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 including different varieties of dahlias for added interest and beauty in the […]
horticulture
Posted inGarden
Enjoying Vista Gardens All Year Round
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 myriad amounts of plants, literally thousands. For example, there are over 450 […]
Posted inAt Home
Best Indoor Plants for Purifying the Air
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 mental health, including reduced stress and anxiety, better sleep quality and even […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Organic Insect Pest Control in Vegetable and Flower Gardens
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 most organic gardeners agree the focus is on cultivating a system that […]
Posted inGarden
An Introduction: Dahlias 101
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 cultivars, this genus has an incredible range of flower size and shape. […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
How to Avoid These 5 Common Mistakes When Growing Grains
Are your gardening efforts limited to flowers, grass, fruits and vegetables? Grains are another exciting plant to cultivate. Knowing which grains to grow in the garden can reward your efforts with a successful, verdant crop. The trick is knowing what mistakes to avoid that could ruin your harvest. It’s time to go “with” the grain. […]
Posted inGarden
A Gardening ‘Gold Mine’ in Poulsbo
For three decades, Sam Rader has been transforming 5 acres of woodland in Poulsbo. By combining the concepts of an arboretum, focusing on trees and a botanic garden and emphasizing education and display, he has created a type of gold mine. A wide variety of plants have been utilized, including many unusual and uncommon species, […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Prevent Rabbit Damage in Your Landscape
Rabbits are year-round and frequent visitors to gardens and landscapes. As children, we read about and adored these furry critters. This love of rabbits often fades as we grow older and experience damage to our gardens and landscapes. Employing various management strategies allows us to coexist with these cute yet voracious members of our community. […]
Posted inGarden
Sprawling Gardens for Year-Round Enjoyment
At the end of a short road in Indianola there is an extremely charming and inviting garden created by Jeanne Simmons and Tony Bartling. They have even encouraged and worked with their neighbors to turn their small neighborhood into a little piece of heaven and sharing. Simmons and Bartling met in a ballroom dancing class. […]