Solent Fuchsia Club, News
Photos Of Fuchsias From Club’s Website Used For An American Calendar
Solent Fuchsia Club was privileged to have fourteen pictures from their website picture gallery published in a calendar for a marketing company in America. Co-incidentally, their trade name is FUCHSIA FOCUS.
Their President Traci Tucker contacted me in October 2009, commenting favourably of the quality of the photographs and asked for permission to use a few of them in a promotional calendar for 2010. This was eventually agreed to and after several emails corresponding with her, I received the finished product on the 18th December 2009.
I requested that the calendar included the Club’s website where these pictures and many other varieties of fuchsias can be seen, and this they agreed to.
I must add that I was most impressed with the superb quality of the 12” x 18” completed product.
Sid Ellis
Retirement Of Solent Fuchsia Club’s Show Secretary And Newsletter Editor, Sid Ellis
After considerable deliberation I have decided with reluctance and great sadness, to resign my positions as Show Secretary, Committee Member and ‘Newsletter’ editor.
I had the privilege to serve over 30 years as a Committee Member, Show Secretary for 30 Shows and Newsletter Editor
since the summer of 2004.
I have absolutely no resentment towards the Club or any of its members; it’s that having just reached a certain age,
I feel I am unable to carry out these duties efficiently.
I hope to remain as a member of Solent Fuchsia Club and keep the Club’s website operational with the fantastic assistance of
my son Steve as webmaster.
During the period I was Show Secretary, I had the opportunity to encounter some of the most knowledgeable and dedicated
fuchsia growers imaginable, and for this I am truly indebted.
I wish every success to whoever accepts the positions I have vacated and hope they will be lucky enough to gain the enjoyment and job satisfaction that I had the good fortune to experience.
I received a wonderful gift of a lead crystal bowl during the Club’s December monthly meeting. This was for services rendered as a committee member since February 1979 and volunteering to be Show Secretary for the past 30 Shows. It was presented by Bryan Stevens, also a loyal and long serving member of the Club.
The bowl was engraved with the following message:
Sid Ellis
In appreciation
of your
30 years with
Solent Fuchsia Club
2009
I would like to thank Solent Fuchsia Club for the wonderful gift and also convey my sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone for the magnificent support I received for the 30 years I was Show Secretary.
Sid Ellis
Club Secretary
We are indeed grateful to Maurice Baird who has graciously volunteered to become the Club’s Secretary after being nominated at the A.G.M. on November 4th 2008 – but it must be emphasised; this is only on a temporary basis until a replacement has been elected as a suitable candidate for this particular post.
This will be Maurice’s second stint as Secretary because he did it for no less than 21 years before our last Secretary, Sylvia, who took over the post in 2003.
Fuchsia Gall Mite
We sincerely hope the distressing news about the appearance of the dreaded Fuchsia Gall Mite (Aculops fuchsiae) in the U.K. will not result in the authorities cancelling any Fuchsia Shows that are being organised for this year. Fingers crossed that they won’t – but of course, only time will tell.
What are the possibilities of ridding ourselves of Fuchsia Gall Mite quickly?
Not very good, judging by the past experiences of certain countries already involved with the attack of this troublesome pest. For instance, certain districts in the U.S.A. have had fuchsia gall mite attacks for several years now.
An article in a bulletin on the A.F.S. website, that a possible contributory factor encouraging fuchsia gall mite to attack our favourite flower, was the speciality hybridizing of the massive American double varieties. These large doubles are apparently the least resistant to this particular pest. It was mentioned that ‘Santa Cruz’, a semi double, is the only one that comes anywhere near to a double having even a slight resistance to fuchsia gall mite.
The BBC have placed an article on their website dated 11th November 2007 about this disease. Further information can also be found on the RHS website.
Are you interested in growing fuchsias?
Need to know what that fuchsia is called?
Want to know how to over winter them?
Interested in talking to and meeting other fuchsia growers?
Fancy going on organized day trips?
Then come and join us!
We always welcome new members.