Office al fresco or simply a COVID-safe space to relax and commune with family and friends — many Americans are devoting time and financial resources to creating an outdoor living experience in their own backyards. Driven in part by the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for social distancing, many homeowners are using the disposable income […]
outdoors
Posted inGarden
Conifers — Anchors of the Garden
Everyone who lives in Washington knows the official nickname “The Evergreen State” comes from an abundance of evergreen fir, spruce, cedar and pine trees that grow within its borders. Another nickname, “The Green Tree State,” also comes from a plenitude of shrubs and trees with broad-leaf and coniferous, all-season, green foliage. Our state motto, “Alki,” […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
The Restoration of Bloedel Reserve’s Bird Marsh into Wildlife Haven
Bloedel Reserve, a botanical garden on Bainbridge Island, has been open to the public since 1988. Over its approximately 140 acres are several varied garden types, including a moss garden and a nationally recognized Japanese garden. One featured area visitors encounter soon after starting out on Bloedel Reserve’s nearly 2 miles of trails is the […]
Posted inGarden
Gifts for the Gardener
‘Tis the (shopping) season! And if you have a gardener on your shopping list for the holidays, you will have an easy time finding all sorts of wonderful presents. When the celebratory season is over and the chilly, damp reality of winter in the Northwest sets in, gardeners begin to get antsy and even a […]
Posted inGarden
Two Gardens, Two Different Ways of Living the Island Life
These two gardens illustrate the variety and creativity of two contrasting Bainbridge Island lifestyles. A visit to the first garden feels like a walk in the forest while a visit to the second one is like a walk on the beach. A Northwest Life: Close to the Land and the Sea Debbie Bennett and her […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Gift Ideas for Bird Watchers and Gardeners
Give a gift that provides beauty, entertainment and health benefits throughout the year. With the recent increase in people gardening and bird watching, what could be more perfect than a gift that supports both interests? Birds visiting feeders, munching on the coneflower seeds in the garden and perching in the shelter of evergreens help brighten […]
Posted inGarden
Garden as Metaphor for Life
Chris Brinton knows gardening. For 16 years, she has tended her lovely beachside beds just down the shore from the Hansville lighthouse with a passion that has caused her home to be a frequent feature of the Hansville Garden Tour. Brinton knows how to grow a tapestry of color that changes throughout the year. She […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Casa Dorada Los Cabos Resort & Spa
Casa Dorada means golden house in Spanish, and it sure is. Here, the setting glows, the hospitality warms, the palms wave, the views abound, the beach beckons, and the pools glisten. Casa Dorada is perfectly nestled in Cabo San Lucas, just a four-hour direct flight from Seattle’s SeaTac Airport. Over the last year, we made […]
Posted inAt Home
5 Tips to Safely Celebrate Halloween with Your Pets
Whether heading to a party, celebrating on social media or greeting little ghouls and goblins at home, getting the entire family — including the four-legged family members — involved in the Halloween festivities can be the biggest treat of all. However, it’s important to take some precautions to avoid spooking your pets, particularly if you’ll […]