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 […]
outdoors
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 inAt Home
Grow a Beautiful Indoor Succulent Garden
It’s no surprise that succulents, including cacti, are popular. These easy-care houseplants come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes, making them perfect for any home. All you need is a lot of light and benign neglect to raise healthy and beautiful succulents. Place the plants near an unobstructed south-, west- or east-facing window. […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Tips for Growing Beautiful Dahlias
Growing beautiful dahlias is easier than you think. Proper planting and care will result in an abundance of beautiful blooms for you to enjoy in your garden and summer bouquets. Use these strategies to boost your dahlia growing success. Start Early for a Long Season of Flowers Dahlias grow from sweet-potato-like tuberous roots often called […]
Posted inAt Home
Tips for Winterizing Your Home
Winter and colder weather mean it’s time to think about winterizing to help keep your home and everyone in it safe and comfortable — no matter what Mother Nature throws at you. Winterizing your home can help you avoid frozen pipes, storm damage and excessive bills. Because people tend to spend more time indoors in […]
Posted inHome
Artful Collaboration — Building a Gypsy Wagon
Denise Harris jokes that it was a “hairbrained idea” to build herself a gypsy wagon 20 years ago. However, she doesn’t regret the years of hard work that it took. It was a journey that brought her into collaboration with a plethora of talented, artistic people. Harris began building the gypsy wagon due to her […]
Posted inGarden
Notable Native Ferns
Ferns are some of the earliest forms of plant life found on the planet. Fossil records date back to about 500 million years. About 300 million years ago, ferns dominated swamp forests, where they became the coal deposits that we mine for energy today. Even the family they are classified under — Pteridophytes — sounds […]
Posted inGarden
A Lifelong Love Affair on the Land
The view from the farmhouse porch instills a sense of peace and tranquility, as the ever-changing light signals the progression of seasons — and only the voices of birds flitting in and out of gardens and over the flood plain below break the silence. The calm and quiet of this place has nurtured generations of […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Custom Rustic Birdhouses
Meet Luis Gonzalo Pablo Pablo. Luis is a multi-talented and creative gardener — from his stunning rose bushes to his large variety of vegetables, he has a “green thumb.” Luis was raised in Wenatchee and moved to Kitsap 19 years ago. In his spare time, he gathers materials, repurposes wood, old chairs, and harvests old […]