Candy Gratton began gardening at the tender age of 5 when she and her parents lived with her grandparents for a time in California. Her grandfather’s garden had been featured in Sunset magazine. Wanting to instill a love of gardening in her too, he allocated a spot to her. “I’ve been gardening and growing my […]
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Posted inGardeners Corner
How to Grow Fruit in Containers
Have fun and enjoy picking fresh fruit right outside your door thanks to compact varieties you can grow in containers. Just clear some space on your patio, deck, balcony or front steps that receives at least six hours of sunlight and get busy planting. Consider starting with strawberries. They provide seasonal interest with their white […]
Posted inPeople & Places
The Short and Winding Road to Victoria, British Columbia
As the Black Ball Ferry “Coho” enters Victoria Harbor following its 90-minute crossing of the Salish Sea from Port Angeles, the stately Fairmount Empress hotel — Victoria’s centerpiece — comes into view. The scene is a bit “Oz” in nature: The stunning building is so perfectly placed, it feels as if the bucolic harbor was […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Growing Squash
Pumpkins, squash, and gourds have enchanted gardeners and foodies for generations with their diversity in shapes, colors and flavors. Collectively referred to as “squash,” the Cucurbita genus has a rich history dating back over 8,000 years to Central and South America, and 4,000 years later was considered the primary agricultural crop of the ancients. The […]
Posted inGarden
For the Love of Flowers
Perhaps you have seen their farmstands. Dotted down the backroads and tucked into neighborhoods, flower farms are proliferating around West Sound and growing into a unified local industry. The Northwest climate is similar to the most well-known flower-growing areas in Europe (think: the Netherlands or the English countryside). Even people without much previous gardening experience […]
Posted inGarden
Bringing in Spring with a Vibrant, Versatile Warbler
Springtime means birdsong. As frosty mornings give way to budding leaves, singing songbirds are a harbinger of winter’s departure and the arrival of spring. Year-round species such as American robins, Pacific wrens and song sparrows are among the first to belt out their melodic songs. From March to May, migratory songbirds arrive in West Sound […]
Posted inThe Outdoors
Generating Income from Your Hobby Farm
Transforming a hobby farm into a source of revenue involves more than just sowing seeds and rearing animals. With careful planning and strategic choices, hobby farmers can cultivate multiple income streams. Here are some ideas for how to bring in the dollars while enjoying rural living. Capitalize on Fresh-Grown Goods Cultivating fresh produce isn’t just […]
Posted inGarden
A Master Gardener’s Paradise for a Smaller Lot
Sometimes moving into a planned community poses challenges for a gardener. There are homeowner association (HOA) rules, smaller lots and restrictions for fences, and if the lot happens to be on a golf course, that just adds to the puzzle. Master Gardener Linda Broun embraced these constraints, even celebrated them, as she created a garden […]
Posted inGarden
This Poorly Named Shorebird is an Attention Catcher
Birds are amazing creatures with a variety of adaptations. A hummingbird is quite different from an ostrich and a kiwi has little in common with a swan. While some species may seem drab and uninteresting, others are a collection of unique features that even a nonbirder would notice. Here in West Sound, resident birds may […]