Just be prepared to give your plants a little extra water and care during that first hot summer. A topping of mulch when you are done will also improve your beds by reducing evaporation, adding nutrients, and slowing weed growth. Here are some flowering perennials that will grow in our area. Be sure to check the height at maturity, water, and light conditions needed for each plant. Finally, there's no such thing as an irreversible mistake in a perennial garden.
Gardeners often rearrange their plants to suit their tastes.
So don't be afraid to try your own ideas when creating your California cottage garden.