Saltwater Sounds Weekly: Sweet Summer Blooms
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…
Happy Sunday and welcome to the blog! I’m still having trouble figuring out which day this is because of the holiday last week.
I hope my U.S. friends all had the most wonderful 4th of July and enjoyed time with family and friends, and celebrating Independence Day.
We had a fun morning parade party on the 4th where our guests enjoyed a variety of quiches, breakfast potatoes, and drinks before and after watching the parade.
And of course, watching our community parade as it went down our street was the most fun. It was a really small hometown gathering which made me appreciate where we live even more.
I know this sounds weird coming from someone who is on Instagram and has a blog, but I did not take a single picture of the festivities. Not one! I was so focused on the moment (or lots of moments) the entire day and preparing for everything that I forgot to take any pics of the food, decorations, my friends, the parade, all of it.
Have you ever been that focused? Anyway, you have to take my word for it that we had a great celebration.
The smoky skies created the most intense sunset that night. This picture is unedited. Hard to believe, isn’t it?
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What do you think about the new Meta app, Threads?
I joined this new app on the first day it went live, not because I wanted to engage in yet another social media platform but because I was curious.
It looks a lot like Twitter, which I have never posted on. So this will take a bit of getting used to.
Just in case you want to follow along on the Threads app you can find me HERE.
I went shopping and to lunch in Poulsbo with a couple of girlfriends on Friday. It was a lot of fun and we found a few great deals!
I didn’t buy anything that was unique and I didn’t already have. I was lucky enough to get some basic thrifted finds at great deals this week. They were mostly cloches and galvanized buckets and tubs.
If you haven’t already seen this, I got the cutest things from The Loomia and want to share them with you. USE CODE SHIPLAPANDSHELLS FOR 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER.
First, they have the most wonderful Turkish beach towels that are oversized, ultra-lightweight, and water-absorbent (pictured above). The size is 35″ x 67″. They are made of 100% Turkish cotton. Here are the 4 styles I got:
- The Ultimate
- Raven
- Celeste
- Juniper (sold out)
I LOVE my Silvia kimono & beach cover! One size fits most (even me). Made of 100% Turkish cotton, it has short sleeves, a high split, and fringes. I wear this all the time because of its versatility.
My last item is the Ekani linen and cotton Turkish throw blanket, It’s so cozy! I picked the indigo color not pictured) and I found out that they use OEKO-TEX® certified dyes so their items are free from any harmful toxins or chemicals while maintaining their vibrant colors.
USE CODE SHIPLAPANDSHELLS FOR 15% OFF YOUR ENTIRE ORDER.
Around the Garden
Summer Garden Issues
I’m shocked by what has started blooming in the garden even since the 4th of July.
Pests and Diseases
I’ve never had so many issues with my plants since starting my garden. This has already been a tough year. My zinnias and sunflowers are being affected the most but I can’t seem to get a handle on it this year.
What are you using or doing to keep your pests under control right now? I need to do a better job companion planting next year.
Overcrowding
I didn’t divide many perennials this spring due to my knee replacement. And it shows! This is probably causing some of the pest and disease issues I’m seeing in the summer garden.
Moles
If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know that we’ve always had mole issues in our garden. But this year seems to be exceptionally tough. They are going up through my raised lanterns and moving plants and sprinklers. There are holes everywhere you look and the grass is now full of trails that are uneven and unstable when walking around.
What’s going on in your garden?
The Stars of the Summer Show This Week
I was shocked to see so many plants start blooming this past week. It’s starting to look like summer!
The hydrangeas are really getting their vibrant purple, blue, and pink colors now. I love how gorgeous these are.
And these blue shades are even more stunning in person.
Sunflowers can literally be found throughout the garden. I sowed so many seeds in the greenhouse this year. These are the “Frilly” variety.
Sadly, I’ve had quite a few sunflower plants that have been infested with pests. I was not able to save them early because we were on our boat trip in May. By the time we came back, the damage had already been done.
This daylily was planted last year and is from Beck’s Bulbs. It’s called a “garden show reblooming lily”. I love the colors.
The lilliput zinnias here are bright and beautiful! I do have them planted in other areas and they have been infested with pests as well.
I’m doing my best with cutting off anything that looks diseased and full of holes. I’ve also been using insecticidal soap on plants in the evening after I know the pollinators aren’t around them.
The pink sweet peas are finally blooming. The white variety, Jilly, and the purple shades bloomed much quicker this year.
I’ve been showing you the alliums for weeks now, but they’re finally in full bloom.
Just Starting to Bloom
We’ve got dahlias blooming sooner than ever! I can’t remember ever seeing a dahlia before the end of July. It is a very pleasant surprise!
Pictured above is the first cafe au lait dahlia of the summer season.
Here are a couple more around the garden.
The first gladiolus of many more to come.
The snapdragons seemed to have bloomed overnight. The colors are absolutely beautiful this year and they look so healthy!
Here’s the statice just starting to show itself. These will make the most beautiful dried flowers.
Top LTK Sellers Last Week
Here are the top-selling items on my LTK account from last week.
Pottery Barn Hart Reclaimed Wood Buffet
ON SALE! Afloral Distressed Ceramic Large Jug Vase – 14.75″ $58.00-$28.55
ALL Antique Candle Co. CANDLES are 30% off while supplies last!
There are still items in the Caron’s Beach House Shiplap and Shells collection through July 10th.
Outdoor Pismo Beach rugs are on sale for 20% off with code Shells20 through tomorrow.
Outdoor Pillows are 20% off and already marked online through tomorrow.
From the Blog
Ultimate Guide to Grow and Care for Hydrangeas for Beginners
Hydrangeas are stunning flowering plants that add a touch of old-fashioned elegance to any garden. If you’re a beginner gardener who wants to grow hydrangeas in your own garden, this ultimate guide will provide you with all the necessary information you need to successfully grow and care for hydrangeas.
4 Easy Ways to Propagate Lavender Plants
Have you ever wanted to create new lavender starts from your existing plants? I’ll show you 4 easy ways to propagate lavender cuttings, with detailed step-by-step instructions.
My Favorite Inspiration Around the Web This Week
5 simple ways to reset this summer.
Everything you need to know about potager gardens.
Did you know that Dopamine Decor is the secret to a happy & cozy home?
How to harvest beautiful lavender in your summer garden.
The secret to lining drawers the cheap way.
10 Amazon home decor favorites for summer decorating.
This easy and refreshing chicken salad recipe.
A coastal cottage kitchen refreshed with painted floors.
This spaghetti recipe with zucchini.
These coastal-style DIY starfish and driftwood ornaments.
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 week full of joy, kindness, and peace.
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Kim, your flower garden is GORGEOUS~pests and all. Since my garden is more vegetable focused, I am trying some flowers this year. Sunflowers were beautiful and have come and gone. My zinnias are up but look a little sparse. Roses are still blooming in my garden which is rare as the heat generally burns them out until the fall. What a weird gardening year~had my very first rabbit, spider mites and probably a mouse/rat or two. Anyway, gardening diminishes for me over our hot summer so I am happy to see yours! I’ve got many blog posts of yours to go through as we’ve been traveling. Can’t wait to catch up! Love all your things this week.
Kim,
I too am having a problem with pests eating my zinnias…The ones planted in pots on the patio seem to be doing well but those out in the yard are having there leaves being blackened and eaten…I have tried the dish washing liquid treatment to do avail. I did use up a pesticide that I had and that has seemed to help a bit. I have cut off all the diseases leaves but I am so disappointed as they looked so lovely in the beginning…
Your entire garden looks so charming and beautiful!! Love it!!
Hugs,
Deb
You would laugh if you saw the state of my cut flower garden right now!!! My zinnias are only an inch tall and I planted them at the end of May!! Things are tough over here but the sun has finally been shining and it’s warm now so hopefully everything will catch up!! Your dahlias and hydrangeas look gorgeous. Gardening definitely keeps us on our toes!
Kim
Your hydrangeas look amazing. Thanks for sharing my recipe. Have the best week.
Your gardens are always so gorgeous! Just seeing pics of your garden makes my heart so happy.