BY DIANA DUFF | SPECIAL TO WEST HAWAII TODAY
Kona Outdoor Circle’s annual plant sale and fundraiser, Pua Plantasia, is scheduled for Saturday at the Old Kona Airport Park Makaeo Pavilion. The organization’s volunteers plan to transform the space into a plant extravaganza, a visual feast for plant lovers and a shopping delight for gardeners. The opening bell will sound at 8 a.m. and sales continue until 2 p.m. Admission to the sale is free.
Pua Plantasia was named early in the event’s 34-year history. Members decided to combine “pua,” the Hawaiian word for flower, with the concocted word “plantasia” embellishing on the idea of a plant lover’s dream using the Disney word for a fantasy notion. The Saturday plant sale is definitely all that and more.
Vendor chairman Bill Richardson has invited 20 of the area’s best plant and garden sellers to offer their wares. You’ll find landscape plants, including flowering day lilies as well as fragrant ornamentals and edibles such as fruit, vegetable and herb varieties. More than a huge sale, the event is also a plant show and educational opportunity. Hundreds of plant varieties will be on display and free information about growing them will be available.
Many of the participating nurseries have a history at Pua. Aikane Nursery offers a variety of native plants from its Hawi location. Pele’s Plants owners Bob and Phoenicia Zeller will again bring orchids and succulents, as well as expert growing advice. Ed May from Kona Ti will have a variety of rare and unusual ti plants and Kari Hagerman from Pomaikai Plant Co. in Waimea will be selling herb varieties. Shoppers with a long list will be helped with carts provided by Kmart and a will-call desk to hold purchases.
Once the frenzy of early plant sales quiets, a series of free educational sessions will begin, to enhance the gardening experience. Worms-Hawaii will lead off at 8:30 a.m. with a worm composting class. Scott Seymour, a lifetime KOC member, known for his skill in designing gardens and flowers, will offer a demonstration in flower arranging at 10 a.m. Backyard composting, taught by Melissa Chievers, will be featured at 11:30 a.m. Chievers will have 10 compost bins to give away to lucky students.
This year’s event celebrates 100 years since KOC’s parent organization, the Outdoor Circle, was founded. The statewide organization was founded on Oahu in 1912 to prevent billboards from marring the beauty of Hawaii. The group has succeeded in keeping our landscape and air space free of advertising over the years while expanding its mission through 10 active branches all dedicated to keeping Hawaii “clean, green and beautiful.” You can help keep your local Outdoor Circle branch alive and growing by becoming a member.
Kona Outdoor Circle was founded in 1948, and, along with several other branches on the Big Island, continues to sponsor projects and events focused on greening. Its Green Lei for Kealakehe beautification project continues, as well as its support for school gardens and beautification on two historical byways, one on Mamalahoa Highway and the other on Alii Drive. KOC is also promoting zero waste through public events and working with Habitat for Humanity on landscaping homes in Laiopua.
To continue support for these programs, Pua chairman Dick Towle aims to make Pua 2012 a memorable event. In addition to plant vendors, a collectibles booth will feature rare and unusual objects d’art donated by members and friends. Jellies and jams created by members will include historical favorites, as well as some new taste treats. Cathee Malapit, from Cafe Fit, will be on-site offering breakfast and lunch specials, including Kona coffee, smoothies, egg wraps, turkey chili, oriental chicken and hot dogs.
The KOC donated plant booth will again offer bargain-hunters an opportunity to purchase recycled plants at very reasonable prices. The booth gives local gardeners a chance to share their overflow, and nets a 100 percent profit for the organization. Donated plants are still being accepted and help with pricing, displaying and selling them is welcome. The event promises clean plants for the community and requires plant donors and nurseries to only offer plants free of insects and diseases. Call the KOC office at 331-2426 to donate plants or collectibles or to help out with the sale in other ways.
Tropical
gardening helpline
Lynette asks: Can I prune the tree roots growing into my pathways without harming the trees?
Answer: Moderate root pruning will not harm most trees. It’s best not to attempt it without a good reason, as it can be somewhat stressful and compromise the tree’s stability, especially older trees. Younger trees that are still growing vigorously can sometimes be encouraged to flower and fruit by the reduction in their root mass. Older trees with established root systems may require smaller prunings several months apart to avoid plant stress and allow stabilizing roots to develop between prunings.
Keeping the one-third pruning rule in mind and cutting judiciously can help trees tolerate root pruning. In addition to limiting removal to less than one-third of the root system, you will also want to consider the location of your cuts. Most of the feeder roots of a tree are concentrated inside the drip line. The roots in this area are shaded by the tree and are close to the surface. Under the tree’s canopy, these roots benefit from the mulch created by leaves falling from the tree and rainwater that drips onto the ground from the leaves. Damaging roots in this area is not recommended and may cause problems and even death of the tree. If you must cut roots that grow inside the tree’s drip line, you may want to accompany the root pruning with a similar reduction in the canopy.
Be cautious about removing roots that are stabilizing large trees since they may cause a top-heavy tree to fall. If the tree is young and will likely continue to produce roots in your pathways, you may want to consider moving it.
To avoid having to do root pruning in the future, be sure to select the right plant for the right place. In a small area, choose plants that do not have large aggressive or invasive root systems.
Email plant questions to konamg@ctahr.hawaii.edu for answers by certified master gardeners. Some questions will be chosen for inclusion in this column.
Diana Duff is a plant adviser, educator and consultant with an organic farm in Captain Cook.