“Down by the banks of the sweet prim-e-roses, there I beheld a most lovely fair.” ~ Author unknown What is a primrose? Shakespeare would say in Romeo and Juliet, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Primulas are not roses, although some of the double flowers of these demure perennials are rose-like. […]
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
Gardening Made Easy for Boomers
You’re a baby boomer. Your green thumb, and your knees and back, seem to bend with more effort. (Was 1968 really 50 years ago?) Don’t let your interest in gardening wane — gardening is important to physical and mental wellbeing as you get older. One, gardening can help you stay fit. “You use up calories […]
Posted inGarden
The Pacific Stonecrops — A Sedum of Our Own
Between the cracks of the dark basalt rocks, sedum’s plump rosettes cascade, a cavalcade wash in waterfall gray. Many succulents in the Sedum genus grow around the world. Gardeners love them because they are fascinating plants. Sedum spathulifolium species evolved to grow in difficult places in the Northwest — their water storage capabilities help them […]
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Cultivating Connections — Family’s Heritage Becomes New Venture to Help Farmers
Newcomers and longtime Kitsap residents alike can overlook some of the most treasured local assets: the hard-working farmers and their land. Tucked in here and there on back roads are families who have been in West Sound for generations farming the land, growing food and figuring out how to make farms survive as times change. […]
Posted inGarden
Bremerton City Nursery — A Destination for Urban, Organic Gardening
The Bremerton City Nursery has been part of Bremerton for more than six decades, thanks to two local families. Today, it brands itself as an urban city nursery, and it sells almost exclusively organic products. The Berger family founded the nursery in the early 1950s, originally naming it Berger’s Garden Center. While raising four sons, […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
From Garden to Bouquet — Growing Your Own Cut Flowers
Keep your flower vases filled all summer long with beautiful blossoms picked right from your own garden and containers. Growing seeds, plants and tender bulbs that can double as cut flowers makes it easy to create casual, fresh-cut bouquets for your dinner table or guest room, or to share with family and friends. For early-spring […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
Ideas for Container Gardens for Every Occasion
Make every occasion special by designing and growing containers for summer holidays, weddings, anniversary parties or other special celebrations. Pick a color scheme appropriate for the occasion or a variety of colors and shapes sure to add a festive touch. Look for opportunities to include edible- and flower-filled planters. Set containers at your front entrance […]
Posted inGarden
Exciting New Plants for 2019
Daylight is burning more hours and highlighting the new plant catalogs scattered across your desk. It is gray outside, with many months left to fill with drizzling precipitation, cold wind and storms. You cannot wait to get outside and grab a handful of crumbling, dark soil and breathe in its earthy aroma. Your ground is […]
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Bloedel Reserve Moss Gardens
Moss thrives in our wet, rainy region. Given enough time and clear space, such as a roof, a green carpet will slowly form. So prolific is moss that entire companies exist to control it and in the drizzly Pacific Northwest, those companies tend to do well. But moss can also be a welcome interloper or […]