Fuchias in the City
Joy Creek Nursery
Scapoose, Oregon
One of the joys of visiting Joy Creek is that they have scores more plants on site than they can fit into their catalog. Plants of all sorts. Not just fuchsias. That said, the fuchsia selection is pretty extensive, in the catalog as well as at the nursery, so I was hard pressed not to want to slip one of each into my carry-on luggage back to New York. Of course, that’s where mail order nurseries rule: You don’t have to show ANY restraint later. Ha ha. The weather was oddly hot and sunny on the late September day I finally managed to get here again. The view from the end of the fuchsia test beds was amazingly bright and clear and the sight of Mount St. Helens far across the Columbia River particularly beautiful. If you find yourself in the neighborhood of Portland, I highly suggest you make a personal visit to Joy Creek Nursery. For the plants, the display gardens or the view. It’s well worth it. ➤ Joy Creek Website.

(If you're looking for the full international list of sources and places ➤ Where to Buy Fuchsias.)
  • Turning off from Highway 30 to Joy Creek Nursery. They make it easy to find.
  • After a long, long drive up the hill on Watson Road, finally, the goal approaches.
  • OK. The drive wasn’t that long. I’m just impatient. Yes. They’re open! And daily, too.
  • The driveway leads through an attractive display garden to the parking lot and sales area.
  • The offices are in a cottage charmingly obscured by trees and other plants.
  • Miles of other plants, it seems.
  • With tables bursting full of fuchsias.
  • And then more tables bursting with even more fuchsias.
  • Who wouldn’t be happy here?
  • Even a ‘Cardinal.’
  • Yet more temptations. Darn, they’re good at this. Too. Good. To. Resist.
  • Lot’s of other plants, too. Help. I’m lost. Not that I’m looking for an exit, though.
  • A hardy Himalayan Fan Palm (Trachycarpus) is planted out.
    I’m envious. Mine is potted.
  • An oval lawn is hidden in the middle.
    Croquet anyone? Badminton? Crumpets & Tea?
  • Hardy fuchsias are planted throughout Joy Creek’s extensive display garden.
  • In fact, here’s ‘Display.’
  • Sorry. Couldn’t see a label and I’m not sure what it is.
  • ‘Peter Pan’
  • One of the many, many F. x magellanica hybrids out in the world.
    I won’t guess which one.
  • Many are the paths here. And such fine ones, too. Surprises around every bend.
  • ‘Hawkshead.’ It’s very hardy.
    Just planted one out last spring so I’ll see how it does for me.
  • Its white flowers light up the shade.
    No electricity required. White is the new green.
  • A cyclamen is in full bloom. This one has strikingly patterned leaves.
  • Saxifraga rubrifolia. Making a mental note to self: Self, BUY IT.
  • Oh, so many garden paths from which to choose. Let’s see... We’ll take them all.
  • ‘Bud Cole’
  • Off to the fuchsia & clematis test beds.
    Three paths & four rows of hardy fuchsias. Great.
  • What wonderful companions these two make.
  • ‘Lady Boothby.’ Wow. I wonder if I could get mine
    to look like this over the summer. Ha ha.
  • Its leaves remind me of one of the Brazilian Quelusias.
    I need to look up her parents.
  • A Fuchsia regia with a fine view to Mount St. Helens.
  • ‘Claire de Lune’
  • Oh. What was this one again? ‘Bud Cole?’
    I can’t read the picture & glasses won’t help.
  • F. x magellanica ‘Tricolor.’ It may be Scappoose,
    but it’s sited in the full heat of the sun.
  • I think I’ll try this one next summer instead of that heat-frazzled ‘Versicolor.’
  • The flowers glow even when the sunshine is filtered through the trees.
  • Looks like it might stand up better to the hot part of summers back in the City.
  • But eventually we do have to get a move on.
  • Oooh. Always time for one more beauty on the way out.