Mrs Popple

Today's the day ........................ when the fuchsia was bright

These unmistakable flowers belong to the Fuchsia family and are a variety known as Mrs Popple.

She was discovered by Clarence Elliot a famous nurseryman who had the Six Hills Nursery  in Stevenage in the years leading up to the Second World War.   Clarence was socialising at a tennis party when he noticed a bank of very showy fuchsias in the garden next door belonging to a Mrs Popple. He asked her how she over wintered them and when he discovered that they always stayed outside, Clarence acquired some cuttings.

Fuchsia Mrs Popple became an immediate commercial success and by 1934 had received a string of awards. The fact that she is still going strong is testament to her vigour and strength as well as her hardiness.  She's one of the best - flowering early and staying late - and much loved by bees, as you can see above ................