BIAN hosting annual Horticultural Show and Plant Sale

The community is invited to join the Big Island Association of Nurserymen for its 36th annual Horticultural Show and Plant Sale from 5-9 p.m. April 15 and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. April 16 at the Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium.

The highlight of this year’s show will be presentations April 16 by grower members: Rachel Leyva will discuss daylilies, agapanthus and amaryllis at 11 a.m.; Sherla Bertelmann will talk about growing vireya at noon; and Jurahame Leyva will answer questions about growing orchids at 1 p.m.

Also new this year will be a raffle drawing every hour beginning at 6 p.m. April 15 and 10 a.m. April 16. Tickets will be available upon entry. You must be present to win.

For those with questions about bugs or plant diseases, expert advice will be available from knowledgeable folks at educational booths, including the University of Hawaii Cooperative Extension Service Plant Clinic, the Hawaii Ant Lab, Big Island Invasive Species Committee, Hawaii Department of Agriculture Plant Quarantine and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

For those interested in joining professional grower organizations, representatives from the Hawaii Export Nursery Association, Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association and Big Island Association of Nurserymen will be available with membership applications and answers to your questions.

Don’t forget about the plant sales. There will be 15 growers with a selection of agapanthus, anthuriums, bamboo, bedding plants, bonsai, daylilies, herbs, fruit trees, native plants, orchids, palms, succulents, vegetable starts, vireya, water garden plants and more. Growers will be on hand in their booths to answer growing and care questions. Look for them in the yellow shirts.

Entry to the show is free. Refreshments will be available at the concession and there will be boxes to carry new plants home.

For more information, call 966-7169.