After a season of unusual cold and snow, it is a gardener’s joy to see spring shoots promising summer abundance. This year’s annual Gig Harbor Garden Tour offers a rich summer palette of color, natural foliage, manicured pathways and a natural forest. There is a garden for every type of gardener — novice to experienced […]
northwest
Posted inGarden
The Garden Conservancy Open Day Tours
It could be argued that in the Pacific Northwest, gardening-mania far surpasses baseball as the favorite sport. With the help of April showers, June gardens are primped, pruned and ready for ohs! and ahs! as garden tour season begins. Knowledgeable gardeners anticipate The Garden Conservancy Open Days, which grants unprecedented access to private gardens. Open […]
Posted inHome
Poulsbo Place Renovation
Builder Jim Collins saw a business need in Kitsap County and filled it. He laments how difficult it is to have a kitchen or bathroom remodel done — it’s a complex and convoluted process for clients, because everything is so disconnected. “I had an idea that I was going to do something a little different,” […]
Posted inPeople & Places
The Smithshyre — A Farm Full of Baby Goats
While farming is no longer the common occupation of America, it’s far from obsolete. Run by Roni and Erin Smith, The Smithshyre in Poulsbo is a farm whose presence brings attention to the traditional relationship between people and livestock. Erin Smith believes that every person, without even realizing it, has a deep and innate desire […]
Posted inPeople & Places
East Bremerton Goodwill
Ever had a friend call you, really excited to tell you about the placemats they just bought in a local thrift shop? Of course not. Let me take you down that road, since no one else will. Entering the Goodwill store in East Bremerton, I began my usual happy-search, walking to the left where there […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Advancing Scientific and Historic Projects with… Citizen Science
“World’s Oldest European Hedgehog Found by Citizen Scientists,” trumpeted a recent Smithsonian Magazine headline. A 16-year-old male hedgehog dubbed Thorvald had outlived the lifespan of his species by 14 years, surviving habitat loss, pesticides and the No. 1 cause of hedgehog deaths — road crossings. That Europe’s smallest mammal could outwit modern-day encroachment was cause […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Can You Identify Who’s Dining in Your Garden?
You take a walk through the garden and find branches trimmed, flowers missing or bark damaged. Of course, the culprit is nowhere to be seen. You may have suspects in mind but a close look at the damage and surroundings can help you identify who is dining on your plants. Knowing this can help you […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
How to Maximize Your Backyard in a Small Space
Backyarding is the practice of taking everyday activities — think entertaining, eating, working and working out, to name a few — into the green space around us. Even those living in an urban setting with a smaller yard or no yard at all can enjoy the benefits of backyarding, according to the TurfMutt Foundation, which […]
Posted inBest of West Sound Results
Best of West Sound Results 2023
WestSound Magazine presents the annual Best of West Sound results for 2023! Entries have been submitted from Bainbridge Island all the way to Gig Harbor. On this page we’ve listed the businesses and places you love the most. Enjoy! Best Restaurant Boat Shed Serving seasonal and local favorites along with all-time classics for 30-plus years […]