Yeah. Camellias are blooming here now, but the freezing weather has frosted them around the edges. I used to live in Santa Barbara, between school and work at Vandenberg AFB there was not much time to garden. But you could always plant over Christmas vacation!
I understand your dilemma: I grew up in N. Michigan but I lived in California for 20 years--a rose grower's paradise. But I always missed the tulips, lilacs and peonies, and most of all the fall colors. However, if I had a choice, I think Id choose the 365 day gardener's year California offers, over the few months you have in the northern states. There are some practices, though, that can make winter gardening feasible.
I just posted a link to Mercola's article for today on permaculture for health. Its great to see permaculture promoted as an alternative to a gym membership!
