Fuchsia 'Cornielle B'

The hot and windy weather has continued - as is to be expected in February in the Cape!

My young rooted cuttings (3 January) are taking strain and some have succumbed. A pity as I was hoping they would provide a couple of "Current Year" entries for the show. It's the chance you take with summer cuttings!!

The young Jhb plants are also not doing well. About 5 appear to be beyond help, and at least another five are taking strain, only a couple are looking good and strong. They have had a light Seagrow feed, so I'll just hang in there with them.

Not much to be done at present other than regular caterpillar patrols and careful watering - and a bit of hoping!!

Fuchsia of the Day

Cornielle B

She is a lovely full bloom that makes a beautiful basket. She does flower a little late, but her gorgeous pastel colours make her worth waiting for!

Fuchsia 'Cornielle B', originally uploaded by pennyeast.

Fuchsia 'Thais'

It has been VERY hot for a few days - around 36 C - and the plants are all looking a little tired. It is cooler today, but, of course, the wind is blowing strongly!! Will go out this morning and water everything well and give them a little Kelpac as a tonic and 'Pick-me-up".

I can't wait for the cooler weather!!!!

Fuchsia of the Day

Thais


Fuchsia 'Thais', originally uploaded by pennyeast.

We had our AGM this afternoon, followed by the prizegiving and a cocktail party. It all went well was fun. Although I didn't count heads, it seemed to be a fairly small turn out! - Usually the case with AGMs

Despite our worries beforehand, there was lots of food and it was all very nice - a good time was had by all.

The young JHB plants are not looking wonderful! Some look dead already, some have shed all their leaves, some are very limp, and a few look all right! I'm holding thumbs, but am not too hopeful!

Fuchsia of the day

Bella Rosella



This beautiful big blousy double is another of my favourites, she blooms quite heavily for her size and the blooms last well. She makes a stunning basket.

I am happy to say that I have eventually completed the summer tidy-up. All plants have been trimmed, topped up with compost and fed. The labels have been replaced as necessary, and my stock list is up to date!

The young plants from JHB are suffering in the intense heat of yesterday and today - three or four of them don't look as if they are going to survive. I'm doing what I can for them!

Fuchsia of the Day

Autumnale



This Fuchsia has been a challenge for me for a couple of years. It doesn't grow strongly, and is very awkward to train and shape, but the foliage is so beautiful that I am determined to get it right!! I'm going to try a "multi-planted" basket this year to see if that will help!!

The new little plants arrived today - 30 of them!! I was very impressed with the postal service - they left Johannesburg late yesterday morning and were here by 10 o'clock today!

They do look a little rumpled as they were packed pretty tightly to stop them moving around in transit. Most of them look strong and healthy after being potted up and watered and misted. 3 or 4 of them look pretty marginal - will just have to wait and see if they make it!

Fuchsia of the day


Aretha

Aretha is one of the "Diva" series of Fuchsias. She is quite a small plant, with small leaves and flowers. She is quite easy to train and flowers very heavily. Quite a happy co-operative plant!

Didn't do much in the shade house today - busy with other things!

Very excited to hear from Beth that she has some plants ready to mail to me! It has been so hot that she wouldn't disturb the young plants, but the heatwave has broken. can't wait to see what she sends and what condition they are in when they get here!! First time I've done this!

All my plants seem to be standing up to the heat very well, and there are lots of new shoots on the recently pruned branches - bodes well for cuttings later on.

Fuchsia of the Day

Annabelle Stubbs



This big, blousy beauty is one of my favourites! She does not flower heavily but when each bloom is so magnificent I can forgive her that!!

This poor little Blog was forgotten in the excitement of learning new things about photography, Flickr, Facebook, and many other new electronic delights!!

I'm going to try to pick it up again and run with it for at least a year!! I will be recording activities with my fuchsias, and in my garden in general.

The mature plants have all had their "summer pruning" last month, and the compost in the pots has been topped up, and a long lasting slow release 2:3:2 fertilizer added to the pots. I have bought in quite few new cultivars and intend to propagate lots of new plants when the weather cools down.

This weekend they were fed generously with Bounceback, and all the labels were renewed - best to do this while there are some flowers on the plantsand they are identifyable!! They all look the same after pruning!

Whitefly has been a major problem!! Thorough and regular spraying seems to have brought it under control now. Still battling with Hawkmoth caterpillars tho'.

This chap ( Hippotion celerio - Brown Vine Hawkmoth Caterpillar - Sphingidae) was huge and making a meal of a young plant. We have a few species ranging from dark brown/green to bright lime green. They all eat the same and end the same.





Fuchsia of the Day

Martin's Double Delicate






















This beauty is a new addition to my collection. I am delighted with it!! Lovely strong plant and beautiful blooms of good form and colour!