Fall brings a bounty not everyone is excited about: piles of fallen leaves. In my garden, this abundance feels like early Christmas. All that organic material is at my disposal, and the only cost is a bit of exercise! I hope you will … read more

Perhaps John Muir, the great American environmentalist, said it best: “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” You probably know that exercise in general is good for us and that we are lucky enough to live in the … read more

What a wonderful spring we had, with lots of moisture and late winter snow in the mountains. All that is good for the birds and their nesting activities that are ongoing. Every year, we hear of some illness issues that pop up from … read more

As the days of summer heat up, the last thing we want to do is work hard in the garden. This is the time to enjoy it, play in the sprinklers and hang out with friends. Here are a few tips to help … read more

My husband turned to me a couple of weeks ago and said, “You know that vintage area rug you’ve got downstairs in our basement studio, trying to cover up the plywood floor? I’ve always hated that. What I’d like to see down there … read more

The last tent caterpillar outbreak in West Sound happened quite a while ago. Yet the memories — of the sounds they made as they munched away at our tree canopy and the shivers they sent through my spine as they fell on my … read more

What can you do with kids to maintain their interest in gardening during the monsoon months of spring? Try planting some indoor and outdoor small gardens in containers. Then spend some cozy time inside reading a few good gardening books for families and … read more

If you are like me, this time of year brings a bit of (late) spring cleaning, coupled with hours of work getting your yard and garden back into shape. Unfortunately, the price we pay to live in such a lush and beautiful place … read more

When I was asked to be part of the West Sound Home & Garden’s blog, I was honored and grateful for the opportunity. I’d like to make my contribution a bit less broad-spectrum, and a lot more personal. So I’m going to open … read more