Probably a Ceanothus sp. Common name Californian lilac. http://images.google.co.uk/images?q...GB&redir_esc=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceanothus
Grows quite well in the PNW also - tho it is not supposed to like it here. Our climates are similar, I've been told.....barb