How time flies! Already we are well into a new growing season.
After the atrocious autumn and winter weather which saw large areas in our region flooded and our own gardens like sponges fully saturated we were hoping for better fare this spring. However, after every couple of days of good weather, dry and breezy, when our appetites were whetted to get out and get stuck into the garden we are thwarted over and over again as it has always been followed by yet more rain. Each deluge sees puddles appearing yet again! When will we be able to complete our winter digging, prune our hardies, sow our first crops??
Good job we have our beloved fuchsias in our cosy greenhouses to keep us occupied. After a sluggish start because of the dull weather we can now see fresh spring growth bursting out everywhere on our overwintered plants and young cuttings making good headway. Hopefully we also have managed to enthuse you all at our recent Fuchsia Workshop and A.G.M., two very enjoyable events, and you are making a good attempt at showing, to support our  Annual Show.
Todays magazine contains helpful hints and topical tips to help you along the way. The theme running through this edition is hanging baskets. It is such a splendid way of showing off fuchsias, to appreciate their true beauty at eye level. There is guidance on how to plant them up, how to care for them and suggestions on what our basket could contain as well as fuchsias naturally.
Whatever shape our magazine takes is also all up to yourselves, dear members. Any news and views you have can be shared with your fellow enthusiasts. Maybe you have been to a good show, or an interesting open garden - if so let us know so we can go too. Maybe your growing secrets could be revealed to benefit others or you have a gardening anecdote that could be shared. Any members  'in the news' locally - tip me off, so we can highlight it and let other members 'read all about it' too. The scope is endless. Contributions on any aspect of fuchsia growing (or indeed anything else remotely connected that takes your fancy) are most welcome at any time. Production of the magazine is an ongoing thing, as soon as one edition 'has rolled off the press' the 'gathering up' for the next one  starts again and help is most appreciated!  Be brave, have a go!!