If one chooses the right plants and has the proper setting, it isn't that hard to make a December garden setting that will take your mind off the chill, and let you pretend to be some place tropical. These plantings are intended to create a serene meditative feeling, and soaking in the jacuzzi also heightens the sensation. Not much color here, but variations on common themes of palm foliage and tropical abundance, set against contrasting brilliant white stuccoed walls, warm ipe would fencing and smooth soft blue inlaid Indonesian river stone. Another example of why I enjoy creating gardens here in the SF Bay Area...

Here is a link that might be useful: A December garden scene