California Gardening: Hello fellow Californians....let's introduce ourselves!, 1 by Calif_Sue

Calif_Sue wrote:
Sue here in San Jose, near the border of Milpitas. We are not quite as hot here as Margie, a bit more of the bay breeze. Lived here all my life, in fact, we bought the house I grew up in when my parents bought another one in 1984 only 5 min. away. Since she had a nice garden here, I had to keep it up and thus began my love of gardening. In '97, I went with her to a daylily garden tour hosted by a club she had been going to for a few years. Fell in love with daylilies and I am now the procurement chair for the club, purchasing new intros for members to grow and eventually bring to a club auction. I have over 200 varieties at this time, 1/2 in pots always being rotated around this tiny garden. I have a daylily being named after me (a real surprise!) as well as ones after my daughter and soon, my granddaughter so I guess daylilies will be a life long favorite!
I have always had a more cottage type garden, colors of lavenders, pinks and blues but I am just now adding tropicals to the mix (lovin' the new coleus forum!) and so finding the warm colors a nice welcome. I do alot of pots too since my clay soil frustrates me plus it allows for an ever changing and rotating palette. I have a few brugs too, still a learning curve there. My favorite plant combos right now are the chartruese and purple/red/black foliaged things and I love large leafed and varigated foliage things! I am trying to learn as I go (or is that grow) and love adding to my collection of various plants by growing seeds and aquiring cuttings. DG is a great outlet for learning and sharing!
Love photography too, especially close-ups of blooms, like dayliles. Love sharing and teaching about plants to my 2 grandkids.