Adventures from the Fuchsietum, a small private garden in Portland OR with fuchsias & friends. (BSKY @fuchsiarius.bsky.social; IG @Fuchsiarius; FB Fuchsietum)
Portland, Oregon
Joined September 2009
- Tweets56.8K
- Following171
- Followers4.8K
- Likes7.5K
With the approach of chillier weather, the compact lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta var. latifolia 'Chief Joseph', is starting to take on its brilliant gold winter color. Yes, it gets even brighter than this. It truly shines through the drab, wet winter season here.
What’s flowering at the Fuchsietum? Fuchsia ‘DebRon’s Royal Tea’, a 2021 cross introduced in 2024. DebRon’s Fuchsias are all tested for three years before being released. In this case, a grueling three years in the ground in Eastern Oregon USDA Zone 7 (0-10F / -18 to -12C) with no winter protection and under a hot summer sun.
Last night was the Hunter’s Moon. Which is very appropriate because fuchsias are always on the hunt for new gardens to fill.
The Fuchsietum | R. Theo Margelony retweeted
was a pleasure to find and write this story for @SmithsonianMag.
One year after the species was reclassified from “endangered” to “least concern,” green turtles in the western Indian Ocean exemplify that return—and the subtleties a global designation can miss. bit.ly/4zPRvfq
What’s flowering at the Fuchsietum? Fuchsia ‘Alice Hoffman’. It has a very upright habit and leaves that are beautifully flushed early with yellow green and red .The origins of the cultivar are a bit obscure so far. It’s said to be from Germany with a number of dates in the first decade of the 1900s. The originator is variously given as Klese, Kliese or Kleise. TBD.
What’s flowering at The Fuchsietum? Fuchsia ‘Delta’s Groom’. There were about 36 different ‘Delta’s’ introduced by breeders Vreeke & van´t Westeinde in the Netherlands in the 90s. Not all are easily found but some like this attractive cultivar have become stalwarts of the fuchsia garden.
What’s flowering at the Fuchsietum? Fuchsia ‘DebRon’s Premier Nouveau’ from Oregon’s own hybridizer, Ron Monnier of DebRon’s Fuchsias. Fuchsias don’t climb, unlike claims for lanky cultivars like ‘Lady Boothby’. Many, such as F. regia, can and do send out long, liana-like branches that scramble through nearby bushes and tree branches. That’s exactly what this hybrid beauty with that species is doing into the Azara.
What’s flowering at the Fuchsietum? Fuchsia magellanica ‘Natales Rose’. The cultivar was being sold as a generic ‘Alba’ but it has an actual provenance and collection near Puerto Natales, Chile by Randall Hitchin in 2005 (RCH-402,). Hence the appropriate new name.
What’s flowering at the Fuchsietum? Rhododendron stenopetalum 'Linearifolium'. This intriguing Japanese cv. always seems to open odd flowers throughout the season for me. Now it’s gone full-on fall flowering. It’s supposed to be doing its show late spring. Either it’s confused or I am.
The Fuchsietum | R. Theo Margelony retweeted
The good tortoise Jonathan on St. Helena is in the news a lot right now. Several stories, like this one from @smithsonian, include my photos from 2022.
smithsonianmag.com/smart-new…
The Fuchsietum | R. Theo Margelony retweeted
Hot off the press! My story about the green threat to Galápagos tortoise migration is live. Thanks to @hakaimagazine.
hakaimagazine.com/features/t…
A growing mystery in the garden.
Recently came across these incredible Bee Pontoons. They float to help drinking bees not drown in my birdbaths. Far better than the rocks I’d been using.
Oddly, I keep finding them on the ground. At first, I thought I’d just forgotten to put them back after cleaning the saucers. Early this morning all THREE were knocked out!
Possibly the Eastern grey squirrels. The over-population of these invasive introduced pests is a real nuisance this year.
Other candidates may be crows. They haven’t been coming around leaving soggy bread since I downsized the saucers, though.
Or remotely a raccoon or possum. The local coyotes tend to keep those last two in check so I’ve only ever seen one in the last five years.
I think I need a Fuchsiacam.
What’s flowering at The Fuchsietum? Fuchsia ’Cardinal’ has large scarlet blossoms elegantly held on long, upward arching branches. It can get 5-6 ft tall (150-180 cm) in a season so give it some shoulder room. From the celebrated Evans & Reeves Nursery of Santa Monica, Calif. in 1938.
What’s flowering at the Fuchsietum? Daphne x transatlantica ‘Eternal Fragrance’. Supposedly flowering fragrantly spring to fall, this compact tyke has been doing exactly that since planted in April. Sometimes these claims really are true.
What’s flowering at the Fuchsietum? Rosa, ‘Florentina’ with Fuchsia regia ssp. serrae on the Moongate Arbor. I have little patience for most roses. They’re a mess of issues and I don’t like unnatural interventions. I’ve tossed more than I can count. This climber stays exceptionally clean and flowers well. It can stay.
PS Looking through my old friends, there are now a lot of empty rooms hung with cobwebs in what was once a vibrant community. If I accidentally unfollow, please don’t leave the Fuchsietum. Despite having been here since the golden olden days, I’m basically starting over. I’ll probably be back at some point after opening the curtains and dusting the furniture.
