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 […]
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Posted inGardeners Corner
Grow More Edibles with Smart & Sustainable Keyhole Gardening
Raise your gardening efforts to a new level with keyhole gardening. You’ll increase your garden’s productivity in a smaller space, while using less water and fertilizer. This intensive technique was first used in Africa where it’s hot and dry and the topsoil is shallow. Now gardeners growing in a variety of climates around the world […]
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 inAround West Sound
17 of West Sound’s Best Coffee Shops
If you love going out for coffee at a place where you can unwind, study or enjoy some music, you are sure to find it in West Sound. When I want to go to a coffee shop that has ambiance, sit on comfy cushion chairs and listen to live music, or sit on a terrace […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Harbor WildWatch — Making Environmental Education Fun
Consider this: The Kitsap Peninsula has more than 370 miles of coastline with some of the most magnificent marine environments on the planet. That’s a lot of territory to learn about and explore. Harbor WildWatch makes it its mission to introduce people of all ages to the wonders of Puget Sound. Based in Gig Harbor, […]
Posted inHome
Cut and Dried — Lasting Flower Arrangements
Traditional dried-flower arranging is an art that seeks to capture the beauty, form and color of flowers in their peak of bloom and suspend it in time. This practice uses tools such as glycerin, silica gel, flower presses and microwaves to control the drying for realistic preservation. With these tools, flowers and foliage can last […]
Posted inHome
How Comfy is Your Comfort Zone?
A great deal has been written about mental comfort zones. The internet is full of Venn diagrams with a puny circle titled “your comfort zone” and a large circle with no overlap titled “this is where the magic happens” — implying that you must leave your comfort zone altogether to experience any magic. The notion […]
Posted inGarden
A Personal Retrospective on the Gig Harbor Garden Tour
This year, the Gig Harbor Garden Tour is celebrating its 20th anniversary. During the years of my involvement with this event, I have met many generous gardeners as well as volunteers who have dedicated many hours to the tour’s success. On one of my first garden tours, I remember introducing myself to Sue Goetz. It […]
Posted inThe Outdoors
Why You Should Become a Citizen Scientist
Citizen scientists are the new science superheroes, volunteering their time and experience to gather data in support of research projects from astronomy to zoology. So, what is Citizen Science all about. Citizen science is a collaboration between scientists and members of the public to expand opportunities for data collection and analysis. There are many benefits […]