March and April are perfect months for selecting and planting woody shrubs and trees. This year, consider adding plants to feed and shelter wildlife, especially birds and pollinators. Choose from both evergreen and deciduous plants. Evergreen plants provide shelter and nesting areas throughout the year. Deciduous plants satisfy that requirement but also visually add wonderful […]
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Posted inAt Home
Stay Safe as You Get Back Outside to Work on Your Lawn and Backyard
Spring is coming, and as we get out our lawn mowers and other outdoor power equipment from storage to work in our yards, businesses and other green spaces, it’s important to put safe practices in place. “Think safety first,” says Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), an international trade […]
Posted inGarden
Vociferous and Vicious — The Tiny, Yet Mighty Marsh Wren
Some people like to talk. Gregarious folks never run out of things to say, nor do they seem to tire of speaking. Others are quieter and only talk when it’s necessary. It is the same in the world of birds. Some birds call almost incessantly, including gulls, crows and grackles. Others rarely utter a peep. […]
Posted inGarden
How and Why to Landscape Septic Systems
There are over 60,000 onsite sewage systems (OSS) in Kitsap County. How should you landscape and maintain them? What Is an OSS? An OSS has a septic tank where effluent (i.e., wastewater from kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms) enters the tank, solids settle to the bottom and oils and grease rise to the top. In […]
Posted inGarden
Hellebores — Winter Garden Jewels
Brr, it’s cold outside. Take heart — the days are becoming longer and the winter flower phenomenon is hellebore season, brought to you by the genus Helleborus. Commonly called hellebores, Oriental hellebores, Lenten rose or Christmas rose, whatever you call them, they put on their best finery — fancy flowers and evergreen foliage during […]
Posted inHome
A Vinland Midcentury-Modern Home Spreads Its Wings
Three years ago, Jeff and Ann Granlee were looking for waterfront. Fortunately, word of mouth and a real estate agent who kept her ears open lead them to a pretty piece of Hood Canal shoreline just south of Vinland Bay in North Kitsap. The property included a home that had begun as a cabin in […]
Posted inHome
Design Trends in 2023
Every year, we gather our panel of design experts to discuss some of the hottest design trends. In 2023, expect to see natural-looking finishes, natural materials like wood, and more recycled and upcycled choices for the environmentally conscious. Comfort is the key for families. A “must have” is gathering areas, where you can meet and […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Annual CVG Show Returns in January
The annual CVG Show, one of the Pacific Northwest’s largest and most competitive statewide art exhibitions, will open for its 16th year on Saturday, Jan. 14. This prestigious art event, organized by the Collective Visions Gallery in Bremerton, attracts numerous artists and a large audience of viewers from across the state. The show gives the […]
Posted inPeople & Places
2022 Holiday Gift Guide
This season, the holidays seem to have me wrapped in the warmth and excitement of holiday magic and tradition. My only child left for her first year of college out of state this fall. Her arrival home for the holidays this year helps enunciate the simplest joys of preparing for and celebrating. We are so […]