Did you know that planting a tree is one of the easiest and most powerful things you can do to have a positive impact on the environment? Trees clean the air, prevent rainwater runoff, help you save energy and even combat global warming. And they’re a snap to plant! No horticultural degree required. With Arbor […]
outdoors
Posted inAround West Sound
Annual Plant Sale Helps Keep Roof over Manchester Library’s Home
As the cornerstone of a healthy community, libraries are more than books. No one understands this more than the Friends of the Manchester Library, whose commitment to the residents of Manchester has spanned more than four decades. The Annual Plant & Book Sale on April 28-29 is a celebration of community cooperation at its best. […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Enjoy the Year of the Tulip
Tulips are equated with spring, and every year between late March and mid May, millions of people flock to see acres of these iconic flowers in bloom during tulip festivals throughout Western Washington. This year, the National Garden Bureau named the tulip “perennial of the year,” declaring 2018 the “Year of the Tulip.” If you […]
Posted inPeople & Places
How to Celebrate Earth Day like You Mean It
An estimated 1 billion people in nearly 200 countries take part through civic and political action events on Earth Day, April 22. This movement started in 1970 with Gaylord Nelson, a senator and former Wisconsin governor, whose efforts also contributed to the creation of the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act and the Environmental Protection […]
Posted inGarden
Brant Geese Numbers Swell in the Spring
Depending on their numbers, the popularity of geese can wax and wane. It’s the Canada geese that produce these mixed feelings. Brant geese, their much smaller cousin, is looked at in an entirely different way. Some even think of this goose as “cute.” At close range, the dark, shining eyes of the brant have a […]
Posted inGarden
Ferns
Many gardeners dream of sunshine, of borders overflowing with flowering perennials and sun-loving shrubs. This especially holds true for people who are moving to the Puget Sound area from the sunny states of California, Arizona and others. Faced with the gorgeous and tall native cedars, hemlocks and Douglas firs, not everyone can embrace the mossy […]
Posted inGarden
The Caretaker
Simply defined, a garden is a collaboration between nature and people. Plants cannot be willed to do what you want. They must be treated as partners and given what they need for water, light, soil, climate and so on. In return, gardens will give you what you need: food, flowers, beauty and peace. This the […]
Posted inAt Home
5 Tips to Keep Allergy Sufferers from Dreading Spring
From flowers poking through the ground to ditching winter parkas, it’s easy to look forward to spring. Unless, of course, you have allergies. Then, the path to warmer weather and additional daylight could be marked with watery eyes, sneezing and a runny nose. Makes it hard to be excited, right? It doesn’t have to. While […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Take It Up a Notch Out Back — Adding Appeal to your Patio or Deck
Summer means time spent gardening and relaxing with friends. And just like the kitchen in winter, the patio or deck tends to be the gathering spot when the weather turns warm. Get the most from this space with a bit of preseason planning and decorating. Select functional and beautiful furnishings to create a special spot […]