Are you dreaming about beautifying the backyard? Is your garden in need of some color and dimension? If you have the tools, a free weekend and the initiative, you can add charm and beauty to your outdoor space by building a garden trellis. Here’s everything you need and everything you need to know to complete […]
outdoors
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 inAt Home
Spring Checklist for Your Pet Care
Warmer weather means it’s time to spring clean, get grooming and prepare your pets’ diets to support them through the season. Keep your furry friends happy and healthy this spring with these six tips from the experts at Zesty Paws, an award-winning pet supplement brand. Give Skin and Coats a Little TLC Many pets form […]
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 inGardeners Corner
10 Tips for Successful Pollinator Plantings
The colorful posters with a collection of common herbs are a popular social media share. Save the bees, they say; plant these. I’ve been known to peek at those lists and note to myself — I could use a few more hyssop plants in my apiary — but that well-meaning call to action widely misses […]
Posted inGarden
An Extraordinary, Ordinary Bird
Ordinary people can do extraordinary things. One person becomes an unexpected hero. An overlooked individual suddenly has an incredible idea. A seemingly insignificant person has unknowingly touched countless lives. The possibilities are endless. It is the same with birds. Migratory shorebirds fly thousands of miles every year to breed in the Arctic. Likewise, many songbirds […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
How to Create a Therapeutic Garden at Home
Therapeutic gardens, typically seen at healthcare facilities, are “designed for use as a component of a treatment, rehabilitation or vocational program… to meet the needs of a specific user or population…to accommodate participant’s goals and to facilitate people-plant interactions, according to the American Horticultural Therapy Association.1 Also defined as enabling gardens, they are used by […]