When Kathy Hawkins moved to this region after 40 years in Fairbanks, Alaska, where winters got to 60 degrees below, she threw herself into gardening, undeterred by deer. With tremendous energy and commitment, Hawkins has involved herself in the many gardening resources the area has to offer. In the 15 years since she and her […]
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
Heronswood Comes Full Circle
Recently, a group led on a private Heronswood tour by Dan Hinkley, one of the founders, learned a brief history of the garden. You can never go back to the same place and have it be the same. Even though the story of the land that is now called Heronswood appears to have gone full […]
Posted inGarden
It’s the Season to Tern, Tern, Tern
The summer months bring numerous visitors to West Sound’s shorelines. Some enjoy beach walks, while others prefer a picnic. Boats abound and kites fly high. The wintering waterfowl have long since departed and are raising their families in the sunny Arctic. Marine birds that winter in the South are here for the summer. Among the […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Keep Your Pets Safe from Poisonous Plants
If you have pets, you probably know that lilies are poisonous for cats, but did you know that tulips are dangerous for dogs? Some toxic plants don’t just cause gastric irritation — they can cause death. As you’re planning to add more plants to your garden, you may want to avoid those that are harmful […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
How to Attract Pollinators with Container Planters
Container planters can help you play a part in attracting pollinators, even if you don’t have a yard. In the United States, one-third of all agricultural output depends on pollinators — we need pollinators and pollinators need us. Help the pollinators do their job by planting pollinator-attracting plants in your containers. Easy Tips for Container […]
Posted inGarden
This Forest Icon is the Last of its Kind
When it comes to majestic birds, people often think of bald eagles and trumpeter swans. But would anyone call a woodpecker majestic? The 1800s and early 1900s were a period of unprecedented destruction across North America. Colossal forests were completely decimated to harvest timber and farm the land. Having lost their habitat, the world’s two […]
Posted inGarden
Gig Harbor Garden Tour
Gardeners seem to be some of the happiest and nicest people on Earth. There is something euphoric about getting one’s hands in the soil, planting little sprouts and seeds, and watching them become beautiful, living things. As if that weren’t enough to make the happy endorphins emerge, gardening also produces a strange desire in the […]
Posted inGarden
Art in the Garden
Art is an integral part of our lives and is present in our homes, landscapes and public spaces. Gardens have long been a place for art installations, a practice that dwells in history. Even ancient gardens needed structures, and out of that need came creativity. Inspiration turned garden structures into garden features — walls, paths, […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Free Webinar to Cover Weather Stations, Water and Drought Tracking
WSU Extension’s Regional Small Farms Program is hosting a free online webinar for farmers on the Olympic and Kitsap Peninsulas titled, “Weather Stations Webinar: A Tool for Farmers.” Gardeners and citizens interested in local weather patterns are also encouraged to register. The webinar takes place Tuesday, June 4, from noon to 1 p.m. It will […]