’s something about being out on the water that resets everything. It was one of those spring days that felt like summer was just around the corner.
Garden Supplies and Tools
Check out my favorite garden supplies and tools for the growing season. Whether you’re looking for potting soil or deer repellent, you’ll find what I use in my own garden.
On the Blog This Week
How to Grow a Flower Container Garden for Beginners
You don’t need a big yard to have a beautiful garden. A few well-planted containers can transform a deck, a balcony, or a front step into something that stops you in your tracks every time you walk past.
13 Tips to Extend the Vase Life of Your Cut Flowers
Do you struggle to keep your flowers alive for more than a couple of days? Today I’m sharing 13 tips and tricks to help extend the vase life of your cut flowers.
22 Beginner Flower Gardening Mistakes to Avoid: What to Do Instead
Starting a flower garden is one of the most rewarding things you can do with a patch of dirt and a little ambition. But if you’re new to it, a few missteps along the way are basically guaranteed. I know because I’ve made most of them myself.
How to Support Garden Flowers to Keep Them from Falling Over
If you’ve ever walked out to your flower garden after a wind storm and found your dahlias face down in the dirt, you already know how quickly a beautiful season can go sideways. Supporting tall garden flowers is one of those things that seems optional until it isn’t.
My Favorite Inspiration Around the Web This Week
You’ll love this gorgeous coastal masterpiece.
And this lovely sage kitchen.
If you’re looking for a new breakfast recipe, check out this strata cup.
Here’s how to make lavender sachets.
There’s something about this basket flower arrangement that brightens up any space.
If you love the vintage feel of old feed sack fabrics, here’s an easy way to make vintage-like material out of a drop cloth.
This is such a delicious Caprese Caesar Pasta Salad recipe!
This beautiful lakeside home in Sweden will give you plenty of inspiration.
Here’s a beach house remodel you won’t want to miss!
Learn how to decorate a kitchen hutch with these 10 cozy styling tips.
Looking Ahead

This week I’m heading to Poulsbo for some vintage shopping and lunch, and I cannot wait. I’ll be sharing what’s out there right now and whatever comes home with me on next Sunday’s Saltwater Sounds.
Until then, I hope something is blooming in your corner of the world.

MORE POSTS
For You To Enjoy
Follow Me for More Inspiration






