In your zone 9, you could have grown broccoli in winter and still get a decent crop. Most coles are difficult in very hot weather. I think that French tarragon would grow well there as would bay leaf, oregano, mint, rosemary, and even chervil, and marjoram. There aren't too many herbs that are perennials, so you need to keep digging..

These are what I have in mind this year. Do you know offhand if any of these will be in trouble this summer?

Perennials:
thyme, german/english
chamaemelum nobile (roman chamomile)
allium schoenoprasum (chives)
taraxacum officinale (dandelion) (in sunken 5 gal bucket)
oregano, greek
allium schoenoprasum (garlic chives)
tanacetum parthenium (feverfew)
salvia officinalis (sage)
red clover (Trifolium pratense)
hyssop, blue (Hyssopus officinalis)
savory, winter (satureja montana)
ocimum basilicum (genovese basil)
lemon balm (melissa officinalis)
mint, peppermint (in sunken 5 gal bucket)
mint, spearmint (in sunken 5 gal bucket)
lavender, english
rosemary
catnip (in sunken 5 gal bucket)
echinacea purpurea
rosemary
passiflora edulis (passion fruit)

Annuals:
cucumis sativus (cucumber)
watermelon
pole beans
luffa aegyptiaca
nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)
capsicum annuum (anaheim chili ppr)
portulaca oleracea (green purslane)
dill
marigolds
amaranth grain (Amaranthus hypochondriacus)

Get the book Heat zone GARDENING- for ornamentals (doesn't list veg) and to learn the philosophy of considering a plant's heat tolerance as well as cold tolerance (hardly an issue for you) when selecting it. Remember- I'm in cold zone 8 here in England just as I was in central Texas. But went from heat zone 9? to 3-4 which explains why I need a greenhouse here for tomatos peppers etc and why growing sweetcorn and pumpkins without starting them earlier indoors doesn't always work here.

Thank you, Jennifer! I will look for it. (sorry it took me so long to find your reply!)

Treat your zone like a 2-crop short season garden
Plant your heat lovers in the spring (corn,squash,melons)
And your cool lovers in the fall (brassica, peas, greens) OR

Set out plants in the fall that you've grown indoors during the hottest part of the summer. Greenhouses in reverse:)

I have a tomato plant that keeps on giving- just protect your heat lovers from the cold with cold-frames in the winter- Looks like I'll get 10 lbs tomatoes from 1 plant!

ahh, good idea!

only problem is, I'm not sure which is which.

Lettuce is cool weather.

and now I know your list above.

Do you know where I can go to look it up?