Author Archives: Deanna Kizis

DIY a Fall Wreath Nobody Will Believe You Made Yourself

When I asked a Los Angeles floral designer who works for top-secret mega celebs to do a tutorial for Sunset on how to make a… Read More

14 Gifts the First-time Gardener Will Absolutely Love

When someone first becomes a gardener, it’s kind of like being possessed. Suddenly, they’re rhapsodizing about how satisfying it is to chomp a carrot they… Read More

Ravens, Bobcats, Deer, Oh My! A Suburban Backyard Turns Into a Wildlife Oasis

When LouAnne Brickhouse gave her partner a bird feeder as a holiday gift, she had no idea she’d soon be creating a wildlife habitat in… Read More

11 Perfect Houseplant Gifts That Will Help You Win the Holidays

In ye olden times—as in, like, two years ago—when one tried to think of a holiday gift, the usual things came to mind: a warm… Read More

‘They’re in Charge’: Plants Thrive in a Tom Ford Perfume Bottle in This Hawaii Home

When one thinks of indoor plant styling and Hawaii, a lush, jungle vibe might spring to mind. Instead, Courtney Monahan, the owner of… Read More

A Family Garden Gets a Three-Sided Cabana and an Inviting Meadow, Too

When Dani Coulter and Johnny Keegan, who own the landscape design firm Collecting Flowers, first saw their client’s garden in San… Read More

How to Propagate a Ponytail Palm—and Why They Make Great Houseplants, Too

Ponytail palm propagation couldn’t be easier—great news, since they make excellent houseplants. After all, ponytail palms require very little watering as it is stored… Read More

The One Thing You Have to Plant This Fall

We only recommend things we love. If you buy something through our site, we might earn a commission Not only is it easy to plant… Read More

The Cactus That Will Live in Your Garden Forever

In 2015, the landscape designer and horticulturist Dustin Gimbel decided to take up sculpting. “I took a class,” he says, because… Read More

This Halloween, Plant a Witchy Moon Garden That Will Put You Under Its Spell

Arin Murphy-Hiscock is a serious witch, with 11 books about witchcraft to her name, including The Green Witch, The House Witch, and The Witch’s Book… Read More

Indulge in a Luxurious Spa Day…for Your Houseplants

Have your plants seemed stressed lately? Exhausted, drained of joie de vivre—wilted, if you will? If so, then thank dieu for Léon & George’s L’Alchemie… Read More

A Soak in an Outdoor Bathtub Is the Multi-Sensory Experience You Need

When I went to Big Sur this past summer, I stayed in an Airbnb that had an outdoor bathtub—a vintage clawfoot number, simply plumbed… Read More

Lemongrass, Mushrooms and Beyond: Plant Your Cocktail Garden Now

We only recommend things we love. If you buy something through our site, we might earn a commission. There’s something so satisfying—romantic, even—about snipping something… Read More

The Stunning Paint Color That Was Impossible to Find—Until Now

Before I worked at Sunset, I saved an Instagram post of an outdoor fireplace that completely flipped my lid. It was done in a gorgeous… Read More

An Iconic Garden Is for Sale: Why I Dream of Buying This California Landmark

The moment I saw the real estate listing for a charming two-bedroom house on a 3-acre property that happens to be home to the acclaimed… Read More

Bring Your Neighborhood Together with a Little Free Library for Plants

We only recommend things we love. If you buy something through our site, we might earn a commission. When the 2020 shutdowns began, Jacqui Bracey,… Read More

Want Spring Bulbs for Fall? Pick a Color Palette First

Tell me if this rings a bell: Labor Day is in sight, and you want to plant some spring bulbs in the… Read More

An Outdoor Shower That Inspires Love at First Sight

We only recommend things we love. If you buy something through our site, we might earn a commission. I wish there were a Bumble for… Read More

Porch Life Is Back! 5 Reasons Why Your Front Yard Is the New Outdoor Living Room

When my friends Matt and Staci Eddy bought a stunning home in Los Angeles’ Angelino Heights, a historic neighborhood that’s famous for its Victorian mansions,… Read More

Uh, What’s a ‘Seed Vibrator’? Ask Famed Gardener Martha Stewart on Her New Show

At 79, Martha Stewart is not the on-screen personality she once was. She’s a woman who knows exactly who she is and feels free to… Read More

The Last Bookstore—Beloved Selfie Destination—Has a Photogenic Cousin

Deanna Kizis To enter Lost Books in Montrose, California, you must first walk through a tunnel made entirely of plants. Creeping Charlie and sea… Read More

Hydroponic Garden Hacks: How to Grow Your Vegetables Like Zooey Deschanel

Last summer I couldn’t wait to get my hands on one of those trendy hydroponic gardens that swept Instagram, and I soon learned they have… Read More

July 4th Sales: Six Garden Upgrades To Help You Grow

The garden plays a starring role in so many Fourth of July celebrations—we just want to be outdoors among trees, flowers, plants, and sky, not… Read More

The Bees and Butterflies Are Thirsty—So We Built Ours a DIY Watering Hole

Every summer, I get excited when I see the first Monarch butterfly flutter into my garden. It’s about the size of a teacup, and, if… Read More