Summer update
The summer’s gone well in the garden. Just a couple of bouts with those annoying heat waves for a couple of days each and the fuchsias have been putting on quite the display. Their performance was especially welcome for the open gardens and fuchsia viewings we hosted this year.
The first was the annual BBQ of the Oregon Fuchsia Society in June. The second was an open garden for members for the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon a couple of weeks ago. A fun time was had by all and the fuchsias certainly did their part.
Fuchsia time on stage continues with two more open gardens coming up later in August and early September. It’s certainly been a busy schedule!
The fuchsia species collection came out of the greenhouse in the middle of June to enjoy the summer luxuriating in the open air.
Despite shade cloth draped over the greenhouse earlier in May, and the fan to keep the warm air circulating, it can heat up pretty fast and pretty high in there. When the hot sun bears down in July and August, temperatures can climb to over 100 degrees or more,
Most species are native to cooler cloud forests and higher elevations throughout the Americas. They definitely do not appreciate this kind of heat so outside they came. The greenhouse will sit empty until cold weather threatens a return in the autumn and the species need to come inside for the winter,
Summer quarters for many of the potted fuchsias are now on new plant shelves along the north side of the house, just out of the reach of the direct sun. Called BenchMaster, they’re the kind of sturdy benches often seen at nurseries. Molded from recycled plastic resins, with open grid tops for drainage, they’re impervious to the weather. What I also like about this find is that their round legs are detachable. The benches can be easily take down for the winter if I want.
Fairly intense sun also reaches over the house and falls on the raised beds further out along that side of the house. It can be quite hot and dry as well. Some shade cloth gets strung overhead. I use 30% knitted which with is enough to take the harsh edge off and moderate the light an still keep it bright.
The patio at the east side of the house also gets a lot of intense sun falling on it for most the day. I’ve got a lengthy ledge along the wall at two sides that’s ideal for displaying potted. Some can take it, but the potted fuchsias I also like to display need a little protection when the temperatures start to climb.
It’s hard to string any shade cloth sails over the full width of the patio so I came up with a DIY solution I can call into action when the need arrises. I have a couple of patio umbrella armatures I rescued that support smaller lengths. They’re on wheeled bases that can be rolled into position and raised when needed.
Speaking of fuchsia species, I’m happy to report that the Fuchsia boliviana I planted out in the raised bed is actually flowering this year. Yes! I had thought it was an extra potted F. boliviana ‘Alba’ I set into the ground. At least that’s how it was labeled when I got it. Flowering showed that to be wrong.
To be honest I’d never expected it to flower. It’s buds normally don’t really develop until November and then Jack Frost hits. Bye bye. I’d mainly planted it out or cutting material if needed. Why waste space in the greenhouse if I can just propagate it later.
It’s come into glorious bloom with many more buds coming on at the ends of the branches. I’m pleased and excited.
