This is a different area than most of us have. I suggest you take some time to drive around the community. You will get your best ideas from what grows in the locality nearby. Their pests will be different than those you are used to. Gophers, squirrels, chipmunks and perhaps deer love tender nursery plants! Another thing to consider is how near they are to national parkland. I would watch things that may escape into the wild, especially grasses. I know they are lovely, but if your client's neighbors are 'native plant nuts' (as I am) these would not be popular. I know that many varieties of narcissus will do well. Mahonia is a forest plant that has lovely form and attractive berries. You may find that selected Rhododendruns and Azaelea will do well. Primulas, Cyclamen (may need some protection in winter) and wildflower seeds selected for the area would add low color. At 07:33 PM 1/22/2003 -0800, you wrote: >I will be doing a garden design here soon and I would like some ideas. I >have only a general idea of what I will be getting myself into. I know the Marguerite English, Editor: 'The Bulb Garden' Gardening with bulbs and perennials at 3700 feet in the mountains of southern California. Extreme temperatures in our Mediterranean climate from 0 to 110 degrees F. Average temperatures 15 to 90 degrees F. A few days of snow in winter and a few days of extreme heat in Aug-Sept. Drought conditions seem to be changing to an 'El Nino' year. (I think that's long-hand for USDA zone 7B.)