Remembering Annabelle
by
Chuck & Mary Hassett
American Fuchsia Society Bulletin May/June 2003
Annabelle Stubbs, a very dear friend to us and to many other fuchsia fanciers, passed away in Vista, San Diego County, California on March 26, 2003. She had passed her 90th birthday on February 10th without a celebration, no longer able to recognize or communicate with even her closest friends.
We remember Annabelle as a selfless, charming and gracious lady with a touch of class, wholly dedicated to creating beautiful new fuchsias and to quietly spreading her enthusiasm to others. She and her husband Louis, affectionately known as Bud, lived and worked together harmoniously during their years together. Both were strongly supportive of local and national fuchsia organizations.
Annabelle and Bud met as coworkers at an automobile dealership in Southern California. At some point they married and decided to open Stubbs Fuchsia Nursery in the coastal town of Leucadia. Inspired and encouraged by the successful fuchsia hybridizer Roy Walker, Annabelle began a breeding program that resulted in the introduction of 73 new fuchsia cultivars between 1970 and 1997. Her ‘Pink Marshmallow’, which she registered early in her career in 1971, has won popularity contests throughout the fuchsia world. Annabelle engaged in fuchsia breeding as more of an artist than a scientist. She had a great talent for choosing parents that produced her desired results, placing a high priority on fuchsias with large well-formed flowers with pleasing pastel colors.
We first met Annabelle and Bud after they moved to Fort Bragg on the northern California coast in the early 1970s where they established Annabelle’s Fuchsia Gardens. They, along with Bill Barnes, Cliff Ebeling and Barbara Snyder, were founding members of the Mendocino Coast Branch of the American Fuchsia Society. Under their leadership the new branch quickly grew to 80 members and Fort Bragg became an extremely popular destination for touring fuchsia fans. Annabelle had helped the local branch gain a reputation for excellent judged shows and eventually the first AFS-sponsored fuchsia convention was held in Fort Bragg in 1985.
Meanwhile, Annabelle had been drawn back to Southern California by the poor health of her sister Ernestine, for whom she named a fuchsia. She established a home nursery in Oceanside called Fire Mountain Fuchsias and more fuchsias were born, including the cultivar ‘Fire Mountain’ in 1980. Annabelle had previously honored another sister, Nancy Lou, with a beautiful pink and white upright fuchsia. Her third sister Eusebia was also honored, as were her three granddaughters. We had the pleasure of meeting two of the lovely girls, Kathy and Cyndy, for whom ‘Kathy’s Sparkler’ and ‘Cyndy Robyn’ were named.
While in Oceanside Annabelle was the driving force for the creation of a beautiful fuchsia garden at the San Diego Wild Animal Park near Escondido. Shade cloth covers the entire garden and a stream with a waterfall runs through it, creating a thoroughly fascinating oasis in an otherwise inhospitable environment.
After her sister’s death, the Stubbs moved north again, this time to Eureka, where they built a substantial greenhouse at their residence on Humboldt Hill. Here the fuchsia ‘Eureka Red’ was created and introduced in 1991. Needless to say we were overjoyed to have Annabelle and Bud in our community and to be active members of Eureka Branch. Annabelle did not drive and Bud was more than happy to leave the driving to us on our several trips together, attending conventions, annual meetings and fuchsia shows. They were wonderful traveling companions. Annabelle loved Mexican food and we went often to Luzmilla’s Restaurant in Arcata where they serve the most delicious Chile Relleno with Rice and Beans.
Before many more years had passed, Annabelle and Bud moved back to Southern California for health reasons. Arthritis for her and emphysema for him began to seriously limit their activities, and medical insurance was less expensive on the South Coast. They settled in Vista, not far from their good friends Mike and Kay Riley who were immensely helpful in times of need. After Bud passed away Annabelle spent even more time reading. When her eyesight began to fail she expressed a desire for a large-print Bible, which we gladly provided.
Annabelle Stubbs was one of the fuchsia world’s treasures and we treasure our memories of
