Hi Kathy,
The most common things to get it growing and flowering a bit earlier in the year, is good daylight and a bit of warmth, is it now flowering out doors? If so couldn't you keep it inside a bit longer before putting it outside, bearing in mind that you are in zone6.

Also in the Spring when it starts shooting leaves, feed a high nitrogen feed once a week, for a month, then change over to a balanced feed, something like NPK 20-20-20. and feed twice weekly at half strength -Kath:)

It is just beginning to bloom. am I expecting too much to expect flowers before now? Last spring when I bought it, it was in full bloom and by now I had cut it back and was getting a second crop.

It had probably been given warmer and lighter conditions during the winter months before you bought it Kathy. As Gartemeister Bonstedt is a triphylla type fuchsia, they usually take approximately 12-14 weeks to flower from the last time the growing tips were pinched out. Kath:)

Which tells me I should do my pinching in March or earlier and then beging using the high nitrogen fertilizer. Is this correct? I was amazed to find how easily they root in water. thanks for your help.

Even earlier if that's possible Kathy. This is where having a heated greenhouse has a big advantage, then in late Autumn/early winter before the frost arrives, fuchsias can be cut back and as soon as they start shooting again, pinching out the growing tips after two or three pairs of leaves have formed can be continued right through the winter days. This results in a bushy plant at the beginning of early summer and much earlier flowering - Kath:)