An old-fashioned, fragrant herb, lavender colors the garden with a purple haze in midsummer. This herb is so popular, it has its own festivals. Lavender’s reputation is attributed to its beauty in the garden and diversity of use, from aromatherapy to crafting. The characteristics of lavender are legendary. Culinary, crafting and medicinal recipes have been […]
Gardeners Corner
All things gardening — seasonal tips, inspirational ideas, gardening events, plant information and more.
Tent Caterpillars Are Making a Comeback
The last tent caterpillar outbreak in West Sound happened quite a while ago. Yet the memories — of the sounds they made as they munched away at our tree canopy and the shivers they sent through my spine as they fell on my head or crunched underfoot — have not diminished all that much over […]
Roses are Blooming in West Sound
Have you thought about growing a few roses or just been wondering which types of roses might be successful in your garden? This Sunday, June 29, the Kitsap County Rose Society will host a Rose Show in Silverdale at the Community Center, next to Walgreens, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. You will see all […]
New Bainbridge Store Fuses Asian Influence with Northwest Décor
The Pacific Northwest and Asia don’t seem to have a lot in common when it comes to décor, but a new Bainbridge shop proves that the two styles can live in harmony. Plum, which opened in May at 124 Winslow Way East, infuses the clean lines inspired by Asian style into the earthy décor of […]
Garden Thugs: Four Pesky Plants to Avoid in Your Garden
Most gardeners have plants they wish they never had planted. I have three in my own garden. These nefarious plants are yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia punctata), bishop’s weed (Aegopodium podagraria) and Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria). All three plants are deciduous perennials. I regret the day they ever came into my garden. I inherited the Alstroemeria 21 years […]
Best Native Plants for Protecting Your Hillside from Erosion
After the terrible Oso landslide tragedy, we received several calls at Woodbrook Native Plant Nursery from people wanting advice on what to plant on their hillsides. Plants help protect against erosion in several ways. They remove water from the soil and carry it up into their tissues and release it as water vapor into the […]
The Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Showcases Six North Kitsap Gardens
Six private gardens in Indianola, Kingston and on Bainbridge Island will be open to the general public on June 29 as part of Garden Conservancy’s Open Days. The mission of the Garden Conservancy is to preserve “America’s exceptional gardens” as well as educate people about the roles of gardens in our country’s heritage and culture. […]
Hansville Ladies Aid Society Hosts Garden Tour
The Hansville Ladies Aid Society Garden Tour on Saturday, July 26, will feature six gardens in the Hansville area. Each garden has a theme title and signs will be posted at the entrance to the gardens. The theme titles this year are Plant Collector’s Garden, Stylized Japanese Pole House Garden, Beach Garden, Garden with Sculpture […]
How to Turn Your Yard Waste into Resources
If you are like me, this time of year brings a bit of (late) spring cleaning, coupled with hours of work getting your yard and garden back into shape. Unfortunately, the price we pay to live in such a lush and beautiful place is the annual cleanup of yard debris from our abundance of trees. […]
