A Blooming Good Time
The annual anthurium show and plant sale Friday and Saturday features scores of varieties of colorful anthuriums, as well as an exhibit of ti plants
By .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
E-mail this story | Print this page | Archive | RSS
|
Look out, lilies: Easter is just a hop away, and so is Hawaiian Anthurium Society’s annual show and sale.
Since Anthurium andreanum was introduced to the Hawaiian Islands in 1889 by Samuel Mills Damon (minister of finance for the Republic of Hawaii) - who, according to Marie Neal’s book, In Gardens of Hawaii (1948), had them imported from London for his estate - the heart-shaped tropical beauties have enjoyed huge popularity here.
Hawaii plant lovers have embraced the flower so fully that, though it’s not native to the Islands (it’s an herbaceous epiphyte native to South America), the anthurium is considered the Hawaiian flower, and many different varieties are used extensively in landscaping and floral arrangements as well as to promote Island products and tourism.
In fact, Haruyuki Kamemoto and his team at the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources was awarded a red ribbon in a Society of American Florists national competition last December for its “Mauna Loa,” adding one more to the UH research team’s collection of five ribbons won since 2004. The research program, established by Kamemoto in 1950, has released more than 40 new commercial varieties of anthuriums since 1963.
“We work closely with the University of Hawaii,” says Shirley Head, Hawaiian Anthurium Society president for the past 10 years and a member since its inception in 1975. “We’re very interested in anthuriums, and they’re very good to us.”
But, of course, most of Oahu’s anthurium enthusiasts don’t hang out in research labs.
“I have a big greenhouse,” says Head. “I’m not commercial, you know, it’s just a hobby. People in the neighborhood all laugh at me. I love plants.”
The society, which boasts approximately 120 members, presents its 29th annual Anthurium Plant Sale and Show at Ward Warehouse this Friday and Saturday - April 10 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and April 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - just in time for Easter. Here you can see and purchase (at bargain prices) prize-winning anthuriums, orchids, floral arrangements and other plants - and, even better, admission is free.
|
It’s not all about anthuriums, which means “tail flower” in Greek. This year the club also is highlighting ti plants, with prizes awarded for the most beautiful ti, and the public is invited to participate in the judging.
You’ll also find lots of lovely orchids and a colorful variety of other plants, flowers and arrangements on display and for sale (maybe even some lilies), as well as plenty of Easter fun and keiki activities sponsored by Ward Centers in conjunction with the show.
“We’re going to have a ti leaf display on one side of the stage area, and in front of the stage area will be anthuriums,” explains Head. “I do have some beautiful ti leaves right now, they’re spectacular.
“Richard Okubo, who is 91 years old, does anthurium horticulture workshops. If he can’t make it, I’ll take over.
“But I always make him do it,” she adds with a chuckle. Ah, the power of the presidency.
The workshops are scheduled at 10 a.m. each day to answer all your horticulture questions and concerns, as well as enlighten novices to hopefully drum up enthusiasm and lure some new members to the club.
And for that special someone (Mom, maybe? Hint, hint), freshly made corsages and haku lei will be available for sale - just perfect for Easter gift-giving.
And it’s fun to watch the aunties at work fashioning their colorful floral creations.
“Our members love to come out,” says Head, “and they spend the day there making corsages, and they make haku lei.”
Many members, including Head, belong to multiple clubs on the island, and participate in various annual orchid societies’ and other clubs’ shows.
“You know how plant lovers will join every club, right?” says Head. “We have another guy selling only succulents and cactus. And we have people who will sell multiple types of plants.”
Growers such as Alvin Tsuruda, club member and owner of Waihale Products in Waimanalo, will show and sell anthuriums from his greenhouse (where he grows 50-plus varieties of the popular tropical beauties), as will other grower/members, offering orchids, anthuriums and much more.
Page 1 of 2 pages for this story 1 2 >
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS
Most Recent Comment(s):
