Hey there! I’m actually planning on doing a garden this year too, so I’m always interested in hearing about other people’s experiences. It’s really interesting to hear about how the climate can vary so much even within relatively small geographic areas – I can definitely see how being on the northwest end of the Great Basin/Sierras/Southern Cascades would make for cooler temperatures.
By the way, have you checked out the gardening resources on https://www.gardenfurniture.co.uk? There are a ton of great articles and tips on everything from choosing the right plants to dealing with pests and diseases. I’ve found it really helpful in planning my own garden, and I think you might too.