It could be argued that in the Pacific Northwest, gardening-mania far surpasses baseball as the favorite sport. With the help of April showers, June gardens are primped, pruned and ready for ohs! and ahs! as garden tour season begins. Knowledgeable gardeners anticipate The Garden Conservancy Open Days, which grants unprecedented access to private gardens. Open […]
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Posted inHome
Rejuvenating the Past
Joanne Peterson and her bernedoodle, Winne, stand in the welcoming front door of her Nantucket-style cottage: a simple, snug home with a shingled exterior built to withstand weather coming in off the inlet. Memories of quintessential waterside cottages flood in when stepping into her living room. Natural materials and an understated architecture with a classic […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Tips for Designing and Maintaining a Low-Maintenance Garden
Don’t let your spring garden enthusiasm lead to overplanting and the creation of a summer gardening nightmare. A design with maintenance in mind and some strategic care can help reduce the time you spend managing your gardens and landscape. Consider using fewer plant species when designing perennial flowerbeds. Increase the number of each to boost […]
Posted inGarden
Lisa’s Leaves — An Enchanting Destination
Sitting serenely at the top of a hill with a peek-a-boo view of Sinclair Inlet is the home and business of Lisa and Dave Connelly. Towering trees border the open spaces of the 8-acre property that showcases the picture-book home, orchard, garden, flower beds, greenhouses, trout pond and chicken coop. A journey up the winding […]
Posted inGarden
How and Why to Landscape Septic Systems
There are over 60,000 onsite sewage systems (OSS) in Kitsap County. How should you landscape and maintain them? What Is an OSS? An OSS has a septic tank where effluent (i.e., wastewater from kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms) enters the tank, solids settle to the bottom and oils and grease rise to the top. In […]
Posted inAt Home
Grow a Beautiful Indoor Succulent Garden
It’s no surprise that succulents, including cacti, are popular. These easy-care houseplants come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes, making them perfect for any home. All you need is a lot of light and benign neglect to raise healthy and beautiful succulents. Place the plants near an unobstructed south-, west- or east-facing window. […]
Posted inHome
A Vinland Midcentury-Modern Home Spreads Its Wings
Three years ago, Jeff and Ann Granlee were looking for waterfront. Fortunately, word of mouth and a real estate agent who kept her ears open lead them to a pretty piece of Hood Canal shoreline just south of Vinland Bay in North Kitsap. The property included a home that had begun as a cabin in […]
Posted inGarden
Life is Golden for These Ducks
For Pacific Northwest birders, winter means ducks. After breeding in the Arctic, myriads of ducks enjoy wintering in Western Washington on water that isn’t frozen. About two dozen species of ducks regularly visit West Sound waters each winter. Ducks come in many varieties and are often named according to their physical description. For example, long-tailed […]
Posted inHome
A Sparkling View Inspires a Clear Vision
Even though Julia and Dennis Carpenter took on all aspects of the interior architecture and design, they loved the building process. Yes, there were a multitude of details and ongoing decisions, but they had skills and time. Stepping into the Carpenters’ home demands a moment. There are no words in the face of the intimate […]