New Early Bird Special Shopping, Talk Story with Plant Experts

KAILUA-KONA—Offering blooming plants, locally crafted treasures and more in time for gifting your favorite female, the Kona Orchid Society Spring Show & Sale is 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, May 11 inside and out at the Makaeo County Pavilion at the Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area. Admission is $2 cash and includes a host of educational offerings.

New to this yearʻs annual event is an Early Bird Special admitting up to 100 beat-the-crowd shoppers starting at 8 a.m. Admission is $20 and includes a cup of coffee. Tickets are sold online while they last at www.konaorchidsociety.org.

Fun includes a display of blooming orchids—bring your camera—by club members and a sale presenting a wide selection of healthy plants from orchid growers hailing across Hawai‘i Island. In addition to numerous orchid varieties from eight vendors, choose from cactus, succulents, air plants, anthuriums, heliconia, bonsai and protea.

Also for sale will be a wide variety of crafted merchandise: hanging planters, arts and crafts, black pearl and crystal jewelry, pottery, designer purses, aprons and kimonos, paintings, stained glass, plus high-fire functional stoneware. Find jams, jellies, pickled veggies and food booths offering sushi, ahi sandwiches, pastries and coffee. Free boxes will be available while supplies last to carry purchases.

Club members will offer a variety of educational opportunities from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.: repotting demonstrations, Q & A on plant pests and diseases and more—a chalkboard will detail times during the show. Attendees are invited to talk story with growers and on-site master gardeners for tried-and-true growing tips. Learn about invasive species with Plant Pono and how to deal with little fire ants. 

KONA ORCHID SOCIETY—A non-profit organization, the mission of the Kona Orchid Society is “educating our members and the public about the collection, culture and appreciation of orchids.” Since 1985, KOS has promoted fellowship among orchid enthusiasts. Members include individual hobbyists and commercial growers who usually meet 6 p.m. on the second Friday of the month at the Makua Lani Academy Bridge House. For info, visit www.konaorchidsociety.org.