Saltwater Sounds Weekly: Seedlings, Spring Bouquets, and Easter Reflections

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.

Happy Sunday! As always, I’m so grateful for you being here!

Whether you’re celebrating Easter, observing Passover, or enjoying another spring day, I hope this week brought you some time to slow down and enjoy the little things.

It has been the most beautiful week here, one that reminded me how happy I am for the slow and steady unfolding of spring.

I definitely took advantage of the warm and sunny weather, enjoying the gorgeous tulips, dividing dahlia tubers, planting annuals, and hardening off the seedlings that have been living in the greenhouse all these months.

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This and That

Top 30 Flower Gardening Influencers in the US

Now this is fun!

A friend shared this link with me the other day, and I was surprised to see that “Shiplap and Shells” ranked 3rd out of 30 for top flower gardening influencers in the US.

Now, take this with a grain of salt. I’m not familiar with this site, which is specifically targeted at brands and influencers, but it was still pretty fun to see.

Even though you see my blog posts every week, I’ve taken an amazing amount of time off Instagram this past year. Looks like this list has motivated me to get going again and start sharing more of my garden over there as well.

Wild About Tulips

I had to talk about tulips for just one more week! Just look at those gorgeous spring blooms from Trader Joe’s, pictured above.

I should have all the tulips out of the raised garden beds by the end of today, so we can start transplanting the cut flower seedlings next week.

They’re even brighter and more beautiful than last week!

Here’s a little view of the tulips from the greenhouse.

If you were choosing tulips to grow, what color palette is your favorite?

In the Greenhouse and Around the Garden

Acclimating the Seedlings and Geraniums

It’s finally time for my summer seedlings and geraniums to come outdoors for the hardening-off process. This is to get the plants used to the harsher outdoor weather elements.

It’s always such a big milestone, knowing that soon they’ll be planted out and thriving in their summer spots.

It should take less time to acclimate the seedlings this year since I’ve been leaving the greenhouse doors open 24 hours a day. So they’re already more used to the colder evening temperatures than ever.

Digging Up and Splitting Dahlia Tubers

We dug up and split the dahlia tubers last week.

I’ll be honest, it’s my least favorite thing to do in the garden, but it’s definitely worth it.

Most of the tuber clumps fared well through the winter.

I missed my sweet girl Lucy this year. She always loved lying on the tarp while I divided the tubers.

Now, Jax and Ollie have taken her place.

🌿 Garden Tip: When dividing dahlia tubers, make sure each section has at least one viable eye—it’s key to a thriving plant!

What’s Blooming in the Spring Garden

The garden is bursting with new life, and every day seems to bring something fresh and green.

The bright yellow daffodils are gone, but the cream and pale yellow varieties are still in full bloom.

The alliums haven’t bloomed yet, but they’re close.

We’re enjoying the pansies and violas planted in the flower containers for now, but I’ll be planting summer annuals, including geraniums, this coming week.

Evergreen Garden Ferns

Do you remember me cutting back all my outdoor ferns every year? We cut these back in March, and here are the new fronds, unfurling as we speak.

Spring Garden Flowers for Bouquets

I made the prettiest flower bouquets with whatever was blooming in the garden last week.

The hellebores, also known as Lenten roses, are still blooming beautifully. I mixed a few tulips, Japanese roses, and bay leaf branches for an informal spring floral arrangement. Easy peasy!

There’s something so special about gathering flowers straight from the garden for a vase on the table.

“Nothing ever seems impossible in spring, you know.”
― L.M. Montgomery

On the Blog

What’s Growing in My Early Spring Blooming Garden

There’s something so inspiring about the garden’s first blooms of early spring. After months of bare branches and muted tones, the garden is finally starting to wake up, and those early pops of color feel like a breath of fresh air…CONTINUE READING.

How to Safely Transplant Flower Seedlings: Tips for Beginners

Do you know all the ins and outs of transplanting flower seedlings to the garden? This beginner’s guide to gardening will share everything you need to know about safely transplanting your young plants to the cut flower garden, including timing and how-to tips…CONTINUE READING.

Spring Gardening Checklist to Help the Summer Garden Thrive

Are you ready to return to the garden and get your hands dirty again? In this post, I’ll share the essential projects on your spring gardening checklist to work on now so your summer garden will thrive…CONTINUE READING.

How to Spruce Up Your Thrifted Vintage Finds for Spring

Do you love antiquing, thrifting, and all things vintage? If so, you’ve come to the right place! Today, I’ll share some ideas on how you can spruce up your thrifted vintage finds for spring…CONTINUE READING.

Top Tips for Watering Your Flower Garden Efficiently

Watering your garden efficiently can dramatically improve plant growth, conserve water, and save time and effort. This guide offers easy and effective tips for efficient plant watering, helping your garden plants thrive throughout the growing season…CONTINUE READING.

My Favorite Inspiration Around the Web This Week

More Inspiration

Salted or unsalted butter? That is the question.

How to make a distressed napkin decoupage lamp.

I don’t think you can get any better than banana bread carrot cake with vanilla cream cheese frosting, do you?

This house has history and soul.

These are the cutest terra cotta clay herb markers.

Try making this book page wreath made from cone-shaped pages.

How about these refreshing lemon vodka drinks?

Have you ever wondered if you could paint plywood floors? 

Here’s an easy skillet cheesy green chile enchilada bake recipe for Cinco de Mayo.

Looking Ahead

Now that the seedlings are starting to move outdoors, it’s officially planting season around here. I’ll also be giving my garden containers a refresh and prepping the patio for spring entertaining.

Thanks so much for being here. Whether you’re picking flowers, caring for your seedlings, or just taking in the beauty of the season, I’m so glad we get to share it all together.

Until next time,

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