Local Growers Featured at Plant People Road Show, Feb. 9

Find out from Big Island growers what plant varieties thrive best in your location at the sixth annual Plant People Road Show 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, at the Makaeo Pavilion at Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area.

The Plant People Road Show is on Feb. 9, 2019. Courtesy photo.

Talk story with 12 growers from the island’s different regions during the sale. In addition, growers will offer cut blooming flower stems and plant selections geared for Valentine gift-giving. Admission is free.

The growers that will be on hand:

• Chitose and Tsuyoshi Tsumura of C & T Products in Kea‘au, who offer many different varieties and colors of anthuriums—the heart-shaped blooms come in a variety of hues.
• Peter and Kay DeMello of DeMello Air Plants in Kona sell over 50 varieties of easy-care air plants.
• Jennifer Snyder and Bob Harris of OrchidPeople in Waimea have created warm-tolerant varieties of Cymbidium orchids that flower mauka to makai. Cymbidiums are prized for their multiple flowers on tall spikes.
• Phoenicia and Bob Zeller of Pele’s Island Plants in Oceanview grow select and hard-to-find orchid varieties, assorted cactus and succulents—including all sizes of agaves and aloes. Find choices for the collector and hobbyist.
• Susan Ruskin and Peter Berg of Quindembo Bamboo in Kapa‘au market 25 species of fast-growing, non-invasive, clumping varieties of bamboo. Create a fast privacy hedge in your choice of standout black, blue and red varieties.
• Sean Spellicy and Iris Viacrusis of Royal Palm Enterprises in Kuristown sell fruit trees, ornamentals and water garden plants.

In its seventh year, 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, phone (808) 987-3231.