After a long, gray winter, spring’s color is a welcome tonic. Not only are the plants and trees bursting with color, the birds are doing the same. Migrants that will nest in the Pacific Northwest bring “south of the border” color into the West Sound region. They began their migration journey from as far away […]
outdoors
Posted inCommunity News
Stage Improvements, Bigger Acts Part of This Year’s Rock the Dock Concert Series
Now in its fourth year, the Rock the Dock concert series on the Louis Mentor Boardwalk at the Bremerton Marina kicks off with a bang on July 4. This summer’s entertainment line-up features 16 special performances over eight nights that encompass a wide musical spectrum and even includes salsa lessons. The lineup of local and […]
Posted inThe Outdoors
New Local Book Focused on Puget Sound Region’s Birds
“Birds of the Puget Sound Region — Coast to Cascades” by Dennis Paulson, Bob Morse, Hal Opperman and Tom Aversa is a new edition of the popular field guide, “Birds of the Puget Sound Region.” The changes, rewrites and additional photographs reflect the authors’ dedication to their subject. Their combined talents have enhanced and enlarged […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Why Keep Gentle Bees? Part 1
Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from “Mason Bee Revolution: How the Hardest Working Bee Can Save the World One Backyard at a Time,” a book by Dave Hunter and Jill LIghtner recently released by Seattle-based Mountaineers Books. In Part 2, learn about the benefits of pollen in the garden as well as reduced chemicals […]
Posted inGarden
Planting Lilies for Continuous Bloom
Sometimes overlooked when planning the West Sound garden, lilies make great perennial accent points during their season of bloom. This area has a few commercial growing fields and sources for bulbs, but no plant clubs in the immediate area. Lilies are very popular in the Midwest due to their winter hardiness. In West Sound, the […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Edging Plants — The Miracle Workers of the Garden World
Edging plants can work miracles — from fixing messy beds and directing garden traffic to serving as garden railings. Here’s are three ways garden-edging plants can work miracles. Instant Fix for Messy Beds Every garden reaches the stage where it’s full of plants but suddenly looks a mess. Home-gardener or landscaped-designed garden beds all go […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Kountry Korners Krazy Kreatures
You can’t get to Kingston without passing the trolls! Folks from around the area aren’t certain about the history, but it is believed Mickey Whitbeck, who once owned the Kountry Korners store, recruited a carver from Forks. Whitbeck set him up next to the store with a stand to make chainsaw art for tourists. It […]
Posted inGarden
Gardens Promote Literacy at the 19th Annual Gig Harbor Garden Tour
“If you’ve got a cause, you can find a way!” This is a motto adopted in 1998 by a group of gardeners dedicated to making sure that everyone has a chance to learn to read. From the start, the Gig Harbor Garden Tour had its roots (no pun intended) in helping the cause of literacy […]
Posted inGarden
Get The Dirt — On Home Gardening
May and June are perfect months to get out into the garden. It’s not too hot and not too cold, and just right for gardening. Pruning, Mulching and Cleaning Up If you planted tulip and daffodil bulbs last winter, be sure to let the foliage of these beauties turn brown and die back. That nourishes […]