A summer without annuals is like a spring without flowering bulbs. It is time to dress up a drab garden in a kaleidoscope of summer color with seasonal plants. When a garden passion turns into an obsession, you can fill gardens and containers with plants until they overflow with bright-hued flowers and textural foliage. The […]
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 inBlog, Gardeners Corner
Staying One Step Ahead of Your Garden so You Can Enjoy It
As the days of summer heat up, the last thing we want to do is work hard in the garden. This is the time to enjoy it, play in the sprinklers and hang out with friends. Here are a few tips to help you reach this nirvana. Mulch Hopefully you took some time this spring, […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
Get The Dirt — On Home Gardening
Summer Gardening Tips Summer is the perfect time to wander throughout your gardens. Take photos of the planting areas you enjoy the most. Download photos and make notes to yourself what you like the best about the various plants you’ve recorded. Make notes for future editing if you find some spots where you’d like to […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
Outsmarting Your Garden Nemesis
Weeds are not altogether undesirable plants. “Heresy!” you might say, but the term “weed” is an arbitrary designation made by a gardener who would prefer to grow another plant instead. To some people, a foxglove is a gift in an otherwise bare bed, and to others, an interloper whose poisonous leaves beckon to a pup […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
Gardening to Attract Hummingbirds and Butterflies
WestSound Magazine readers have asked us to publish information about attracting hummingbirds and butterflies to their gardens. The following information has been gathered from past WSH&G articles and consolidated into the following pages. Please enjoy and have fun attracting these flying jewels to your own gardens. Keep in mind that the Anna’s Hummingbirds actually stay […]
Posted inBlog, Gardeners Corner
Rain Gardens Add Beauty and Function to Your Yard
Controlling storm-water runoff is a necessity for your home and your yard, but it’s sometimes relegated to that dreaded list of outdoor chores. But what if adding an efficient runoff system meant the addition of a beautiful garden at the same time? That’s exactly what rain gardens are. They’re designed to store and filter rain […]
Posted inFeatured, Garden
Paeonia… An Ancient Flower for West Sound Gardens
One day, the Greek goddess Aphrodite caught Apollo flirting with a shy, beautiful nymph named Paeonia. When Paeonia realized the goddess was watching them, her face flushed a deep rose-red. In a fit of jealous anger, Aphrodite turned the blushing girl into a rose-colored peony. According to Greek mythology, modern gardeners owe thanks to their […]
Posted inBlog, Gardeners Corner
Enjoy the Versatility of Lavender by Growing Your Own
An old-fashioned, fragrant herb, lavender colors the garden with a purple haze in midsummer. This herb is so popular, it has its own festivals. Lavender’s reputation is attributed to its beauty in the garden and diversity of use, from aromatherapy to crafting. The characteristics of lavender are legendary. Culinary, crafting and medicinal recipes have been […]
Posted inBlog, Gardeners Corner
Tent Caterpillars Are Making a Comeback
The last tent caterpillar outbreak in West Sound happened quite a while ago. Yet the memories — of the sounds they made as they munched away at our tree canopy and the shivers they sent through my spine as they fell on my head or crunched underfoot — have not diminished all that much over […]