Beautiful gardens. Are you northern, southern, central, or coastal CA? Distinct growing zones in all those places. I should add montain too.
Politics, ugh! My mother passed in April, and I doubt that I’ll ever visit my native state again. It does not resemble the CA of my childhood.
Sorry to hear about your Mom. Prayers up for you and your family.
I am in the foothills west of Chico, about 100 miles North of Sacramento.
My zone is a mix between 8 and 9, so I get the best of both worlds, along with the worst of both worlds. It can make it difficult to know what will and what won’t grow.
Somethings that thrive in zone 9, will grew here, but not well, other things grow even better than in zone 9, when it shouldn’t in zone 8. Then it goes vise verse with the other way.
It’s a learning experience, but it’s been enjoyable. I also have a Cherry tree, although it has grown too big to reach the cherry’s before the birds get them.
I had a fig tree that was brought over from Corinth Greece by a neighbor who grew up in Greece, but the Cherry tree over shadowed it and the fig tree had to reach for the sun which caused it to lean too much. Before I knew had a chance to replant it in a better location, a gopher got to the roots and killed it.
I also have a Mandarin tree that gives of a great abundance of Mandarins around the holiday season which makes great gift baskets for the neighbors.
As for politics, yes I doubt anyone who lived here and then moved would recognize it. Retirement is but 6 years away and then my wife and I will be heading for greener pastures. Greener for politics, but I will miss the growing seasons.