The temperate weather of Western Washington and the long growing season create a gardener’s paradise. This year, due to unusually warm temperatures, I have found myself out in the garden early, visiting with my plant friends that have lain dormant all winter. I spy a young asparagus pushing up, masses of rhododendrons in bloom and […]
puget sound
Posted inThe Outdoors
Storms impact more just people — Puget Sound suffers, too
Storms have been hitting the South Puget Sound hard over the past few months. We have gotten used to the inclement weather, keeping a rain jacket close at all times and putting on tough faces when rain threatens to cancel plans. We have learned to shrug our shoulders when our glasses get splattered with dewy […]
Posted inThe Outdoors
West Puget Sound Island Could Be Our Own ‘Panama Canal’
What if we could create a West Puget Sound Island, bigger than Whidbey, bigger than either Bainbridge or Vashon — an island that would become a true Mecca for recreational boaters? And what if we could save the ecosystem of Hood Canal in the bargain? Forget “Big Bertha” and the ill-fated (so far) tunnel under […]
Posted inBlog, Featured, The Outdoors
Orca Births are Good News for Puget Sound but are At Risk
Most can agree that seeing an orca glide through the water is a pretty rare and incredible sight. If you have lived in the Puget Sound for a while, perhaps you’ve been lucky enough to see an orca or two in the wild. This year, with eight new orca calves in the Southern resident killer […]
Posted inBlog, Featured, The Outdoors
The Impact on Our Weathers from the Mysterious Chehalis Gap and the Coriolis Effect
Our fall, winter, and springtime weathers here on the South Sound and the West Sound pretty much come from the same place. The Chehalis gap! And no, you can’t buy jeans there. This gap is the space between the southernmost of the Olympic Mountains and the Willapa Hills to the south. The gap is an […]
Posted inBlog, Featured, The Outdoors
‘Tis The Season of King Tides
The oceans that surround us would really like to leave the Earth. Only Earth’s gravitational pull keeps them here. They are always seeking another gravitational pull with which to dance. Our sun and moon are both willing partners. And dance they do. The Earth rotates around the sun, making the focal point of the sun’s […]
Posted inBlog, Featured, The Outdoors
Are Puget Sound’s Orcas Making a Comeback?
Orcas have always played a significant role in Puget Sound, with cultural significance ranging back thousands of years. As apex predators, they are crucial to the local ecosystem, and they also assist the regional economy by bringing in tourism. These creatures have many layers of significance in this region, and those who live in the […]
Posted inBlog, The Outdoors
Fly Fishing Has Broad Allure, Is Easy to Learn
With perhaps only the exception of blue-water, big-game fishing, no other method of angling is as steeped in mystique as fly fishing. The allure of fly fishing is vast and varied. Some folks are drawn to the almost-meditative qualities of fly-casting, which can be considered an art in itself. Others appreciate the challenge of enticing […]
Posted inBlog, The Outdoors
Exploring the Angling Opportunities of the West Sound, Part 1: Salmon
One of the great joys of living in the Puget Sound region is engaging in the variety of fishing and shellfishing opportunities while becoming more intimately acquainted with the ecosystems that support the resource. The waters in our immediate vicinity and others within a drive of a couple of hours throughout Western Washington offer year-round […]