How do you recognize a truly inspired garden, one with humor and style and a joy that reflects the personality of its creators? Sometimes, there are signs. In the garden of Brian and Karen Rasmussen of Poulsbo, an extensive and carefully cultivated collection of vintage Americana overflows into the beds and borders. Among an old-fashioned […]
Garden
Many interesting and delightful gardens abound in our area — how fun to glimpse into a gardener’s back yard (or even front yard). Enjoy gardens from Gig Harbor, Port Orchard, Bremerton, Central Kitsap, and the North end of Kitsap including Bainbridge Island. These articles are only a sample of what we have in West Sound Magazine each issue — subscribe to the print version today to see all of what we have to offer!
Posted inGarden
Glorious Sweet Peas
The sweet pea, Lanthyrus odoratus, is a flowering plant in the genus lathuyrus in the family fabaceae, native to Sicily, southern Italy and the Aegean Islands. It’s an annual climbing plant growing to a height of 1 to 2 meters, where suitable support is available. The leaves are pinnate, with two leaflets and a terminal […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Tips for Planting Trees — and Why You Should
Trees are virtually everywhere you turn, from your own backyard to nearby parks and forests where you enjoy hiking. They provide shade and beauty, and some even bear fruit. Beyond all the immediate benefits, you may be surprised to discover trees are also a critical key to the future. These facts and tips from the […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Albers Marcovina Vista Gardens Hosts Fundraising Plant Sale
Albers Marcovina Vista Gardens will host its first annual plant sale and raffle event on April 23 and 24, in honor of Earth Day. The garden will be open Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Preregistration online for the plant sale is highly recommended. Plants for […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Easy Ways to Create Edibles and Flowers Combinations
Peanut butter and jelly… Mac and cheese… Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds… Perfect combinations make life a little happier. Just like favorite flavors and power couples, your garden can benefit from great combinations, too. Who says veggies need to be relegated to the backyard? Beautifully blending veggies, fruit, herbs and flowers means you can show […]
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Swooping Swallows Signal Springtime
Nothing signals the advent of spring like the arrival of swallows. Among the first migrants to return from a warm winter in the south, swallows are endearing songbirds, many of which live in proximity to humans and nest on man-made structures. Swallows live virtually anywhere in the world that isn’t covered in ice. Built for […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
How to Grow Your Own Greens
The National Garden Bureau has declared 2022 the Year of the Greens. Here’s what you need to get started to grow your own. Overview and History Curiously, salad got its start not as a dietary staple but as an aphrodisiac. We know this because leafy relations to modern romaine are depicted in ancient paintings as […]
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The Wonderful World of Garden Books
The Hidden Life of Trees: The Illustrated Edition Author Peter Wohlleben “As a rule, friendships that extend to looking after stumps can be established only in undisturbed forests.” Trees equipped with warning systems? Forests with a vast communication network underground? Is there a couple-centuries-old stump being kept alive with the help from surrounding trees? If […]
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Beachfront Gardens
One of the joys of West Sound living is the availability of so many beachfront properties. With all the islands, inlets, coves and harbors, there are miles and miles of beachfront. Smart ecology demands that a large part of water-side property be left for natural areas and parks. In the past, many developers have harmed […]