Or why I like gardening in the milder parts of the Bay Area! Our climate here is a nice mix between hotter and drier southern California, and the wetter and cooler Pacific Northwest, giving us the best of both worlds sometimes. Few gardeners really explore the possibilities, but this is part of what makes it fun for me. Here's an example where I've mixed some less common plants together; a palm, some succulents, and some tropical looking bromeliads, and all are playing nice together...

Here is a link that might be useful: A fun planting mix