You should definitely explore the blue bearded irises. Bearded irises are among the easiest plants to grow in this area. They are native to Mediterranean climates like our own and bloom most heavily in late winter and spring. An excellent collection of irises can be viewed at the Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge. Locate them at the back of the highly educational Descanso Rosarium.
True geraniums make fine, noninvasive ground covers for close-up viewing near entryways and patios.
They will spill gracefully out of flower pots and hanging baskets. They grow best in half-day sun. They are popular fare in mail-order plant catalogs and hard to resist, but seldom survive in Valley gardens for more than two or three years. Tree sap, which is attractive to beetles, accumulates where pruning cuts are made. In summer, eucalyptus trees take up water without conscience and may become top heavy as a result.