Hydrangeas are a no-fail shrub for Northwest gardens. Flower colors include white, pink, blue and lilac. A few are actually called “red” but the color is more an intense pink segueing into claret. Flowers can begin in shades of green, turning to deep blue, and finishing up in a shade of maroon. Leaves can be […]
Featured
Featured Articles from the West Sound. These are the highlighted articles from WestSound Magazine.
Posted inFeatured, Food & Entertainment
Color Conclusions
Conclusion without examining intent is arrogant at best. Color, more than any other design element, is complicated with many diverse variables. Form, space, line and texture may be considerations, but color is generally one’s initial focus, the elephant in the room. Making blanket statements about color is like assuming all bees sting. Some men do […]
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Conserve and Save Money, Too!
This spring, I had a chance to spend some quality time with an energy-efficiency consultant, who also happens to be my brother-in-law. But that’s neither here nor there. Anyway, I was able to pick his expert mind about what average homeowners can do to make their homes more energy-efficient. First, contrary to what many homeowners […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
The New Victory Gardens
Victory gardens during World War I and II sprouted up on any vacant lot, in front and back yards and anywhere there was a spot to grow nutritious fruit and vegetables. Today a new movement is underway to grow victory gardens once again. Only instead of supporting the war effort, these new gardens are a […]
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Let There Be Light
Light, be it natural or artificial, impacts productivity, safety, moods, as well as the sense of aesthetics. You can design a beautiful home or landscaped yard but if it is not properly illuminated, it may all be for not. The following is an overview of basic lighting design, types of fixtures and the different types […]
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Get The Dirt — On Home Gardening
Aphids There are approximately 4,000 species of aphids in the world but only about 250 species are serious pests; only 1,350 species live in North America. Are you feeling better yet? Aphids range in length from 1/16 inch to 1/4 inch and come in a wide variety of colors: green, red, brown, black, yellow and […]
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Timeless or Trendy?
Trendy has gotten a bad rap of late. My design clients and readers of my blog (www.SanctuaryAndStyle.com) often tell me that they can think for themselves. “I know what I like and I don’t need to follow trends,” they declare. Does that sound familiar? Here’s my rule of thumb. If you are designing for your […]
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Extending the Season With a Hoop House
Hoop houses are a simple tool to improve success with year-round vegetable gardening in the Pacific Northwest. Constructed of basic, inexpensive materials and with the potential for easy relocation, hoop houses are essentially mini-greenhouses that anyone can build and utilize. And like a greenhouse, a hoop house provides a protective, warmer environment for plants that […]
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Simon’s in Port Orchard
It’s not easy to catch up to Tina Nguyen. She lives (for now) on Bainbridge Island. She owns Simon’s in Port Orchard, serving Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai cuisine. And she recently bought the Rosedale Market in Gig Harbor, where she has plans to expand the deli menu to include Pho and spring rolls, among other […]