Rhonda and Steve Edwards, married 40 years, grew up in Kitsap County. In 1988 they bought acreage in South Kitsap, where they began to create their dream home and garden. They made a point of incorporating areas to accommodate the growing needs of their children and now their grandchildren. They owned the Heritage Fireplace Shop […]
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Posted inFeatured, Garden
In Defense of Weeds
Weeds (sigh!), the curse of all gardeners, from beginner to professional. No one has immunity from them. Some plants that are considered weeds are valuable to herbalists, like the lowly dandelion or stinging nettle, but let’s talk about the common ones that are a nuisance to the home gardener. Weeds become a problem when they […]
Posted inBlog, The Outdoors
Exploring the Angling Opportunities of the West Sound, Part 1: Salmon
One of the great joys of living in the Puget Sound region is engaging in the variety of fishing and shellfishing opportunities while becoming more intimately acquainted with the ecosystems that support the resource. The waters in our immediate vicinity and others within a drive of a couple of hours throughout Western Washington offer year-round […]
Posted inBlog, Gardeners Corner
Local Garden Clubs and Societies — 2014 Resource List
We receive lots of questions at WestSound Magazine about local garden clubs and plant societies and how to get involved or just visit one now and then. Here’s the most complete list we have to date (May, 2014). We’ve listed websites, addresses, Facebook pages, and meeting times when they were available. We’re sharing it with […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
Garden Design Dilemmas
Updating, renovating or simply frustrated by boredom — pondering plants and garden spaces is something all gardeners do at some point. Gardens grow and change and need editing now and then. Like with many projects, when looking at gardens too long, it is easy to become jaded by bothersome things like weeds taking over a […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
All About Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are a no-fail shrub for Northwest gardens. Flower colors include white, pink, blue and lilac. A few are actually called “red” but the color is more an intense pink segueing into claret. Flowers can begin in shades of green, turning to deep blue, and finishing up in a shade of maroon. Leaves can be […]
Posted inGarden
Plants and Proprietors with Local Roots
A cool Northwestern day is the perfect time to duck into a greenhouse, replete with the warmth of solar energy coming through the walls, pleasantly humid as plants exhale pure oxygen, and fragrant with the earthy perfume of rich soil. Greenhouses can be comforting places where plants and people are insulated from the harsh weather […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
Get The Dirt — On Home Gardening
Aphids There are approximately 4,000 species of aphids in the world but only about 250 species are serious pests; only 1,350 species live in North America. Are you feeling better yet? Aphids range in length from 1/16 inch to 1/4 inch and come in a wide variety of colors: green, red, brown, black, yellow and […]
Posted inGarden
Orchard Mason Bees — Fascinating Creatures
The orchard mason bee, or blue orchard bee, is the western native pollinator that appears each year in late winter and early spring to pollinate all the early blooming fruit trees and flowers. Its scientific name, Osmia Lignaria Propinqua Cresson, describes the insect order to which it belongs that also includes ants, bees and wasps. […]