It might have been a bit too hot for them. You might could try again and try to give it more water or give it partial shade?

Do you have temperatures subzero in winter?

I would really love to be able to grow all the exotic plants in my garden not taking care about the winter.

That's what I was thinking actually, there's a few nice spots that get enough shade to keep them from frying but still get ample amounts of sunlight. =)
They were pretty for the short time I got to see them in bloom though.

Nope! Sometimes we barely even hit freezing more than once or twice a year.

No, but I'd like to grow my own herbs and fruit trees.

I envy you!

I could grow avocadoes and so many other tasty fruits...

It's quite nice staying warm. Though, it makes for a very, very hot summer with very little rain.

What all do you grow?

We love to cook and we love to include our own fresh veggies. I grow green beans, corn, squash and about every tomato you can name. I am a huge believer in starting out my plants (not seeds) small in a big mound of Miracle Grow soil. I then water with Miracle Grow at least once a week, and in doing that, I get huge plants with lots of fruit and veggies. I also have great flowers almost all year around. I love flowers in my home and in my yard.

The easiest thing to grow are Tomatoes, but the trick is to keep the plants from falling all over. You need to start with TALL stakes and just keep supporting every new growth of stem. That way your stems grow thick and your fruit grows big and are supported. When you plant your initial plants, make sure you bury at least 75% of the plant, no matter how big it is. No kidding. Leaves and all. That way the root system will be incredible.

Green beans are also a snap (ha, ha, pun). Just be sure to also keep the beans off the ground by using whatever stakes or cages you want.

All of them love Miracle Grow. (No, I don't work for the company..ha, ha).

Happy harvesting.

If you want to really overflow with good eats, start with a few bags of the Miracle Grow soil, right from the start. You don't want to rake it in or do anything other then make a mound on the garden with it. Over time it will leach into and become part of the garden soil, enriching it more every year. Since the plants are "near the top", having the soil there early helps the plants get a huge head start. We have several gardens and I once did one garden with that soil and one without. The difference was amazing.

Oh my, be careful. In some areas of the country (anywhere warm) mint will take over your garden, your lawn, your entire neighborhood. It grows like a wild weed. I love the stuff, but will never plant it in a garden again. I did it once, years ago, and it took three years and gallons of herbicide to get my yard back from the mint overgrowth.