Fuchsia lovers show off their blooms

Tauranga Fuchsia Group president Pat Mitchell and club member Ivy Mercer are preparing for the 19th annual competition and show. Photo / John Borren

Tauranga Fuchsia Group president Pat Mitchell has been growing fuchsia blooms for 50 years and says they remind her of "dancing ballerinas".

The self confessed "gardening alcoholic" says "they are one of my most favourite flowers".

"After it's been raining they look like dancing ballerinas with their little raindrops on them. I also love the fuchsia colours, you can get orange and white and pink and red there is such a variety.

"They are not hard to grow. They need to be feed and protected from the nasty bugs and things like most plants and they are very easy to grow from cuttings."

Pat says she has about 20 pots in her courtyard and some hanging baskets.

Next Sunday the fuchsia group will hold its 19th annual competition and show which she encouraged members of the public to visit.

Tauranga Fuchsia Group member Ivy Mercer is busy weather watching in anticipation of the competition.

She has been growing fuchsias since 1985 following an accident in the garden.

"I dislocated my right elbow and I was out of action for four months. My husband decided that maybe I could do something in the greenhouse so I could use my fingers.

"I was in the United Kingdom at that time and I only ever did them for my own pleasure."

Once she shifted to Tauranga in 2010 she went to the fuchsia show and was hooked.

"I thought it was wonderful as I have always loved fuchsias and I didn't realise there were 2000 varieties but I do have 60 different ones.

"I joined the club the following year and I won best in show which I was absolutely gobsmacked with.

"I was so excited ... then the next year I won again."

However, due to three month holiday, Ivy failed to make it a hatrick but is looking forward to giving it another shot next month.

Fuchsias were addictive, she says.

"It's infectious a bit like some people get about using a computer, you get addicted.

"Everytime I go to the garden centre I think no, I am not going to buy anything but I come back with about six," she says."I go around them every morning ... it's a great pleasure."

Fuchsia Competition and Show:

* When: Sunday, December 4, 8.30am to 3.30pm
* Where: Legion of Frontiersmen Hall, Elizabeth St West, Tauranga
* Price: $3 admission, fuchsia sales table

Want to join the Tauranga group?

* Meets last Saturday of month, 1pm, at Tauranga Arts and Crafts Centre cnr Elizabeth St and Takitimu Drive. Contact Pat Mitchell for more info 07 5791655