The Great Photo Archive Project – Zauschneria californica

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Zauschneria californica, another one of those names that needs a long run up.  Actually I wouldn’t recommend attempting it without the use of a safety harness.  Perhaps we will be safer using its common name and you can choose from either the California or the Hummingbird fuchsia.  To be honest this plant is not very popular with me, we have history.  When I saw this photo again I couldn’t for a moment put a name to this exotic bloom.  When I eventually remembered, it sent a shiver up my spine.  How could I forget the many unhappy hours I have spent digging this character out of borders and tearing it out of walls before it had the chance to flower?   The truth is that I was so intent on disliking it for its thuggish behaviour that didn’t see its beauty. Really, these lessons learnt in retrospect are very demeaning.