Mike's Evolving Garden

No I've never thought of selling it, I wouldn't know how to go about that anyway.

I've got a few of those, I put them in my unheated greenhouse in the winter but this winter I think they would have survived outside.

 

My very nice neighbours, who unfortunately understand nothing about plants, have planted a copper beech tree next to the boundary fence, and it's getting rather big now.
Last year the man who planted it said he was going to get someone to chop it down, but he has now become quite disabled and can't leave the house.

Since I live on a hill and my garden is a bit lower down than next door, the tree seems tall and oppressive, and now it's full of leaves it casts a dark shade over my garden until late afternoon ... so I asked my neighbours if they would let me cut the branches off the tree, and they said they didn't mind (it saves them doing it anyway)

There's a man living up the little road that passes the back of my garden, and he does jobs in people's gardens and he said he'd cut the tree for me, and he was going to come today, but I have to go out so he'll come again soon.

 

The tree man came this morning and cut it down, and now I have light and air and the garden feels normal again.
When it starts to grow again I'll be able to trim it myself.

 

Looking back at your other pictures Michael, I can see how much more light you have in the garden now.

 

Last year one of my hardy Fuchsias got Fuchsia blight, I knew that's what it was from photos I saw on line. I didn't want to destroy the Fuchsia because it's one my late partner Beryl bought many years ago, and I wanted to keep it ...
so I bought a blow torch and Zapped it to death, I Zapped it until it was totally burnt and then disposed of the ashes.
Every time I saw the blight reappear I Zapped it again.

In the end the Fuchsia looked poorly and I didn't think it would recover,
but this year :-







It is so big I've had to put canes to hold the branches back !
It's called Blue Bush, and there's no sign of any more blight, and it hasn't spread to any of my other Fuchsias ... so I am happy

 

Have just spent a very enjoyable half hour looking at the early pages of this thread @Michael Hewett , you have done an incredible amount of work and it's all looking fab!

 

The fuchsia looks lovely Michael. Perhaps Beryl had a hand in its recovery, wanting it to stay with you.

I bought 'Blue Bush' earlier this year and the young plant that arrived was in a poor state. Having nurtured it indoors for a couple months it's looking happy now and is in the ground.

 

I think she did @Sheal, I can sort of hear her voice in my mind saying "How's my Fuchsia"

Good that your Blue Bush Fuchsia is fit to plant outside now, They are quite hardy and I hope it pulls through the winter for you.

Glad you enjoyed reading my thread @Bluejayway

 

I have found this thread really interesting. My mother had a fuchsia bush, just like yours, in her back garden and OH and I have been looking for a while now, for one for our garden. We never seem to get the “ right one”. Having seen yours @Michael Hewett , this is the one Mum had and next time we visit a GC will look out for the just the same. Failing that, I’ll have a look on line. You have helped me out a lot ( albeit inadvertently) with the ID for this plant so thank you very much!

Can I ask you if yours is planted in sun or shade please? Any Specific soil type? ( I would like to make a real effort with this plant)

 

Good morning @Songbird I'm pleased I was able to help you with naming the Fuchsia. It is planted in a shady spot that gets sun in late afternoon on a summer day. No sun reaches there in the other seasons.
I've got another one of the same variety in a sunnier place, and both spots are rather sheltered.

Good luck, I hope you find a nice plant. If you don't maybe I could send you a few cuttings taken from the one that didn't get blight. It's in a totally different place on the other side of the garage so is safe from that as are all my other Fuchsias.

 

I've not looked at your thread for a while @Michael Hewett - it's great to see how it's all working out. I agree about the raised cold frames too. Much easier on the back.
I always used to laugh at these makeover shows when they made raised beds for people. They were never high enough. The designers clearly never had back problems!
Good that you got that tree tidied up too. That'll help with the amount of light you get.

 

Thank you for the very kind offer @Michael Hewett . I’ll see how I get on first and any difficulties I will certainly get back to you. Many thanks.

 

@Songbird I bought my 'Blue Bush' online earlier in the year from Victoriana Nursery, the only place I could find that sold it. I wouldn't recommend them though. The Fuchsia was only supplied in a 9cm pot, barely more than a rooted cutting and not in a healthy state when it arrived. If you get stuck finding one I can take a few cuttings and root them, then send a couple to you to grow on.

Edit: Oops, I've just read that @Michael Hewett has made the same offer.

 

Thanks anyway @Sheal , very kind of you. I’m off to the garden centre soon so intend to keep my eyes well peeled

 

That's strange @Sheal, I've had very good Fuchsias from Victoria Nursery on several occasions, and when I had a query I found them most helpful.