Fuchsia Fantasy

Day 319: Until a few years ago, the only "hardy fuchsia" I had ever seen was a small-flowered, shrubby variety, fairly common in Pacific Northwest yards. In the interest of keeping my hummingbirds amused, I set about trying to find a commercial supplier and thus discovered that quite a few of the "hardies" bear flowers equal in size to those of the annuals seen in hanging baskets. Over time, I accumulated five varieties: (top to bottom, left to right) Army Nurse, Dollar Princess, Genii, Erecta and Riccartonii. My choices were governed by the degree of hardiness which varies by species; all of these can withstand winter temperatures of 0° or lower. Of the five, pink Erecta has proved to be the most susceptible to cold. It died back and did not sprout foliage on the old wood as the others did, but re-emerged rather late from the ground. This summer, I was surprised at seeing fuchsia berries on two plants. The fruits are reported to be edible but not particularly desirable unless you are growing one of the varieties specifically developed for taste. In that case it is said that they make a delicious jelly. Testing is in order, yes.

An Unexpected Turn

Day 240: New to my hummingbird garden this year is Hardy Fuchsia "Erecta," and already it has delivered a surprising turn-up...literally. I had thought the name referred to erect stems as opposed to trailing, but in fact it comes from the upright orientation of the blossoms! Every one sticks up like a candle ensconced in an ornate cup of petals, the stigma a flaming wick pointed at the sky. It is as if the plant is saying to the hummingbirds, "Come drink with me." Na zdorovie, my little Rufous friends. This bud's for you.

Hardy Fuchsia

Day 336: With an eye to attracting more hummingbirds and butterflies to my garden, I have a slip of hardy (perennial) fuchsia in a pot bedded to the rim in the garden. It was "pinched" from a friend's old, woody plant somewhat brutally and only had a few threads of root attached, but as she told me, "It's hard to kill." As I have done with other shrubs, I will keep it in the pot through the winter so that its root system can develop in confinement. Next spring, I'll plant it in a permanent location. A natural diet is best for hummers, and easier on the sugar budget, too!