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 […]
Peg Tillery
Peg Tillery is a retired WSU Extension horticulture and water quality educator. Her columns appeared in the Kitsap Sun and Kitsap News Group. She wrote articles for WestSound Magazine for a decade and also served as garden editor. She has also produced and appeared in several gardening shows on BKAT (Bremerton Kitsap Access Television). She volunteers as a WSU Master Gardener.
Posted inFeatured, Garden
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 […]
Posted inGarden
Greening The Indoors
Gardeners can still get their plant fix during the winter months. It’s a great time to explore the world of indoor houseplants. It’s also a time to purchase a few usually outdoor culinary plants to brighten up a sunny windowsill or kitchen counter. Culinary Herbs Thyme, basil, rosemary, sage and mint are a few herbs […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
The Magical and Magnificent Woodland Garden of Bill and Arlene West
The husband and wife team of Bill and Arlene West has created a magical, wonderful piece of paradise in the Ridgetop area of Central Kitsap. Their mostly shady garden is luxuriously green, overflowing with every kind of tree, shrub and perennial imaginable. Mature fir and cedar trees anchor the site to the land. Decorative fencing […]
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Get The Dirt — On Home Gardening
Mountain Lions (Puma Concolor) Here kitty, kitty. Not really, but mountain lions are actually closely related to domestic cats. But when hungry, they can also prey on and eat domestic cats, so keep your cats safely indoors, at least during the hours of dusk to morning light. Most people call them cougars or mountain lions […]
Posted inGarden
Debbie Teashon’s Rainy Side Garden
Jefferson Beach photographer, writer and gardener Debbie Teashon personifies the term “rainy side gardener,” which happens also to be the name of her popular website. Teashon lived in Marysville on the east side of Puget Sound and had a successful photography career, along with writing for a Canadian publication. She frequently visited the Kitsap Peninsula. […]
Posted inFood & Entertainment
That’s-A-Some Italian Ristorante
That’s-A-Some Italian Ristorante, facing Liberty Bay, is the longest continuously running restaurant in downtown Poulsbo. Founded by Tom Pelland and Lee Grant more than 24 years ago, the restaurant thrives on its customer-friendly atmosphere. It’s a place where couples come to celebrate life events and kids are always welcome. Grant died quite a while ago […]
Posted inGarden
Get The Dirt — On Home Gardening
Castor canadensis Castor canadensis (beavers) are the largest rodents on our continent. They can be 3 to 4 feet long from head to the tip of their paddle-shaped tails and stand a foot tall at the shoulders. Their front feet (with claws for digging and grasping) and back, webbed feet are perfectly adapted for their […]
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Jeanne Cronce’s Garden: A Bit of Paradise
Jeanne Cronce and her husband, Robin, began their married life in a single-wide, modular home on a 5-acre piece of land. When they decided to raise a family, they harvested enough trees on the property to build a log cabin. Every piece of their home is lovingly crafted. But that’s not all — the outside […]