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 […]
flowers
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 inCommunity News
‘Oasis in the City’ Adds ‘Open Garden Fridays’
Albers Vista Gardens has extended its hours of operation — it will be open to the public every Friday, noon to 4, from June 23 through Oct. 20. A guide will be available to escort individuals or small groups on a leisurely walk to appreciate the beauty of nature in summer and fall, or just […]
Posted inGarden
Bainbridge In Bloom — Masterful Musicians and Inspiring Landscapes
The Bainbridge In Bloom Garden Tour, a perennial favorite of Northwest home and garden enthusiasts, returns for its 29th year June 3-4 on Bainbridge Island. Presented by Arts & Humanities Bainbridge, Bainbridge In Bloom draws visitors from around the region and the country. Five beautiful private gardens will welcome you during this popular self-guided tour, […]
Posted inGarden
Some Cush for Your Tush in the Garden
Have a seat, not just any seat. Be it a throne fit for a king or a lowly stool to plant the body down for a quick rest. A garden seat has many purposes in the garden. It comes in all shapes and sizes and is made from a variety of materials. An artist wants […]
Posted inGarden
The Magical Transformation of the Washington State Convention Center
Once a year, for the past 29 years, the Northwest Flower and Garden Show has awakened visitors’ senses to the sights and sounds of spring, but the magic does not happen overnight. It’s a choreography that begins during the current show, and work on the next year begins soon after the show closes and is […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Better Garden Bounty with the Help of Mason Bees
I am not a mason bee expert but I recognize and benefit from their hard work during rainy weather. A few years ago, my strawberries were seedy and not uniformly plump and succulent, so I contacted my local Master Gardener for ideas about what was going on in my fruit garden. The diagnosis was “a […]
Posted inGarden
Go from Garden to Glass with a Beverage Garden
Where does alcohol come from? If you answer from brewers and distillers, you are correct — yet before the intermediary, the ingredients originated from a garden. Growing plants for adult beverages is all about freshness and flavors, since freshness equals flavor. Consumers choose the best homegrown edibles for better flavor. Supermarkets sell mostly tough, tasteless […]
Posted inGarden
Orchids as Houseplants
Once grown exclusively as a hobby of the wealthy, orchids are now available to every interested gardener. Perhaps you received one as a gift and wonder what to do after the bloom fades, or perhaps you’ve seen them for sale and want to buy one. They are not throwaway holiday plants if you understand how […]