In 2005, Hansville Master Gardeners Roland Malan, Susan Harrington and Sheri Kiley, along with landscape architects Mary Booth and Patrick Leuner, met with county parks staff and presented a plan to steward and beautify a very neglected, weed-infested, abandoned motocross dirt bike track into a native plant garden for all visitors to enjoy. The plan […]
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Posted inBlog, The Outdoors
NOAA’s West Sound buoys help us learn about winds, weathers and general Sound health
NOAA, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, part of the U. S. Department of Commerce, has deployed many distinctive, yellow data-gathering buoys globally. Six of them, all technically owned and managed by the University of Washington for NOAA, are located in Puget Sound. Five of those are in our West Sound region. Here’s a list […]
Posted inFeatured, Food & Entertainment
The Wine Cabinet — Sparkling Wines
There are a wide variety of sparkling wines made throughout the world. Lets first establish the idea of champagne vs. sparkling wine. Sparkling wine can only be called champagne if it comes from the region of Champagne, which is just outside of Paris. Further, champagne can only be made using chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot […]
Posted inBlog, The Outdoors
Stranded or Sleeping? What to Do if You Find a Harbor Seal on the Beach
From late June to early September, harbor seals all over the Puget Sound are giving birth to their young. While these fuzzy, Bambi-eyed babies are drop-dead adorable, it is extremely important that beach visitors give these little friends a lot of space. If you happen upon any seals while strolling down your local beach, do […]
Posted inBlog, The Outdoors
Pigeon Guillemot — the Whistler
There is at least one bird that really whistles. Most of the time, when you hear what sounds like a whistling bird, it is air passing through its feathers when it flies. This “whistler” is a small, black bird seen on Northwest waters all year. The pigeon guillemot’s vocal endeavor has been described as a […]
Posted inAround West Sound, Blog, Featured
Veggies, Flowers and Meats — Oh My! Downtown Gig Harbor Farmers Market Booms
Every Thursday afternoon, more than 40 farmers and food producers gather at Skansie Brothers Park on Gig Harbor’s picturesque waterfront in order to supply eager shoppers with organic and sustainably produced local fare. Organized as a collaborative effort between the city of Gig Harbor and the Downtown Waterfront Alliance, the market teems with farmers and […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
It’s All About Community — Bay Hay and Feed
If you can’t find what you’re looking for at Bay Hay and Feed on Bainbridge Island, the chances are you don’t need it. And, after inquiring, if it’s not on hand, just ask — and it’s possible it will soon be carried in stock. In 1979, Howard Block and Ce-Ann Parker purchased a piece of […]
Posted inBlog, Featured, The Outdoors
How Long is Truly Our West Sound Coastline? It’s a Bit of a Paradox
By simply using prominent points around the peninsula and measuring by the mile, the Coastal Zone Atlas of Washington (a product of the Washington State Department of Ecology) says the coastline of Kitsap County is 246 miles, Mason County’s 218 miles and Pierce County’s 232 miles. But the eastern half of Pierce would not be […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
The Birds of Summer — Swallows of Puget Sound and Western Washington
Poulsbo’s Fourth of July fireworks light up the sky over Liberty Bay on July 3. Thousands of watchers come to town. But not everyone enjoys the noisy and colorful display. Dozens of purple martins occupying their nesting gourds at Oyster Plant Park find themselves surrounded by crowds of excited onlookers. What these birds think of […]