Dahlias come in various colors, shapes and sizes, making them easy to include in any garden, container and bouquet. Grow them in their own dedicated space, mix them with other flowers or plant a few at the end of the vegetable garden. Consider … read more

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 … read more

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 … read more

Shirley Sakatani is a Kitsap artist who paints flowers based on her inspiration from Washington state’s flora. She lived in Southern California, and seeing the plants and foliage of this area was a new experience for her when she moved here in 1996. … read more

House plants are a great way to bring the outdoors into the comfort and warmth of your home through all seasons. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, this beautiful range of plants often comes with a number of benefits to our physical and … read more

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 … read more

The Kitsap Peninsula is an especially pet-friendly place to visit and explore. With loads of dog parks, pet-friendly accommodations, trails and parks that welcome well-behaved dogs and cats, locals and visitors alike are sure to find an adventure that they and their animal … read more

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 … read more

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 … read more