According to Benjamin Franklin, the wild turkey would have been a more fitting symbol for our young country than the bald eagle. Franklin thought the eagle a “good-for-nothing” scavenger. The wild turkey, on the other hand, was intelligent, a formidable opponent and able to survive on its own labors. The rest of Congress didn’t see […]
outdoors
Posted inFeatured, Garden
Standouts for Dry Shade
Ah, gorgeous trees and the shelter and shade they provide! Many local residents are blessed with towering conifers like Western red cedars or the fall colors of maples and other deciduous trees on their properties. Despite all their advantages, trees can create a love-hate relationship, as the area underneath is sometimes a challenging spot to […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
Renovating a Collector’s Garden
This isn’t about the design of a new garden; this is all about an existing one. As the garden ever changes, much can be said about how it grows and develops character. Then there are the spaces that do not age gracefully; the overhaul of a garden is a different approach than the construction approach […]
Posted inBlog, The Outdoors
Take a Peek in Donkey Creek
Each year, thousands of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) return from feeding in the open ocean to the stream they hatched three to five years earlier. In Gig Harbor, the chum salmon migration takes place in the late fall and early winter, long after most other species have spawned. While there are many wildlife viewing areas […]
Posted inFeatured, Food & Entertainment
Royal Ascot, Northwest Style — High Tea Luncheon
More than 50 women gathered for a British high tea in Gig Harbor in June — not just for a fun afternoon but also for a good cause. The Royal Ascot Northwest Style, in its second year, raised money for Haller, an international environmental organization. The elegant outdoor affair included authentic high tea of British […]
Posted inBlog, Gardeners Corner
Crunchy, Sweet and Delicious Apples at Harvest Time
My experience with apples did not extend much beyond Fuji, Honey Crisp and Jonagold before attending the Peninsula Fruit Club’s Fall Fruit Tasting Show this October at the Silverdale Community Center. I was thrilled to see 175 different types of apples grown in Kitsap, plus pears, grapes, kiwi and nuts brought from club members’ gardens […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
The Hardy Fuchsias of Fall
It is said that people who love fuchsias, really love them. With three generations of fuchsia lovers in my family, I was destined to fall in love with them too. I remember my grandmother’s hanging baskets overflowing with fuchsia branches smothered in blousy, red and white flowers. My family sat on a deck and chatted […]
Posted inBlog, Gardeners Corner
Collected Yard Debris Get New Life as Next Year’s Compost
Now that fall is upon us, I have started to notice the changing leaves on my way to and from the office. The beautiful colors of fall always bring a smile to my face, but the mess that follows from falling debris quickly turns that smile upside down. It is a necessary evil for us […]
Posted inFeatured, People & Places
A Tale of Two Sisters and Their Gardens
Sisters Jean Boyle and Bethany McDonald live in Suquamish just a short walk from each other. They are often mistaken for twins but one is actually older than the other by nearly two years. McDonald has gardened in Suquamish for 35 years, but Jean became an avid gardener only 18 years ago when she and […]