Most gardeners view the same kinds of colors in their garden year after year. You’ll see the bright shades of green as well as hints of red, yellow and even orange. It’s time to think outside the green box and spice up your garden by using a new shade that’s sure to turn heads: living […]
Gardeners Corner
All things gardening — seasonal tips, inspirational ideas, gardening events, plant information and more.
Posted inGardeners Corner
Plants for Every Room of Your Home
Gardeners know the benefits of digging in the soil. It elevates a person’s mood, improves mental and physical well-being, and the outcome is always good — added beauty or tasty nutritional food. But many of us are stuck indoors for the winter, have a lack of space to garden outdoors or just can’t get enough […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
The Art of Watering Your Garden
Editor’s note: This is an excerpt adapted from Byron Smith’s book, “Slow Down and Grow Something: The Urban Grower’s Recipe for Good Life,” recently published by Murdoch Books. Plants have naturally adapted to the climate in which they have evolved — that’s why the plants in your local national park aren’t expecting you to appear […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Fall Is the Time to Plant Your Early-Blooming Bulbs
For local gardeners, fall is the time to clean out garden beds and get bulbs in the ground. The mild climate of West Sound makes it ideal for growing a wide range of spring-blooming bulbs, with crocuses, hellebores, cyclamen, daffodils, tulips and grape hyacinth being among the most popular. Since early-blooming bulbs need a cold […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Why Gardening Helps Preserve Our Planet
Editor’s note: Albers Vista Gardens is a West Sound treasure that demonstrates how to garden sustainably and preserve flora and fauna. This excerpt was adapted from Albers Vista Gardens’ founder John J. Albers’ book, “The Northwest Garden Manifesto: Create, Restore, and Maintain a Sustainable Yard” (Mountaineers Books, December 2017, used with permission). For millions of […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
How to Create a ‘Living’ Wall from Guttering
Editor’s note: This blog post is an adapted excerpt from Max McMurdo’s “Upcycling Outdoors” book, which explains the basic of good outdoor design using scrap items, and includes a variety of step-by-step projects. When you have limited outdoor space, it’s great to create as many planting opportunities as you can. Vertical planting, intended to produce […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
How to Make Your Yard a Haven for Wildlife
Last month, my husband and I visited a small public garden in Southwest Washington called the Wildlife Botanical Gardens. The garden is a project of the NatureScaping organization, devoted to showing homeowners ways to attract birds and other wildlife to their yards by providing reliable sources of food, water, shelter and nesting material. The 3 […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Tips for Creating a Pet-Friendly Family Yard for Summer Fun
People aren’t the only ones who love to spend time in the family yard during the summer months. For the family pet, the outdoor living room serves many purposes — providing a place to relax, burn off some energy, play safely with friends (human and furry) and do their “business.” To help everyone — including […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Guide to Creating a Cozy Shed
While sheds are primarily considered a storage space, they’re more and more being thought of as an extension of your livable space — where you can relax and unwind. But how do you take a shed from serving as a place to store things to a cozy place of comfort? There are a number of […]