Table of contents for The Garden Issue 2022 in Sunset

My first paying job was a brief summer stint as a sort of gardener. I say “sort of” because I now know what real gardeners do and what I did was mostly not garden. It was my grandparents’ year to maintain the grassy median on their cul-desac and they needed someone to mow it and wage an ongoing battle with gophers that kept undermining a brick retaining wall. Taking breaks I’d sneak onto the adjacent golf course and marvel at its unlikely expanse of green. But it was the wild in-between spaces that drew me. A mess of fallen trees in the graveyard next door that nobody ever visited but where all the birds hung out and the gophers went to play. At the end of the summer, I ended…

A few years ago, pop star Katy Perry reached out to Los Angeles botanical artist Kristen Alpaugh to say that she was interested in purchasing a unique flower arrangement. So, Alpaugh did what any self-respecting business-woman would do when a huge celebrity sends an inquiry: “I literally started Googling what she likes,” Alpaugh says. “Like, ‘What flowers does she love? What does she hate?’ And I realized that she was obsessed with iridescence.” Around the same time, Alpaugh had been gifted an abalone shell. She soon connected the dots that Anthurium—a plant from the Andes Mountain range in South America with stiff, shell-like leaves that we think of as flowers—could act as a canvas. Alpaugh’s apartment “became a laboratory,” she says, comparing herself to a mad scientist, and her trademarked…

Air plants are native to the Americas and use their roots to anchor themselves to trees, rocks, and even cacti thorns—without being parasitic. But despite the fact that they’re called air plants, they do need water and nutrients, which are absorbed via special scales on their leaves called trichomes. Here are Josh Rosen’s top tips to keep them alive: Air plants thrive outdoors, but if you want to keep them inside, make sure they have bright, indirect light. Keep in mind that Tillandsia with gray leaves are more sun- and desert-adapted, while the ones with greener, wider leaves are more shade-adapted. Rather than misting, give them a six- to 12-hour soak once a week. “I’ve hardened mine off with tap water, but ideally, you’d use filtered but not distilled water,”…

Ever walked into a gorgeous plant store and wondered how the owner displays her wares at home? Courtney Monahan of Paiko, a botanical boutique in Honolulu, incorporates island style but tempers it with eclectic and vintage pieces. The result is a home filled with pretty, fresh moments along-side lush greenery—a look that’s ripe for inspiration. Here, Monahan gives us four tips to style plants her way. 1 The Plants Are in Charge: “If your plant doesn’t like where you put it, you gotta try some-place else,” she says. “They tell you where they want to be.” (Even if it’s in a Tom Ford perfume bottle, like the begonia living happily on one of her bath-room shelves.) 2 Get Sentimental: “I like clean lines,” Monahan says, “but the furniture is from…

Matt Horn continues to evolve the flavor profile of West Coast barbecue. The Oakland pitmaster is chasing perfection, tracing the edges of his culinary foundation built on central Texas barbecue, but layering on ingredients and techniques that are familiar here in the West. Think Pacific Ocean sable-fish and cold-lake trout, brined and lightly seasoned; juicy, spatchcocked chicken marinated in brown sugar, rose-mary, and thyme; or seasonally fresh watermelon cubed into a chilled mint-basil salad, a refreshing palate cleanse with each bite. “West Coast style is utilizing our seasonal bounty and incorporating creative sides to pair with our smoked meats that aren’t categorized as ‘traditional’ to barbecue,” Horn says. “Utilizing everything that is around us here on the West Coast, from ingredients to cultural influences, is the true essence of who…

The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo comes to Oakland, California, two days a year to remind the community and educate future generations about just how deep their Western roots are. The smell of fried delicacies like catfish and hush puppies waft through the air. Black cowboys atop horses file into the arena in their finest attire, some wave an African American flag in the sky. The country’s only touring Black rodeo brings together local vendors, over a dozen different food offerings, three hours of rodeo programming, and a space, as my grandma describes, “where you can see Black people shine in a positive light and share their culture and history.” When I was growing up in Oakland, almost every event, park, or public space had some sort of historical significance. My…

“My family worries a lot about my safety in the wilderness,” Ron says. “I started using Garmin’s inReach Satellite Communication device a few years back so I could keep in touch using the text message feature, and it allows my family to track my movements. And of course, the Garmin’s SOS feature is great to have in the event I ever have an emergency.” STARTING AT $400; SUBSCRIPTION PLANS START AT $11.95 PER MONTH; GARMIN.COM “Snow Peak’s Takibi Tarp Octa is one of the tools we bring on every adventure,” Rashad says. “It’s the foundation of our camp habitat and also the ultimate fireproof tarp. It shields our campers from rain and wind, while still allowing you to have a legit fire underneath. There’s no longer any need to worry…

This month: Willamette Valley, Oregon The insider: Dave and Lois Cho, founders of CHO Wines STAY: “If you can, plan ahead and score a room at the Atticus Hotel; this is the swanky place to stay in Mac,” which is what the locals call McMinnville, Lois says. EAT: Just downstairs from the hotel is Red Hills Kitchen, a “favorite date-night spot,” Lois says. “We love their seasonal menu offerings and vast wine list, including our 2015 CHO Blanc de Noirs. The Pantry within RHK has a lot of grab-and-go items from local producers.” ​If you’re looking for more casual fare, venture out to sister restaurant Red Hills Market in Dundee for “a large selection of wine, beer, and picnic items.” DRINK: Need a break from wine? “We often stop by…

LOCAL NOMAD To say owner Lauren Danuser (center) curates a thoughtful collection of wares in this boutique is an understatement. We could spend all day perusing the loose leaf teas, soft throws, array of handcrafted ceramics, and more. LOCALNOMADSHOP.COM THE DINERSAUR Known around town for vanilla custard “churrovers” and “breadosaurus” pastries shaped like—you guessed it—dinosaurs, baker Olivia Girard churns out all the sweet treats you could dream up at this new outpost. Get there early as daily confections are first come, first served! THEDINERSAUR.COM PUEBLO Founder Michael Lanier and resident landscape architect Coby Bruckner just finished building a pair of courtyard greenhouses and lounge seating so anyone can work in the garden during coffee hours when Caffio Espresso, which operates out of a restored Piaggio Ape cart, is slinging lattes…

DAHLIA PRESS Seattle Introducing some modern irreverence and graphic punch to the age-old letter-press technique, these paper goods have a modern P.O.V. A monthly subscription box delivers all of the seasonal cards your heart desires. DAHLIAPRESS.COM EGG PRESS Portland Saturated colors, cartoonish graphics, and plenty of puns round out this collection of cards. Buy from a “press for change” collection, and a portion of proceeds are donated to nonprofits. EGGPRESS.COM NOTEWORTHY PAPER & PRESS Missoula, Montana Printing cute cards with grizzly bears and camper vans appears to be a dream gig. Founders Taylor Valliant and Amy Dolan have been running this shop—elevating the Montana souvenir, and procuring vintage Western-themed post-age for custom invitations—since 2008. NOTEWORTHYSTORE.COM MISSIVE San Francisco This small Bay Area outfit founded by Lisa Willis in 2009…

JOSH Rosen has the calm demeanor of a young, hip monk. When I enter his garden studio in Mar Vista, California, he greets me with blue eyes that are calm and clear and a gentle smile under a beard well-trimmed. He offers tea or water, then a comfortable but stylishly vintage chair so we can talk. Once seated, his sweet boxer/pit bull mix, Elliot, comes up for some pets, and I can immediately feel my pulse start to quiet—no small feat considering the traffic I’d just faced on the 405. As I marvel at how zen I feel in Rosen’s presence, I wonder if it’s because he was a philosophy major at Northwestern University, but I soon conclude it must be the air plants. After all, Rosen is known, like…

The heirloom tomatoes I pick from my raised bed are the stars of my Instagram. After all, I grow my veggies right in the middle of Los Angeles, not on a farm. So imagine my dismay when I found my tomatoes torpedoed, my cucumbers consumed, and tell-tale tunnels running through the soil. I instantly knew the culprits: rats. Very clever rats, which I soon learned would only be deterred by a hardcore barrier. If only I’d known about Victory Garden LA and its raised beds with “Critter Covers” made of redwood and hardware cloth. They’re the brainchild of television commercial director Raúl B. Fernández, who started building them in his driveway during the pandemic. His success is a true Hollywood story: COVID boredom led to a DIY raised bed for…

NORTHWEST Head east just beyond Boise, and you’ll find Roots Zero Waste Market in Garden City, a must-stop on any trip to Idaho’s capital. Bring your own jar to stock up on beans, vinegars, and spices. Leá Rainey and Zach Yunker opened the shop to help you “buy the amount you need when you need it,” as they say. Here are their favorite spots in the two cities. This month: Boise, Idaho The insider: Léa Rainey and Zach Yunker, owners of Roots Zero Waste Market DRINK: Start your day at Garden City’s adorable coffee shop Push & Pour, where the breakfast sandos are as delicious as the roasts. Later, order a Method 104 at Boise cocktail bar Suite 104, where you pick the spirit and bartenders take care of the rest.…

This month: San Fernando Valley The insider: Adrienne Borlongan, founder and chef at Wanderlust Creamery STAY: Bill’s Airbnbs include “a number of properties nestled in the mountains of Topanga Canyon just above the San Fernando Valley,” Borlongan says. “They are truly unique and one-of-a-kind experiences including a colorful indoor/outdoor living space with a view to die for, a ‘Topanga Treehouse’ perfect for rustic glamping, or ‘Rainbow Studio,’ a candy colored den/patio that feels like a Y2K teenage sleepover.” EAT: Go’s Mart was the Borlongan family’s “weekly sushi spot back in the late ’90s when it was a tiny Japanese market/VHS store that had a no-frills sushi counter in the back with a simple menu serving only the basics,” Borlongan says. “Nowadays, it’s the city’s best kept secret. It’s still unassuming…

IF YOU CARE ABOUT INSTAGRAM: Rise Colorful, patterned wallpapers anchor the rooms at this hip Phoenix hotel with a pool and rooftop bar. RISEUPTOWNHOTEL.COM IF YOU’RE A BIT NOSTALGIC: Hotel Valley Ho Bing Crosby and Zsa Zsa Gabor frequented this retro hotel that recently got a facelift. HOTELVALLEYHO.COM IF YOU WANT TO SPEND YOUR TIME GOLFING: Mountain Shadows Resort Scottsdale Play 18 holes or take a dip in the pool in view of Camelback Mountain. MOUNTAINSHADOWS.COM…

“I WAS HOME all the time, for the first time. My kids didn’t know what to do with me,” says Tess Sanchez, a Los Angeles-based mother of two and longtime talent and casting executive for a major studio in town. “I got laid off at the beginning of quarantine in 2020. And I’m not good with idle time.” You could say that Sanchez took on the project of remodeling a neglected and odd house in the Pacific Palisades, turning a cramped, dark space into a haven of natural light and beautiful textures, as a very exclusive hobby. While other people struggled to learn Italian, Sanchez designed a deck extension and toured marble yards with her builder via FaceTime. Some people got into jigsaw puzzles. Sanchez became an amateur construction forewoman.…

Quin Shakra started as a produce farmer, but when he toured a farm in Southern Oregon and saw plants that had gone to seed, he found his true calling. “I realized I had a desire to understand the whole life cycle of the plant from beginning to end—birth, reproduction, and death,” he says. The Plant Good Seed Company, his organic seed emporium out in Ojai, California, is now on a mission. “We want to connect plants and people,” he says. “It’s fun to think that there’s a common point between people who grow from seed—we want to be involved with life.” Here, five varieties that Shakra recommends you plant this spring: Hibiscus: Commonly used to make teas. “While it’s often referred to as a ‘flower’ when you find it in stores,”…

This month: Lahaina, Maui The insider: Lee Anne Wong, chef at Papa´aina STAY: Lahaina town, Maui’s historic whaling village, is “a hot spot for art, shopping, and dining, in addition to its pristine beaches,” Wong says. The newly renovated Hotel Lahaina is “home to Lahaina Grill, one of Maui’s legendary dinner spots.” EAT: Sale Pepe owners Qiana and Michele DiBari “bring a taste of Italy to Maui,” Wong says, “focusing on hand-tossed pizzas and handmade pastas.” Moku Roots is “serving some of Hawaii’s best vegetarian and vegan cuisine.” For modern Hawaiian, book a multi-course meal at chef Jojo Vasquez’s monthly chef’s counter at Fond. “If you’re lucky,” Wong says, Vasquez’s wife, Eliza, will showcase her “DJ skills, setting the mood and food with beats to match.” DRINK: Maui Brewing Co.…