The advantage of living on a golf course is in the “borrowed” backdrop for a garden’s landscape, along with beautiful, established trees to frame the vista. Toby and Tom Mason moved to McCormick Woods six years ago. Their location on the 4th hole offers a lovely long view across the green to a pond. Both […]
northwest
Posted inAround West Sound
Summer Concerts and Outdoor Movies Return to Gig Harbor
A longtime summer tradition, Summer Sounds at Skansie, is back to downtown Gig Harbor while an outdoor movies program has some exciting changes. Summer Sounds at Skansie, Gig Harbor’s beloved summer concert series, takes on the waterfront at Skansie Brothers Park, in the shadow of Mount Rainer. This year, 10 concerts span a variety of […]
Posted inAuto Talk
Silverdale Race Track Comes Full Circle
Inevitably as you go through life, you have regrets — things you did or things should have done often come to mind. As a young lad, attending Junior High School in Silverdale, I often heard the roar of engines coming from Silverdale Speedway, but never thought to investigate. Many years later, after having met a […]
Posted inPeople & Places
The Longbranch Improvement Club Celebrates Centennial
Long before there was a Purdy Bridge, when the main access to the south end of the Key Peninsula was by boat, a group of concerned citizens banded together to form an association to help their neighbors. Seeing the need of a rapidly growing community, these citizens formed the Longbranch Improvement Club (LIC) “to encourage […]
Posted inGarden
Aromatherapy Garden Borders
Borders usually run along a pathway, a wall, a hedge or a lawn edge. My favorite plants for borders are very fragrant, including evening-scented varieties. I love strolling pathways in the moonlight and smelling the gorgeous mood-settling aromas from wall flowers, stock, tobacco plants, primroses, lilacs, jasmine, roses, alliums, dianthus and datura. Lavender is always […]
Posted inFood & Entertainment
Understanding Wines and Regions
With so many bottles crowding the shelves of your favorite wine shop or grocery store, it’s hard to know what wines you might like, especially when the label doesn’t even tell you the kind of grape is in the bottle. With a simple understanding of wine regions and knowing where different grapes grow best, you’ll […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Swift Plumbing Grows Through Second Generation
Like a lot of his fellow tradesmen, Ty Swift is almost giddy about doing business in Kitsap and Jefferson counties. “It’s a good spot for business,” says the 46-year-old CEO of Swift Plumbing & Heating Inc. in Kingston. “There’s a lot of growth here.” Even during the recession of 2008-2014 and the more recent pandemic, […]
Posted inGarden
A Visit to… Crescent Valley Lavender Farm
Crossing the wooden bridge at 11501 Crescent Valley Drive NW, just outside of Gig Harbor and midway between Soundview and 144th, the sight up the hill to your right will leave you breathless. About 2,000 lavender mounds in varying colors of greens, pinks, deep purple and blue quicken the pulse and delight the eye. Park […]
Posted inGarden
The Double Life of the Imperiled Forest Seabird
It’s a beautiful summer afternoon at Point No Point County Park in Hansville. Scores of people are relaxing on the beach. Suddenly, everyone springs up and runs to the water’s edge, excitedly pointing at something offshore. A trio of orcas are swimming by. Everyone is thrilled to see the stunning, endangered sea creatures. But the […]