mac ports php rsync version not default

You have a mac, and you’ve discovered that you want to install later versions of software that aren’t default on the Mac.
 
Say, python 3.x, a newer version of PHP, curl, rsync… etc.
you’ve installed them, and they reside nicely in /opt/local/bin
but whenever you’re in the shell, they aren’t being used… what gives?
run the following command:

$> hash -r

 
it’ll clear your executable cache.
prior to running hash -r,

$> php --version

shows up 5.4.9

$> hash -r

$> php --version

shows up php 5.5.11