Meet the growers at free Plant People Road Show on Saturday

Featuring Big Island mom-and-pop nurseries, the Plant People Road Show will run 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 10 at the Makaeo Pavilion at Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area.

Admission is free.

The bi-annual sale on Saturday offers attendees the chance to talk directly to members of the local nursery community.

“The beauty of this event is attendees can ask us questions and readily get answers specific to their growing location and elevation,” said Bob Harris of OrchidPeople. “Our growers will also be offering fresh cut orchid and anthurium stems for Valentine gift-giving.”

Participating growers hail from around the island:

• Chitosi Tsumura of C&T Products in Kea‘au features many different varieties and colors of long-lasting anthuriums.
• Peter and Kay DeMello of DeMello Air Plants of Kona provide 50 varieties of easy-care air plants.
• Jennifer Snyder and Bob Harris of OrchidPeople in Waimea offer warm-tolerant varieties of cymbidium orchids that flower mauka to makai. Cymbidiums are prized for their large, 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. Find choices for the collector and hobbyist.
• Kari Hagerman of Pomaika‘i Plant Company of Waimea is bringing bedding plants, lavender, hibiscus, Brindabella roses and Silver Dollar eucalyptus.
• Sean Spellicy and Iris Viacrusis of Royal Palm Enterprises in Kuristown sell palms, exotic fruit trees including ethnic favorites, blooming waterlilies, bamboo and heliconia.

In its 10th 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 info, phone 808-987-3231 and follow Plant People Road Show on Facebook.