“Gardening makes you feel good,” says Ingrid Wachtler, owner of Woodbrook Native Plant Nursery. She believes that gardening is a wholesome and beneficial pursuit that keeps one young. After two decades of growing and selling plants in Gig Harbor, Wachtler still gets excited about new plants and revels in the way working outdoors makes her […]
plants
Posted inFeatured, Garden
Get The Dirt — On Home Gardening
Gardening Chores Chores is often such an unpalatable word. It seems it’s something people love to put off if they can. But for gardeners, doing chores outdoors is often delightful because it means well-spent time outside, leading to future enjoyment in the garden during the other seasons, especially during harvest. Tackle all the shotweed, a.k.a. […]
Posted inBlog, Featured, Gardeners Corner
How to Start Veggies and Other Plants from Seeds
There are many reasons why gardeners decide to start plants from seed. It can be vegetable seeds for growing, harvesting and eating produce, or non-edible annuals to merely decorate containers and other areas of the garden or to attract pollinators. The main reason to start seeds is the wider variety of plants not always found […]
Posted inBlog, The Outdoors
Enjoying the Beach and Nature at Manchester State Park
We have to be grateful for this amazing winter weather we have been experiencing. For many of us, this sunshine makes us want to jump ahead to spring! As the weather continues to get warmer, it will be time for people to head back to our local beaches to explore. I would like to highlight […]
Posted inFeatured, People & Places
Margie and Jerry Breunig — Dedicated Gardeners
Margie and Jerry Breunig have shared a lifetime love of plants. She was originally from Seattle but moved to California in her 20s. He was from Southern California but fell in love with this area during visits. They met in their 30s, married and lived in a house 6,000 feet up a mountain near San […]
Posted inBlog, Gardeners Corner
Thugs and Overachievers in the Garden
It is time to serve out some eviction notices. I’ve been cleaning out the garden, weeding, pruning and mulching as I go along, and making some tough decisions along the way: Who gets to stay, and who’s overstayed their welcome. There was a time when any plant given to me or found as a bargain […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
How to Build a Green Roof Birdhouse
Buildings with a “living roof” are all the rage with the current focus on ecologically minded construction techniques. Originally European and historically planted with turf grasses, green roofs are popular worldwide for reducing pollution and runoff and improving insulation, among other environmental benefits. They are commonly seen in commercial construction but now you, too, can […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
Florigraphy — The Language of Flowers
When we send someone flowers, they are usually sent to express a sentiment. Wishes of love, sympathies, regrets, new birth and death all get scribbled on the little card tucked into the arrangement. “Those of our time do use the flowers in sallads to exhilarate and make the mind glad. There be also many things […]
Posted inBlog, Gardeners Corner
Learn Gardening with Valley Nursery Classes
If you’ve thought about taking on new gardening projects this year but are not sure where to start, gardening classes can offer you just the right boost — you can learn from the experts and walk away with ideas for your own garden. Here’s a lineup of classes offered this year (2015) by Valley Nursery. […]