What are the best flowers to grow in the summer in northern California?

God, what won't grow in Northern Calif! I grew alot of nasturiums and in Livermore they were periennel (In southern France they are annual). I know this isn't a flower but there are lilac varieties that now grow in Calif. The other plants I grew abundantly were scented geraniums. Those plants are mainly leaves but each variety has small flowers and the leaves smell heavenly. They are periennels. Also scented climbing plants like jasmine grow easily in that area.  more