Where is the chase louge for drinking morning coffee and watching the birds?

You didn't scan far enough into the entire set, I've included a photo of deck chairs tucked into the corner of this terrace. My clients are both pretty busy professionals, a UC professor/dept. head of geology and a surgeon for Kaiser Permanente with two young boys, so they really don't have much time to lounge around, even on the weekends...

Very unusual Bahia. Never seen a recurvata like that, the upright posture is great.

You've never seen this around in southern California? I kind of assumed it might by an old un-named Hummel hybrid or something. I must have gotten it from a fellow member at a SF Bromeliad Society plant raffle table some 20 years ago now. In any case, I use a lot of the various Aechmea ortgiesii tribe members in my landscape designs, because they are so prolific, dependable, and colorful; even if they are a bit mundane compared to what you can grow in southern California. I try to stay away from bromeliads that require special care or protection against rains and winter cold for clients' gardens; no time to go around to them all and move plants or cover them...

Also, the raccoons have never bothered an Aechmea recurvata type, but they can demolish Neoregelias, Vrieseas, and Billbergias.