I came across a feature in the April Sunset magazine called "Garden buzz: What's happening in gardens and what's not." To my surprise, it had two lists headed "in" and "out." "In" and "out" in a garden?

Yes. It says single-plant containers are in; overstuffed containers are out. Really. I've done both over the years depending on the plants. I'll keep doing it. Here's the only container I have so far, and I think it's pretty.

"Soothing spring greens" are in; "brassy orange with hot pink" is out. Darn. I guess that means brassy orange with hot pink used to be in, and I missed it. Oh, well.

Solar lighting is in; tiki torches are out. Huh.

Meditation spaces are in; wedding cake gazebos are out. OK—but I'd love to have both.

I'm drawn to English cottage garden style, so I've always thought of gardening as timeless—and fashionless. Do the Sunset editors really expect readers to rip out all their brassy oranges and hot pinks and replace them wtih spring greens this year regardless of their preferences? Or are they simply reporting that that's what their readers have already done? Whose tastes change that much that quickly?