Saltwater Sounds Weekly: New Beginnings in May

Welcome to Saltwater Sounds, a collection of ideas, tips, and inspiration. Here, 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

May is here, and we’re that much closer to a garden full of beautiful blooms! And I couldn’t be more excited. How about you?

Projects in the Front Yard

We have a lot going on outdoors this week.

A new fence is being built in our front yard, and many neighbors are wondering what it will look like.

We’ll have cattle panel fencing so you can still see into the garden, but Jax and Ollie will be safe from dogs off-leash (which happens a lot) and cars on the street.

I can’t tell you how much better it will be now that I won’t have to watch every move Ollie makes anymore. We don’t have much of a backyard except for the dog run, so I know the dogs will love being free to run around and hang out with me.

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More garden beds and an arbor will be added along one side of the fence.

I also have two new 4×4 raised beds that we’ll add to the area in front of the greenhouse soon. So, I still have those seedlings waiting for their new home. I hope they will hang in there for another week or so!

We will add two cattle panel trellises to the raised beds in the cut flower garden for tomatoes, zucchini, etc. I can’t wait to show you when this is all done.

Opening Day at Longbranch Marina

Yesterday was the Opening Day of the boating season. It’s always fun hanging out with our friends at the Longbranch Marina every year.

Here’s one of my favorite Opening Day volunteers, Paula.

Although the weather was not the best this year because of the rain, we had plenty of fun undercover for breakfast.

My friends Alex and Samuel were also helping out for the big event.

I’m going to give Alex and Samuel a plug because they own the fabulous Aluel Cellars. They have three Seattle tasting rooms in Queen Anne, Ballard, and Capitol Hill.

Aluel Cellars is focused on limited production of elegant wines handcrafted in the old-world style to showcase great fruit sourced from some of the top vineyards across Washington state.

The most exciting news? A new production facility, vineyards, and an additional “seasonal” tasting room are coming to the Key Peninsula soon! This location is 1 hour and 15 minutes from Seattle and less than 5 minutes from our home!

Be sure to check them out. All Aluel Cellars wines are available for purchase and shipping online.

This is not an affiliate link or sponsored. I just love their wine!

Around the Garden and Greenhouse

I’ve been trying to plant all the annual flowers I bought for the containers and window boxes in between the rain.

I’m amazed that I ran out of flowers already and still need more to fill all the containers I have in the garden. I need some more thrillers and spillers.

It’s rhododendron and azalea season in Seattle!

We have rhododendron varieties that bloom in the garden from April through June, and they are the most beautiful colors.

This purple azalea never disappoints!

Each week looks different as our different varieties of azaleas and rhodies bloom and fade.

I can’t wait until the rhododendron in front of the kitchen window starts blooming in a few weeks. Do you remember it?

Our Pieris Japonica Mountain Fire shrub has never looked so beautiful. Usually, all you see are the green leaves, but the gorgeous pinks and dusty rose colors have taken over, and this shrub is gorgeous!

This evergreen shrub grows in hardiness zones 5-8.

Do you remember when I cut back the ferns in March? This is what they’re looking like this week.

My Gardening Tool and Product Favorites

From the Blog

Your Gardening Guide to Grow and Care for Foxgloves

Foxgloves are a pretty addition to cottage gardens, but how much do you know about them? In this guide, I’ll answer the most common questions about growing and caring for foxgloves so you will know how to care for your own plants… CONTINUE READING.

Cottage Garden Design Ideas to Create a Charming Garden

Creating a traditional cottage garden is a great way to bring a charming, old-fashioned feel to your outdoor space. I’m sharing some cottage garden design ideas so you can create your own perfectly charming cottage garden feel… CONTINUE READING.

May Gardening Tips and To-Dos for the Pacific Northwest

Get your hands dirty this May with these gardening to-dos for the Pacific Northwest. From planting summer annual seedlings to preparing your garden bed soil, these monthly tips will help you create a thriving garden this growing season…CONTINUE READING.

What I’m Loving This Week for Mothers Who Love Gardening

Who is ready for some of my favorite gift ideas for those mothers who LOVE TO GARDEN?

I’m going to start with my Cut Flower Garden eBooks, which are for sale. They’re the perfect Mother’s Day gift!

Here’s the third and final eBook in the cut Flower Garden series.

“In Full Bloom” offers 36 pages of tips for caring for and maintaining your flower garden for just $12. Click the button below to find out more.

Or buy the bundle with three digital books about growing a cut flower garden. From planning to maintenance, you’ll have 79 pages of downloadable gardening information to read and refer back to at any time.

ON SALE: My 35-page Ultimate Garden Planner is on sale now for $4.99. Click the button below to learn more about what is included in this planner. I’m pretty sure you’ll love it as much as I do!

My Favorite Inspiration Around the Web This Week

First, let’s check out my friends and their amazing accomplishments!

My gardening friend, Stacy Ling of Bricks ‘n Blooms, was on the “Live with Kelly and Mark” show last week! I am so proud of her performance. She nailed it with her gardening knowledge!

My friend, Jen, at Midwest Life and Style, won the American Farmhouse Style Table Tales Contest. You can see her winning tablescape here.

My friend Skye is, as far as I’m concerned, The Hydrangea Queen. And she has a new website that I’m loving!

Need some Mother’s Day brunch ideas? How about these lemon sugar rolls with vanilla cream cheese icing?

All things lemon sounded good today, so how about trying this Meyer lemon pound cake recipe with a citrus glaze?

How gorgeous is this rustic lake house?

If you need help choosing a paint color to compliment your stained cabinets, I have just the guide for you!

You won’t believe what this rustic candle lantern was made from! I’ll give you a hint. It only cost $3.00 to make!

Have you ever wondered how to treat powdery mildew on zinnias? Here you go!

This Southhampton surf retreat is gorgeous!

If you’re having trouble coming up with a fun Mother’s Day activity to make mom feel special, here are 55 ideas! Here are my favorites from the list:

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,

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