Spring Clean for the May Queen -2026

 I always seem to seriously underestimate the amount of time it takes to clean up the patio and get it looking "summer ready".  We've had an incredibly early heatwave, making it feel like we skipped Spring altogether!  Maybe an odd combo, but potted Euphorbia cooperi and Sunburst Aeonium bring me joy. 

I really got to work out there, shop vacc-ing the patio crevices and planting this and that to get it off the dining table.  I did NOT take proper before pics.  So, I'll show the afters. Usually we had this couch placed behind the dining table (we bought it for a Rinella family reunion for extra seating for all those Italians Sicilians).  I didn't like it back there, no view and it's just dumb.  So I split the couch up, this spot has a view across the back garden and the pool. 

Backed up a little.

The sitting "view", and it's already getting messy haha.  Float chairs & hose out.  Oh well. Of course, I see now Dr. Feelgood is snoozing on the bed.  As we head into summer, with the sun high there is zero shade on the pool and only a little shade for the slope. 

And a third portion of the couch, over here outside the door from our family room to the back.  Great if you are conversing with someone floating around in the water.  And I removed a good amount of pots - it just looks cleaner. Of course, the pillow is upside down haha. 

Behind the dining table (the window is our garage) is now a small holding table for agaves.  

and back to the side, continuing up to the shade house. *Grouping pots took forever, I moved them multiple times.

The Clianthus puniceus Pink Flamingo behind a Queen Palm, went bonkers with blooms this year. 

I am so glad I butchered the Arbutus -Strawberry tree months ago.  The mess has really decreased.

Chair pads back in place.

I don't know the name, but this freckled bromeliad is my favorite.

Magnolia laevifolia 'Copperstop' is blooming.  Loree warned me when I planted this it would have a wonky growth pattern.  Of course, she was right.  

It's difficult to get to, of course I've over planted & potted.  The fragrance is stupendous, I could smell the blooms before I spotted they were opening.  I took this photo by holding the branch up, and hitting the photo button on my phone with my NOSE. Awkward, but the best I could do. 

This doesn't smell too shabby either.  Orchid unknown. 

Up to the top, the walls of the shade house are starting to fill in. 

Basically, I've covered 3 long afternoons of work in 1 minute.  As I was walking around this morning, I noticed the Beschorneria yuccoides looked a little different?  I purchased this plant from the old Annie's Annuals in a 4" pot maybe 4 years ago?  

Ah, the waiting has paid off.  Looks like we have a bloom spike! 

The Beschorneria septentrionalis bloom in the front is getting closer to full open. I need to photograph at a different time of day to capture how dark and lovely that stem is. 

The Isopogon formosus has gone from this

to this.  Both are cool.

Berzelia at maybe my favorite stage. 

Rebutia loving the early heat, showing off it's cheery yellow blooms.

Grevillea something ~ I gave it a sprinkle. 

A small Grevillea 'red hooks' with it's loopy blooms. 

Alyogyne 'Ruth Bancroft' didn't really stop blooming over the mild water, but they definitely are looking better now in March. 

I'll stop here, I'm heading into overkill.  

Our temps are adjusting closer to normal this weekend and beyond to stay in the 80's.  No rain in sight, and I hate to admit it but we could've used one good shower in March.  I did spend some time inside yesterday to make a raspberry dream pie.  Raspberry coulis base.

With a cream cheese/whipped cream topper.  *Will top with fresh raspberries.  

Here's to a good weekend to everyone!  I wish we were all BBQ'ing together 😀