My guess is, that what goes around the southern France, Italy or Greece, will also go in that space. Hot summers and cold, but still rather mild winters. Stuff like Bourgonvilla might die down in the winter, but would perk right back up, in the spring! Stuff that goes outside, but has a short blooming period out there, might get a longer period inside (how does the smell of moonflowers from early July to mid November sound to you?). Eucalyptus might die down the first couple of winters, but will in time get very strong and tall. I think a bay-leaf would do well year round. Peaches and grapevines would do great as well, no doubt about that. Figs too. Passiflora actinia and caerulea plus some of the hybrids can withstand down to -8c/ 18f. I÷m envious!

Thanks for those fantastic pictures! There's nothing more delicious than freshly picked citrus (especially those oranges). You're right though, it is sad to see that orchard going to waste and many of the SoCal suburbian neighborhoods were built on old citrus groves with some of the magnificent trees still standing in peoples' backyards. In some neighborhoods, you can stand by one of the citrus trees and then notice that several trees in adjacent yards are all in a line. Don't worry too much about the lemon tree as I've seen them grow pretty rapidly. I also always liked the nice privacy screen and windbreak provided by those Italian cypress. I hope you did get a chance to cover them tonight! Its pretty cold for SoCal!

LOL Owie.. that was hilarious. My husband and son are the coke drinkers *sigh. I take a few sips of coke and put the open can in the fridge. That one squash plant is in bad shape now.. as well as a few others around it in succession. It's spreading. I just wonder if it's in the soil or spread by bugs.. *sigh

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