Tucked into a leafy Gig Harbor glen among native plants such as salal and huckleberry is a singing creek that drops into a pool surrounded by purposefully planted perennials. The sunlight catches a flash of gold or orange as a goldfish darts between the rocks of the pond. Two Adirondack chairs sit at the side […]
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Posted inThe Outdoors
Will ‘Backyarding’ Become a Permanent Trend?
Under pandemic conditions, yards and other managed landscapes became a safe haven for gathering socially, celebrating milestones and holidays, working, studying, playing, exercising and = relaxing. Called “backyarding,” this trend moves indoor activities — from working in an office or classroom to dining and recreation — to the great outdoors. And it’s growing. “Your own […]
Posted inAt Home
Add These Indoor Plants for a Better Yoga Experience (or General Mood Lifting)
Yoga is a way for humans to connect with nature, and plants play a pivotal role in that. Plants increase mood and can help heal the body. Some plants can also clean the air, which can make a pretty big difference in how people feel as they practice yoga. According to Adam Husler, one of the United Kingdom’s most […]
Posted inHome
Fabulous Baths
These pages of brilliant baths are filled with inspiring ideas (and incredible photographs) that will have you rethinking the form and function of your own baths. We’re highlighting styles ranging from quiet and modern to timelessly traditional. But, they all have one thing in common — luxurious touches that turn a simple bathroom into a […]
Posted inAt Home
How to Design with Authentic Materials
Creating a welcoming and relaxing space may be easier than you expect when you give natural materials a leading role in your design. Elements like natural stone, wood, fiber, metals and even plant life can allow you to express a sense of unique personal style that is broadly appealing. Most inviting rooms share one quality: […]
Posted inGarden
Beyond the Bearded Iris
Thou are the iris, fair among the fairest Who, armed with golden rod And winged with the celestial azure, bearest The message of some god… ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfelllow When mentioning an iris, the most common image conjured up in mind is the pass-along plant commonly called the bearded iris. Many of its cultivars came […]
Posted inAt Home
Recipe — Jeff Stelmach’s Pork Buns Dim Sum
Home baker Jeff Stelmach discovered dim sum (Chinese small plates typically served with tea) sometime in the ’70s in New York City. He remembers it as a fascinating experience that, through a series of twists and turns, has brought him to the place where he now makes his own dim sum pork buns at home. […]
Posted inAt Home
6 Tips for Controlling Your High Blood Pressure
Did you know high blood pressure (hypertension) is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and “The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Control Hypertension,” nearly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, yet only 1 in 4 has their hypertension under […]
Posted inGarden
Dream Big — with New Plant Introductions
With the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival canceled for 2021, and with a few months left of rainy, cold winter to face, what’s a passionate gardener to do? Get out your paper and sharpen your pencils because it’s time to dream big. This year’s new plant introductions will paint your garden in exciting flowers and […]