Flexi Hose 50 ft. Expandable Garden Hose with 8 Function Nozzle Review

Purchased (Affiliate Links)

One of my very favorite things to do in the summer is work in, and enjoy my garden. I like to eat meals outside, watch the wildlife and tend to my plants. I had a hose on my backyard patio that became a nuisance because it tangled constantly, was too heavy and it constantly smashed into plants when I was watering all of the potted plants and the planting beds near the house. I moved it to the back of the yard– where it works perfectly– but I needed to replace the patio hose with something that would neither tangle nor press its considerable weight against the plants as I moved while watering. I knew that I wanted some sort of expandable hose that had a small footprint for storage and was made of a flexible softer material. After doing some research, I decided upon the Flexi Hose 50 ft. Expandable Garden Hose with 8 Function Nozzle, and it turned out to be a perfect choice for my patio.

This hose, at 50 ft., expands 3x when filled with water, and while it comes in 25ft, 50ft, 75ft.,100ft. and 150ft. lengths, I knew that I only needed the size that I purchased. It is long enough for me to water all of my pots, planters and beds, and the hose is soft and doesn't disrupt plants as it brushes against them.

It is very important to empty the hose of water after you turn off the spigot to release the pressure from the hose, and so that it can return to its smaller size for storage. I simply turn off the spigot and water the plants near the spigot until there is no water left in the hose.

According to Flexi Hose,

The Flexi Hose expandable garden hose automatically expands to the stated product length - roughly 3 times extension - with standard pressure when water is turned on and shortens to compact length when the water is turned off. Storing the Flexi Hose is a breeze!

Strong fittings for reliability! Solid 3/4 inch brass connectors ensure the expanding garden water pipe fits the typical outdoor garden taps in the US.

Expandable, lightweight construction without sacrificing quality! The 3750D elastic outer fabric with 4 layers of latex protects the inner tube effectively from thorns, punctures, and sharp corners.

Lightweight, yet durable for heavy duty use! Every Flexi Hose is endurance-tested to 2000 uses and can withstand water pressures up to 12 bar and temperatures between 41 and 113 degrees fahrenheit.

The included 8-pattern rotating hose spray nozzle is constructed out of durable ABS plastic and features an ergonomic, slip-resistant rubberized handle for comfort.

The picture above is the empty hose before I turn on the spigot. 

The picture above is the size of the hose after I turned on the spigot and the hose expanded.

Overall Assessment: This hose is the perfect solution for my patio watering needs!

Regularly $49.99 from Amazon (Affiliate Links). Purchased. All views expressed are categorically my own. Copyright © 2026 www.lolassecretbeautyblog.com All Rights Reserved.

Gorgeous Potted Lavender at Trader Joe's

Purchased (Unaffiliated Links)

The other day, when I was grocery shopping at Trader Joe's, I was struck by the beauty of the potted lavender plants that they had for sale. They only had two left that day, and at $7.99 each for healthy plants, I grabbed them both immediately. I have a lot of lavender in my yard– both in pots and in the ground– but I lacked this particular variety. I planted one in the ground and the other in a pot, and they are both happy, thriving and beautifully fragrant. If you shop at Trader Joe's, and are looking for some potted plants to enhance your home and garden, I highly recommend taking a look at their offerings. I also noticed some healthy rosemary and basil that I will likely get on my next trip to the store.

The Visiting Cooper's Hawk

Among the wild birds that visit my yard are several Cooper's Hawks, and a few weeks ago a staggering three of them appeared at the same time. Here is one of them drinking from the fountain on the patio. What a sight to see.

Wishing You a Beautiful Summer Sunday

 

The Amazing Upside Down Eating Fox Squirrel

I take tremendous pleasure watching the comings and goings of the birds and squirrels in my backyard, and watching the inventive ways in which the squirrels access the bird feeders can be truly laugh out loud hilarious. My Gold Medallion Tree is a favorite for the squirrels because not only does it house a bird feeder, but it also has lots of seed-filled pods that they happily devour. This particular squirrel has devised a clever method of collecting and eating birdseed: he hangs upside down and swings from the branch to the feeder, and then eats upside down. Many of the other squirrels sit upright and eat their birdseed, but this little guy is something of an efficiency expert since skipping the sitting upright step means that he is able to eat more food in a shorter amount of time. It is so entertaining to witness, and it always puts smiles on our faces!

The Spontaneous Growth of Passiflora Vines in My Yard

This beautiful Passiflora Vine, more commonly known as Passionflower, spontaneously appeared in my yard this season.

I am a bit concerned that the Passiflora decided to climb right over my trellised climbing Jasmine, but these gorgeous flowers are such a visual treat.

You can see the Jasmine below the Passiflora, and as long as they can coexist, things should be okay. I may need to trellis the Passiflora and route it away from the Jasmine.

What a sight to behold!

A Garden Bursting with Blooms

I thought that you would be interested in seeing the burst of blooms in my backyard. The drought really stifled my garden because of the severe drought restrictions in Southern California, but an unusually wet winter has created an abundance of blooms. Enjoy!

Sunflowers and Corn in Lola's Secret Garden

One might reasonably assume that I planted sunflowers and corn in my backyard, but I did not. These beautiful and flourishing plants have been planted by a messy team of bird and squirrel gardeners who tirelessly work in the garden.

I have numerous bird feeders in my garden, and because the birds and squirrels flick the seeds to the ground, a whole host of seedlings have germinated.

This is the first time, in all of the years that I have feed them, that I have sunflowers and corn growing, and I am utterly delighted.

 

Staying Grounded in Precarious Times

The other day I was feeling pretty stressed out between work and the Covid-19 spikes that are currently wreaking havoc worldwide. I do what I can to stay grounded, but a few days ago the most simple act delivered extraordinary results. I was sitting outside enjoying the lovely weather, and I decided to lie down under a huge Jacaranda tree and watch the birds and squirrels. This simple act put me in a meditative state and radically reduced my stress, and gave me an overall sense of wellbeing. Sometimes a very small act delivers such tangible results, and it can really put things into perspective. What do you do to stay grounded these days?

A Garden Paradise for Wildlife

I love coexisting with the wildlife in my area, and I have made a concerted effort to include lots of bee, butterfly, hummingbird, bird and squirrel-friendly trees, bushes and plants to help them thrive. I also have numerous birdseed feeders and hummingbird feeders that provide them with a bounty of food, and fresh water. There is a clean fountain where they bathe and drink, and our backyard has developed its own unique ecosystem. Our yard offers a wonderful sanctuary to so many creatures, and it is a visual delight to behold. Above you will note the large Band-tailed Pigeon sitting on the fountain where it had a sip of water.

Doves flock to my yard in droves, and since they are too big for the hanging bird feeders, I strategically placed larger flat feeders upon which they stand while eating. They also forage on the ground since so much birdseed falls from the hanging feeders.

My flowering plum tree failed to thrive, and then when it died I decided to fashion it into a bird feeder.

I discovered that the doves loved to drink from the water bowls for our dogs, when they play outside, and therefore adding extra bowls of water, and keeping the water fresh became essential.

I have loved squirrels my entire life, and they spend a tremendous amount of time gathering in the yard. They eat, drink and nap regularly, and they are such incredible characters. They also know us, and they actually have developed a particular way of communicating with us directly. For instance, they have a shrill squawk that can be heard far and wide, and it only means one thing: the feeders are empty, please refill them now!

Both the dove in the feeder (below) and the squirrel near the feeder in the tree (above) are taking a break, and are just resting.

While the Gold Medallion Tree (Cassia leptophylla) has its own hanging bird feeder, it also generates hanging pods that are filled with seeds, and the squirrels love to eat them.

I often see the squirrels eating the pods, and then napping on high branches in the dense foliage.

This particular branch has the perfect slope for the squirrels who love to stretch and lounge while letting their food digest.

If you perceive that this squirrel is looking at me looking at him (yes, it has been confirmed that he is, indeed, male), then you are quite right.

Stretching with closed eyes, does it get any better than this?!

The grey blur above the squirrel is a dove in flight who is en route to the feeder below (where another dove rests between feedings).

This hilarious upside-down hanging squirrel is actually eating in this position! Obscured behind the foliage is the bird feeder, and his position means that with his hind feet firmly planted in the branch that he can swirl over to the feeder and grab some food and then pivot back to his hanging position to eat. It is a delight to watch his nimble, ingenious and pragmatic method of procuring and eating his meal.

Trees in Bloom

I marvel at the magnificence of blooming trees, and the visual tapestry that they create with their varied colors and textures. The juxtaposition of the bright yellow blooms of the Gold Medallion Tree (Cassia leptophylla) and the fuchsia Crepe Myrtle (Lagerstroemia) are a sight to behold.