With backyard barbecues, pool parties and patriotic celebrations in full swing leading up to the Fourth of July, kids are constantly on the go with summertime activities. For long summer days in the sun, a cool treat is the perfect way to help keep kids energized for all of their summertime activities. These homemade red, […]
Featured
Featured Articles from the West Sound. These are the highlighted articles from WestSound Magazine.
Posted inGarden
Our Bees are in Trouble
Bees are in trouble — in recent years, the bee population has plummeted. A compilation of problems is to blame: Bees are essential to the production of one out of every three bites of food that we eat. A growing body of science has implicated neonicotinoids (neonies), the world’s most widely used pesticide, as a […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Harbor WildWatch — Making Environmental Education Fun
Consider this: The Kitsap Peninsula has more than 370 miles of coastline with some of the most magnificent marine environments on the planet. That’s a lot of territory to learn about and explore. Harbor WildWatch makes it its mission to introduce people of all ages to the wonders of Puget Sound. Based in Gig Harbor, […]
Posted inHome
Cut and Dried — Lasting Flower Arrangements
Traditional dried-flower arranging is an art that seeks to capture the beauty, form and color of flowers in their peak of bloom and suspend it in time. This practice uses tools such as glycerin, silica gel, flower presses and microwaves to control the drying for realistic preservation. With these tools, flowers and foliage can last […]
Posted inHome
How Comfy is Your Comfort Zone?
A great deal has been written about mental comfort zones. The internet is full of Venn diagrams with a puny circle titled “your comfort zone” and a large circle with no overlap titled “this is where the magic happens” — implying that you must leave your comfort zone altogether to experience any magic. The notion […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
DIY Projects to Improve Your Outdoor Living Space
Are you taking advantage of your yard and maximizing its potential as a living space? All you need is a bit of time and energy to transform your yard into the perfect place to spend time with family and friends. “There are so many projects homeowners can do themselves to increase the appeal and usability […]
Posted inGarden
A Personal Retrospective on the Gig Harbor Garden Tour
This year, the Gig Harbor Garden Tour is celebrating its 20th anniversary. During the years of my involvement with this event, I have met many generous gardeners as well as volunteers who have dedicated many hours to the tour’s success. On one of my first garden tours, I remember introducing myself to Sue Goetz. It […]
Posted inThe Outdoors
Why You Should Become a Citizen Scientist
Citizen scientists are the new science superheroes, volunteering their time and experience to gather data in support of research projects from astronomy to zoology. So, what is Citizen Science all about. Citizen science is a collaboration between scientists and members of the public to expand opportunities for data collection and analysis. There are many benefits […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Where Does Art Go?
Disposing of art is a sensitive subject. Having too much “stuff” can be quite a dilemma — but having too much art, unwanted art or art that doesn’t fit the décor is really a dilemma, because just the word “art” connotes a certain reverence. The “Got Stuff” article in the last issue did not include […]