The days are getting shorter and nighttime temperatures continue to drop, signaling that the late-summer and early-fall growing season is winding down. Green thumb gardeners with a surplus of produce are now wondering what to do with the 20 pounds of zucchini and bushels of green beans they harvested. Most people are familiar with the […]
Garden
Many interesting and delightful gardens abound in our area — how fun to glimpse into a gardener’s back yard (or even front yard). Enjoy gardens from Gig Harbor, Port Orchard, Bremerton, Central Kitsap, and the North end of Kitsap including Bainbridge Island. These articles are only a sample of what we have in West Sound Magazine each issue — subscribe to the print version today to see all of what we have to offer!
Posted inGarden
There Is Much to Love About Doves
The dove is a universal symbol of peace. Though few doves are naturally white, rock pigeons are sometimes bred to have white coloration, thus mistakenly referred to as white doves. Members of the Columbidae family, pigeons and doves are close relatives that share a common ancestor, the wild rock dove. Though they are similar, pigeons […]
Posted inGarden
The Paradise Garden of Dalreen Quyn
There is a small bit of paradise in Indianola. The garden of Dalreen and Alan Quyn is planted abundantly with flowering plants from one border of the property to the other. Not a square inch of bare ground can be seen from February through October each year. Eighty-eight rose bushes and myriad forms of every […]
Posted inGarden
Made in The Shade in Lake Symington
Shade can be a problem for many gardeners, especially if one desires sun-loving perennials or roses. Dortha Murker has created a spark of light and joy in a deeply shaded garden. Located at the terminus of a dead-end street near Lake Symington, her gardens bring the viewer a restful and restorative mood, plus an invitation […]
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A Colorful Palette for Neighborhood Joy
When Cora Reuter was a little girl, her school bus passed a blooming flower garden every afternoon. “It brought me such joy,” she recalled. Middle school years were hard for her, and the garden, full of bursting colors, made her neighborhood brighter. Now, Reuter pays it forward, giving her neighbors, young and old, a happy […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Mindful Gardening: Techniques to Release Neck Tension While You Work
Spending hours in your garden sounds like a dreamy afternoon until neck pain develops. Holding your head at odd angles to dig or pull weeds can create discomfort that lingers the rest of the day. “Prolonged forward flexion — when your head and neck bend down toward the ground — puts stress on the upper […]
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The Spunky Seabird of the Salish Sea
Birds are associated with flight. All but 60 of the world’s 10,000-plus species are capable of flying. Some can only sustain flight for a short distance, while others can glide continuously for weeks. Some birds prefer other forms of transportation to flying. Ground-dwelling quails, rails and roadrunners like to run and tend to fly only […]
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The Profusely Abundant, Plant-Filled Garden of Jill and Michael Betts
Jill Betts and her husband, Michael, have created a profusely planted, abundant garden on their 2.5-acre property off the Seabeck Highway. In April 2020 (at the beginning of the gardening season), she began a five-year labor of love and perhaps “obsession.” Michael Betts, who’s retired from the Navy, is a consummate builder of anything his […]
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Willow & Mabel Garden Co. Update
It has been a while since I have given you an update on what I have to offer on the farm at the moment and in the coming months. The sweet peas are now blooming beautifully and this year, I have grown more than ever. If you live locally and would like to purchase a […]