10 Reasons Why I’m Grateful for Sunset’s Garden
I’ve visited many of the world’s great gardens during my time as garden editor of Sunset Magazine, including the samurai gardens in southern Japan, Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands, and Villandry in France. But Sunset’s garden tops my list. Here’s why.
- It reflects a rich history of the West.
- It’s an experience
- Plantings change with the times
- It is a mecca for gardeners
- Our test garden is thriving
6. So is our design “lab”
Every year or so, we’ve built new mini gardens to photograph for stories and to provide ideas for our visitors. This circular patio, designed by Lauren Dunec Hoang, shows that dry gardens can be beautiful. On occasion, we’ve also invited landscape designers such as grass guru John Greenlee to install temporary gardens here.
7. The “Old Man” is still with us
Our venerable Coast Live Oak, a survivor from another era, still thrives thanks to a no-water zone beneath the canopy, and metal posts to support its leaning limbs.
So are the bluebirds who set up housekeeping every spring in the bluebird house beneath “Old Man’s canopy. ”
- We’ve grown new gardeners
…And Johanna Silver and Lauren Dunec Hoang, pictured. Both started as test garden interns, and both are now Sunset garden staffers—Johanna Silver as Associate Editor, Lauren as test garden designer.
- We’ve launched new trends
- And our meadow is blooming now