Hello farmhouse. The first thing I thought of was the Wave Petunia. I'm not sure about what light they need, but I've seen them in full sun before at a friends garden center and they were very hardy looking. Down right beautiful.
How are the fires out there? I've forgot to ask our daughter the last couple days if they are out yet. She lives in Sacramento too.

Sacramento? hmm - Ice Plant comes immediately to mind because it's so abundant as a landscaping plant out there, and it does cascade if you let it.

Wave petunias might work, but I wonder if one of the dark purple sweet potato vines might not be a more reliable bang for your buck - maybe with some of the drought-hardy african daisys (not the gerbers, there are sturdy ones, go... or gl...? with mum- like foliage, the ones I 'm thinking about have white and lavander faces with purple accents that would go well with the SPV.