The American poet Theodore Roethke stated, “Great Nature has another thing to do / To you and me; so take the lively air / And, Lovely, learn by going where to go.” When you wander into Donna and Tom Torrens’ Gig Harbor garden — with its breathtaking view of the harbor and Mount Rainier, even […]
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
Enjoying Vista Gardens All Year Round
West Sound has three world-class gardens open to the public all year round. The smallest, Vista Gardens, at 4.5 acres, is tucked in against a hillside on 31st Street in East Bremerton. Perhaps 4.5 acres sounds small but this garden is home to myriad amounts of plants, literally thousands. For example, there are over 450 […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Creating and Caring for Shade Gardens
Those shady spots in the landscape can make it challenging to grow a beautiful garden. Fortunately, there are more plants than you may think that will thrive in low light. Monitor the amount of sunlight the area receives throughout the day, season and year. You may be surprised that it gets more sunlight than you […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Organic Insect Pest Control in Vegetable and Flower Gardens
You can have a beautiful, productive garden while working with nature to manage insect pests. As you incorporate various eco-friendly pest management strategies, you will encourage songbirds, beneficial insects and pollinators to visit your gardens. You will find slight variations of definitions, but most organic gardeners agree the focus is on cultivating a system that […]
Posted inGarden
A Little, Brown Bird with a Big, Unique Voice
Binoculars and field guides are useful tools for visually identifying birds. Birding-by-ear skills are just as important, as birds are often heard before being seen. Thankfully, modern technology makes this easy with apps that feature multiple bird sounds, such as songs, contact calls and alarm calls. Apps should not be used in the field to […]
Posted inGarden
An Introduction: Dahlias 101
Many gardeners consider the dahlia to be the iconic flower for the late summer and fall garden. Hardy to USDA Zones 8 and above, dahlias do best in well-drained soil and excel in sunny locations. With over 36 species and more than 57,000 cultivars, this genus has an incredible range of flower size and shape. […]
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An Intimate, Relaxing Gathering to Learn and Mingle
Carolyn Thompson, the owner of Willow & Mabel Garden Co., put together a small function that was both a social gathering and an event on hosting called Cake & Tablescapes. “It was a small, intimate event,” she says. Thompson advertised it to her email subscribers, who rapidly signed up within 24 hours. She barely had […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
How to Avoid These 5 Common Mistakes When Growing Grains
Are your gardening efforts limited to flowers, grass, fruits and vegetables? Grains are another exciting plant to cultivate. Knowing which grains to grow in the garden can reward your efforts with a successful, verdant crop. The trick is knowing what mistakes to avoid that could ruin your harvest. It’s time to go “with” the grain. […]
Posted inGarden
A Gardening ‘Gold Mine’ in Poulsbo
For three decades, Sam Rader has been transforming 5 acres of woodland in Poulsbo. By combining the concepts of an arboretum, focusing on trees and a botanic garden and emphasizing education and display, he has created a type of gold mine. A wide variety of plants have been utilized, including many unusual and uncommon species, […]