Fall is in the air and itʻs time for planting and sprucing up your landscape! Get some great ideas from the islandʻs friendly mom and pop nursery folks and shop a large selection of tropical and temperate plants at the Plant People Road Show.
Time is 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 at the Makaeo Pavilion at Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area. Admission is free. Attendees are encourage to bring boxes to carry purchases.
“In addition to landscape and bedding plants, we will have multi-colored anthuriums and orchids suitable for the islandʻs varied climates,” says Peter DeMello, whose company offers exotic looking tillandsias, better know as air plants. These show-stoppers grow affixed to rocks and other plants and liven up any landscape. The spiky leaves of tillandsias are covered with specialized cells capable of rapidly absorbing moisture and nutrients.
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, heart-shaped 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 their largest selection ever of cool and warm-tolerant cymbidium orchids. Find exciting new varieties and colors in mini to standard size and get tips on growing orchids.
• 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 grafted fruit trees, herbs, veggies, bedding plants, lavender, hibiscus, Brindabella roses and Silver Dollar eucalyptus.

In its 11th year, the Plant People Road Show stages two sales annually, around Valentine’s Day and in the fall. 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.