Mine are doing best in morning sun and then shade later on so it sounds like the bay area should be perfect. I saw hydrangeas at half moon bay in full sun and fuchsias and begonias out in the sun in San Francisco so I would think that you have what they would like best. Mine are flowering right now and then will stay green until later when they go dormant for the winter. Yours may not go dormant but if they do don't think that they have died. They don't seem to like pots very well but once they are in the ground they will spread out over time if you give them a good soil.

For whatever reason Yamagami's (in Cupertino, but not far from Sunnyvale)seems to carry a lot of P. edulis fairly late (August or September). Perhaps that's when it's easiest to get plants with flowers, buds, and fruit from the wholesalers. You should check with them and see when they will have NG and Black Knight, and make sure they special order them if they don't plan on selling them. I remember them selling both of those varieties in 1 gallon pots, as well as a couple others such as Red Rover and Frederick. Maybe Frederick was 5 gallons (?). A 5 gallon plant will probably run $40 or $50, a 1 gallon $20, so this can make a difference, particularly if you want more than one variety. Sometimes they have big sales in September where one can get 60% off. Nancy Garrison is a regular speaker there, so it makes sense that they carry that variety. It's worth getting on Yamagami's mailing list if you plan on buying things there. I've never seen Frosty anywhere. If you are trying to track down a variety possibly someone who posts on the Cloudforest Cafe would have something. I think there are more CRFG (California Rare Fruit Growers) members who post there. I have not seen that much in the way of P. edulis elsewhere in the South Bay. Frederick and I think an unnamed variety at Roger Reynold's in Menlo Park. That's about it. Even fruit is hard to find for sale--I've just seen it at Cosentino's (now gone) and the Milk Pail (Mountain View). Here is a link that might be useful: Yamagami's contact form

I understand the attraction of French ranges and the conflict between the high end and the moderately priced ranges, but, were I doing cooking for a large family and catering on a regular basis, I'd probably go with a Blue Star plus a couple of induction modules. We are looking at small Lacanches and Cornue Fe 1908s for a secondary kitchen because I want the "French look" and because I specifically desire less fire power in this one than in my big kitchen. The other brands that you have mentioned are simply out of the question for us. You may want to contact Green Demolitions with your specific needs and preferences and see what they come up with.

There's Lone Pine Gardens in Sabastopol:). This place is wholesale so call before hand if you go. I think they're open Th-Sat for "regular" people;). This place has a nice cactus garden next to a huge TP. I don't know if you care, but they also have a big selection of Bonsais. They're nice to look at. It's under a two drive from SF. It's in a nice area, pretty drive. I don't know when your coming to the Bay Area, but I believe the San Jose succulent/cactus show is at the end of April.