Species crosses show up in ‘Hier Ben Ik’, ‘Jimschu’, ‘La Berry Boïclenne’ and ‘John Wright’; the last being a mixture of six species! Austria’s "fuchsia lady", Elisabeth Schnedl, is honored with a fuchsia named for her. A Jules Verne fan named a fuchsia after a favorite author. Even the three muskateers get billing in this year’s new cultivars. Can you find it? It is not in English!

Most of the people who have fuchsias named for them are known only to a hybridizer’s family and friends. A couple fuchsia people we met three years ago jumped out at me, though. Arthur C. Boggis invited us to his beautiful garden when we were in London.. Katrien Michiels is the daughter of Marcel Michiels and a partner in his nursery business. She spent the day with us at the flower festival in Waanrode.

Some of the descriptions make my imagination soar. ‘Nuance’ is something new—an aubergine triphylla! ‘Like Magic’ has a wonderful color change, to fit its name. ‘Pouchie’ is distinguished by small flowers growing in doubles. Does that mean two flowers hang together off the same node or is it a small double blossom? For those who like orange fuchsias, there are some interesting choices. For me, I want ‘Orange Cascade’.

As you read the list, appreciate the hard work that has gone into it. The hybridizers have worked with these plants for the last three or four years, of course, and Registrar, Ed Salome and Assistant Registrar, Simonne Gijsels have assembled all the paperwork and produced the Directory.