My time in the garden is often solitary, but as I focus on a task, my head is filled with whispers. The conversation comes, unbidden — triggered by a sound, a scent or a flower. The garden is where I reconnect with people dear to me and sometimes long gone. Whenever I see the grapes […]
outdoors
Posted inThe Outdoors
Fun Facts about the Great American Eclipse — and Where You Can See It
Are you still hoping to get a peek at the “Great American Eclipse” on Aug. 21? Millions of Americans will only have to drive 60 or 70 miles to see the total eclipse, according to the GreatAmericanEclipse.com website. NASA says that the totality path, “where the moon will completely cover the sun and the sun’s […]
Posted inAt Home
Extend Your Living Space with an Outdoor Kitchen
Outdoor spaces can offer a lot of extra living space in the warmer months of the year in the Pacific Northwest. Outdoor kitchens, from simple to spectacular, give you a new way to entertain and enjoy your home. It is important to think about how you cook and entertain, so you can refine your wants […]
Posted inCommunity News
Prepare for Excessive Heat, Fire Dangers This Week
Pierce County Alert — The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued an excessive heat warning for parts of the Puget Sound area this week. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid-80s to lower 100s on Tuesday through Sunday, and higher than normal temperatures may persist into next week. An excessive heat warning means that […]
Posted inGarden
A True Cottage Garden ‘Hidden in Plain Sight’
High school sweethearts Marion and Steve Ekberg were born and raised in the Tacoma area, spending childhoods in the woods of Minter Creek and Fox Island. In 1972, they were house hunting, looking for a place to call home and raise a family, when they discovered an old house on about 2 acres on a […]
Posted inThe Outdoors
Enjoying Birdwatching from Aboard the Local Ferries
A ferry ride is an inexpensive way to do some birdwatching on the water. You don’t pay for an expensive guided tour. You don’t need to own or care for your own boat. Birding surprises often occur on many of the available ferry crossings throughout Western Washington’s “Inland Sea.” All ferry runs can produce good […]
Posted inPeople & Places
The Great American Eclipse
This is a banner year for rare, once-in-a-life-time astronomical events. In February, NASA announced the discovery of seven Earth-like planets orbiting their own sun, serious evidence that life may exist in outer space. Dec. 13 will bring the king of meteor displays — the massive Geminid meteor shower, which will make an appearance this year […]
Posted inCommunity News
‘Gardens with a View Tour’ Showcases Eight Gardens — for a Good Cause
The self-guided “Gardens with a View Tour” returns to North Kitsap, giving the public a view of eight amazing gardens. Spend Saturday, July 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., admiring these special gardens with fantastic views. Two are high up on Foulweather Bluff. One is 5 acres of garden rooms with an Asian theme; […]
Posted inFood & Entertainment
Summer Soirée
To celebrate their anniversary every year, Cary and Kerri Bozeman host a garden-deck party for friends. Their Manette home offers the perfect setting for an August summer party, with Sinclair Inlet providing a stunning backdrop. Eight years ago, the party started. Today, it’s a mix of friends, neighbors and new faces, with about 60 people […]