One day, the Greek goddess Aphrodite caught Apollo flirting with a shy, beautiful nymph named Paeonia. When Paeonia realized the goddess was watching them, her face flushed a deep rose-red. In a fit of jealous anger, Aphrodite turned the blushing girl into a rose-colored peony. According to Greek mythology, modern gardeners owe thanks to their […]
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Posted inBlog, Gardeners Corner
Enjoy the Versatility of Lavender by Growing Your Own
An old-fashioned, fragrant herb, lavender colors the garden with a purple haze in midsummer. This herb is so popular, it has its own festivals. Lavender’s reputation is attributed to its beauty in the garden and diversity of use, from aromatherapy to crafting. The characteristics of lavender are legendary. Culinary, crafting and medicinal recipes have been […]
Posted inBlog, Gardeners Corner
Tent Caterpillars Are Making a Comeback
The last tent caterpillar outbreak in West Sound happened quite a while ago. Yet the memories — of the sounds they made as they munched away at our tree canopy and the shivers they sent through my spine as they fell on my head or crunched underfoot — have not diminished all that much over […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
Creating Paradise with Lily Hybrids
Many a lucky woman has been given the name Lily. Lilies represent innocence and purity, elegance and beauty. If you grow them in your own garden, you know why. The common Lilium hybrids are easy to grow, naturalize, are long-blooming and match just about any color palette. Another amazing thing about lilies is that they […]
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Gardening and Literacy Connect at The Gig Harbor Garden Tour
Cicero once said, “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” Those words still ring true today and are especially applicable to the Gig Harbor Garden Tour. For the last 16 years, the tour has dedicated its profits to helping people of all ages gain the gift of literacy. When […]
Posted inBlog, Gardeners Corner
Garden Thugs: Four Pesky Plants to Avoid in Your Garden
Most gardeners have plants they wish they never had planted. I have three in my own garden. These nefarious plants are yellow loosestrife (Lysimachia punctata), bishop’s weed (Aegopodium podagraria) and Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria). All three plants are deciduous perennials. I regret the day they ever came into my garden. I inherited the Alstroemeria 21 years […]
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Scented Pelargoniums
Commonly known as scented geraniums, these are not your ordinary geraniums and definitely not that vibrant summer annual flower that tumbles out of window boxes and container gardens. Scented geraniums belong to the genus Pelargonium, like the other geraniums, and all are the family Geraniaceae. They really should be called scented pelargoniums. Wild scented pelargoniums […]
Posted inBlog, Gardeners Corner
Best Native Plants for Protecting Your Hillside from Erosion
After the terrible Oso landslide tragedy, we received several calls at Woodbrook Native Plant Nursery from people wanting advice on what to plant on their hillsides. Plants help protect against erosion in several ways. They remove water from the soil and carry it up into their tissues and release it as water vapor into the […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
Make Your Very Own Unique Stepping Stones
Looking for a fabulous garden project to spur your creativity and add personality to your yard? Making stepping stones is an easy way to accomplish both. The following instructions will walk you through everything you need to know and all the materials needed to complete this fun project at home. Louise Martin of Port Orchard […]