Fuchsia

A few days ago I visited friends in Devonport.

In their fecund garden there is a fuchsia, chest

high at least, consequently the flowers are pendulous, hanging in a way that

enhances their sculptural nature.

This flower is a first generation descendent

of a specimen that flourished on Herald Island,

in the upper reaches of the Waitemata, under

the Harbour Bridge, bearing right towards

Whenuapai, Hobsonville, and Kumeu and below Greenhithe

near Paremoremo.

I lived there for several years

and this flower has come from there.

HMS Herald named it when they went on an exploratory cruise while having brought

the Treaty of Waitangi down to Auckland from the Bay of Islands for signing and had a few days to spare.

They were able to circumnavigate Herald Island then, now there is a causeway and heavy

silting although snapper still come up here to breed. The mangroves too

are flourishing and they support an abundance of life.