Saltwater Sounds Weekly: Cut Flower Love
Welcome to Saltwater Sounds, a collection of ideas, tips, and inspiration. This is where I share everything happening in the world of Shiplap and Shells, what’s to come, and the inspiration I’ve found from other bloggers around the web.
This and That…
Welcome back to Saltwater Sounds, where we catch up weekly on what’s been happening at Shiplap and Shells and share inspiration from others.
In a stark reminder of the unpredictable power of nature, my heart goes out to everyone who lives and works in the beautiful town of Lahaina and the other parts of Maui, Hawaii that were affected by the horrific wildfires. They are facing unbelievable challenges.
It’s so hard to believe that this historic and charming waterfront town has been so devastated and that so many people have lost their homes and their lives.
It’s difficult for me to know how to help, especially living so far away from this tragedy. I did find a link to a site with organizations that are accepting donations for your consideration.
Help Maui Fire Victims: Here’s How You Can Donate
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Do you want to capture summer and keep it with you for a while? This week on the blog I’ve updated my post on drying hydrangeas. They are my favorite thing to use in my fall home decor and it’s so easy!!!!
I’m also sharing some tips on how to keep your cut flowers fresh and extend their vase life.
By the way, Ollie and Jax are “team summer”.
They have been living out here on the deck for months. I can’t even imagine how life is going to be when it starts raining again and the boys have to stay inside.
I hosted a bunco party with 11 other ladies last Monday.
If I haven’t already told you, I love board games and I love to eat, so it really was the perfect combination and a fabulous evening with friends.
Two of the salads I made were from Tieghan at Half-Baked Harvest who I LOVE! They were delicious! I’ve now made the orzo chicken salad 4 times.
SHOP MY FALL DECOR FAVORITES HERE.
Around the Garden
August has turned into a burst of color in both my cottage garden and the cut flower garden. The daisies are on their way out but the other blooms remain.
This is the first year I’ve had these reds, and oranges growing in one raised flower bed and I’m really loving it for fall.
Zinnias, strawflower, milkweed, and yarrow play off of each other so well.
The bees love this space and if they’re not pollinating, they’re sleeping on a flower head. It’s such a joy to watch them, especially the bumble bees.
The zinnias have been my favorites this year. The colors are so vibrant.
I’m going to save the seeds for next year’s garden. There were some varieties that I grew this year that I wasn’t able to get at Floret Flowers so I’ll just grow my own next spring!
And then there are the strawflowers. This is an apricot mix with the white growing next to it.
I’ve always grown the strawflowers in a separate container but this year I’m finding that they really look best growing among the other cut flowers.
I’ll be starting to cut and dry them, along with my statice.
My first ripe tomatoes in the garden!
What I’m Using in My Garden Right Now
- Sluggo for the slugs and snails
- Liquid Fence for the deer and rabbits
- Neem oil and insecticidal soap for pests
- Garden gloves
- Garden journal for taking notes for next year’s garden
- I’m not using the shade covers now but if you’re having excessive heat issues you can check them out.
- Pruning shears
What I’m Loving Right Now
- Check out these faux hydrangeas and this plaid throw blanket for decorating my home for fall.
- How cute are these Adidas sneakers?
- I just bought this handheld steamer and it has changed my life! Even my linen duvet cover isn’t wrinkled anymore. I use it on my cotton napkins, tablecloths, and so much more.
- Mornings are so much better with these Irish cream and hazelnut sugar-free syrups for my iced lattes.
- I’ve had several people ask me if I use an ice machine for the swelling in my knee. I use this cold therapy ice machine and it has been great for my knee replacement. I use it every morning and evening.
From the Blog
Simple Tips on How to Dry Hydrangeas for Your Home Decor
What if I told you that you could enjoy your hydrangeas in your home for months to come? Here are a few simple ideas for how to dry hydrangeas… CONTINUE READING.
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…CONTINUE READING.
SHOP GARDEN SUPPLIES & TOOLS HERE.
My Favorite Inspiration Around the Web This Week
A dreamy manor on a Swedish Island.
These easy crockpot recipes.
This renovation by Salt Design Co.
How to set a beautiful summer table.
The best gluten-free salads.
How about some DIY pink milk glass? Or how to use vintage milk glass in your home?
This homemade bourbon vanilla extract recipe.
These fresh seasonal meals made with summer’s bounty.
How to make a pumpkin roll.
Everything fun about a watermelon!
I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment and let me know what you’d like to see on the blog! Thank you for being here.
Until next time,
Wishing a wonderful week ahead,
Other Posts for You to Enjoy
- Natural and Organic Methods for Pest Control in the Garden
- How Your Fallen Autumn Leaves Can Benefit Your Garden Beds
- The Benefits of Mulching Your Garden Beds
- Dividing Perennials: Your Garden Guide to How, When, and Why
- 4 Easy Options for Overwintering Your Geraniums
Be sure to follow me @shiplapandshells on the following…
Pinterest | Instagram | Facebook | LTK | TikTok | Amazon Storefront
I don’t know anything about bunko, but can I come to your next party? The food looked amazing! 🤤 Thanks for sharing the recipes you used. I am going to try the orzo one!
It’s so easy to learn how, especially after a drink or two! The orzo salad with chicken is one of my favorites.
Such a fun post. Hugs and blessings to you, my friend.
Thank you, Renae.
Kim, I love the recipes from Half-Baked Harvest but I haven’t tried the two you mentioned. They sound delicious. How fun to host 11 people for a game! You are amazing. Every Sunday I look forward to pictures of your garden and you do not disappoint! Happy Sunday and thank you so much for sharing my watermelon blog post!
You will love the salad recipes, Mary. You’ll have to let me know what you thought of them. Thank you for following along my friend.
Hi Kim, love your garden and home and all your tips. I know you had a knee replacement and I will see the ortho this week about surgery. My question for you is since you had one done, would you have considered doing both at the same time? As an R.N. I have had pts who did this and I was considering it. Could you give me your honest opinion please? Thanks so much, Deb Hunt
I’m so sorry it took me so long to respond Deb. And I know you already saw the doctor last week. I personally would never do both knees at the same time but again that’s just me. Plus, my doctor wouldn’t do it. After 6 months I still have a lot of swelling and limitations. I can’t imagine having both knees out of commission for a couple of months. I look forward to hearing what you decide.
Everything looks so beautiful! I especially love the 2 hanging (paper?) lanterns. I have lots of hanging goodies in my sunroom and when I taught pre-k for 20 years I loved hanging things from the ceiling. My straw flower seeds did not grow this year. Many years back I had luck with them and babies breath. Two years ago I tried to dry my hydrangeas at the wrong time and mine grow on old wood so the next year I didn’t have many flowers. Lessons learned.
There’s so much to figure out when it comes to hydrangeas. There were a couple of beginning years when I did the same thing. I’m so sad to hear that your strawflower seeds didn’t germinate. Hopefully, it was just a fluke. I’m having a lot of fun with the lanterns this summer. I used to love having teachers that hung things from the ceiling. It made school so much fun when they decorated the rooms.
Hi Kim! Ollie and Jax are so cute out on the deck! And your bunko evening looks like it was so fun! Your garden is spectacular, as always! Thanks so much for sharing my blog post from this week! You are the best! Have a great week, my friend!
Jax and Ollie thank you for the compliment Molly. And thank you for being here.
Anyone else having trouble with the links this morning? I can’t get any of them to work..the page pops up a white sheet…
I’m so sorry to hear that you had problems with the links. I haven’t found any issues so I’m sorry I can’t find what the problem was.
Kim, I can’t get over your gorgeous gardens and those hydrangeas! I can’t wait to get back to Vermont to see how our limelights are looking. I’m going to use your tips and dry some too. Happy Sunday!
Thank you, Ann. I love hydrangeas so much. I can’t wait to see your limelights,