I'm sure you'll see a surge of growth from all that rain, Sandi. We've been dry for a couple of weeks now, and are hoping to catch the tail end of that weather front that's raining on you.
I just wanted to add about the Birds of Paradise in the first photo on the thread - they need to be crowded and root-bound to bloom! Big old clumps that are so thick and crowded you wouldn't think they could breathe are the ones that bloom the best.