Featuring Big Isle mom-and-pop nurseries, the Plant People Road Show will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Makaeo Pavilion at Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area. Admission is free.
“It’s where you can talk directly to members of our local nursery community,” said event organizer Bob Harris of OrchidPeople. “Ask us questions and get answers specific to your growing location from people who do the growing.”
In addition, attendees can visit informative displays presented by the Hawaii Ant Lab and the Big Island Invasive Species Committee.
October is “Stop the Ant Month” in Hawaii, and a multiagency effort is encouraging residents to collect and submit ants from their properties to help detect and control the spread of invasive little fire ants and other harmful pest ants that may be new to the state.
Kawehi Young of BIISC says the organization will provide updates about current invasive species affecting island gardens. It will also share info about the Plant Pono Program, which encourages the use of native and non-invasive plants in landscapes.
Participating growers from around the island include:
• Chitosi Tsumura of C&T Products in Keaau, who features many different varieties and colors of long-lasting anthuriums;
• Peter and Kay DeMello of DeMello Air Plants of Kona, who provide 50 varieties of easy-care air plants;
• Jennifer Snyder and Bob Harris of OrchidPeople in Waimea, who offer warm-tolerant varieties of cymbidium orchids that flower mauka to makai;
• Phoenicia and Bob Zeller of Pele’s Island Plants in Ocean View, who grow select and hard-to-find orchid varieties, assorted cactus and succulents;
• Kari Hagerman of Pomaika‘i Plant Company of Waimea, who is bringing bedding plants, lavender, hibiscus, brindabella roses and silver dollar eucalyptus;
• Sean Spellicy and Iris Viacrusis of Royal Palm Enterprises in Kurtistown, who sell palms, exotic fruit trees including ethnic favorites, blooming waterlilies, bamboo and heliconia.
The Plant People Road Show offers two sales annually, around Valentine’s Day and Halloween.
The direct, nursery-customer setting enables growers to meet the public and get feedback while providing expert growing guidance.
For more information, call (808) 987-3231, and follow Plant People Road Show on Facebook.
