Someone was selling Hoyas
All photos by except the very last one are by Beloved. Your blogger was busy gawking.
Last Saturday, a social media-active member of my local garden club sent out an announcement for a plant swap and sale held by "OC Plant Share", a group that communicates via "social media". Not being on "social media" I would not have heard of it otherwise.
The event wasn't too long of a drive, so Beloved and I went and had a look.
Mostly all house plants. Almost, if not all, solo-operation young vendors. Good to see them trying their hand at a small business.A couple of potters selling their work:Surprisingly large crowd.Food trucks are standard at "pop up" events, yes? By house plants I mean tropicals usually grown in pots indoors. There were also succulent sellers. They are outdoor plants here but mostly indoor in other parts of the country, so they are somewhat house plants. Many tropicals can be grown outdoors here as well, of course.Apparently Plumerias are A Thing. I wondered if sellers go around neighborhoods offering to prune homeowner's Plumeria trees for free. Win-win?Several sellers of Plumeria (aka "Frangipani") cuttings, all doing very good business:
"Moss tubes". To grow small orchids, I think
Lotta people. Hard to focus. A seller of carnivorous plants. A seller of garden-oriented thrift store finds:"East Los Succulents", a somewhat awkward word play on East Los Angeles, however they had some well grown, healthy, less common plants:
More Plumerias:
Lot of people. Uncomfortable in crowds, plant shopping was not appealing--I would have looked harder for some plant-talk with a fellow enthusiast if there were less people. The "share" area was small but active, with people dropping off plants and people taking them. Unsure if there'd be a trade area or not, else I'd have brought some. Sorry, no plumerias:Overall, a very interesting event, though more in the sociological line than the horticultural. Nice to see all the young people with small businesses learning to grow and sell plants. This is how a local culture can grow gardeners.
I got a small handmade piece from a ceramicist. Something like early 20th century Arts & Crafts style.
Support craftspeople. "Social media" has its good points. The bad ones seem at times very bad.
The event was a LOT bigger than I expected based on your introduction regarding a "plant swap." I envisioned something akin to the plant trades Loree and friends in the PNW hold periodically. I think I'd have found it overwhelming too but the new pot is a great acquisition.
ReplyDeleteThe PNW plant trades sound like more fun. Perhaps the OC group started out that way? Everyone has their own idea of fun, though. At least it was plants, not...I dunno...assault rifles?
DeleteI’ve never seen anything like this. Lots of garden clubs here have sales with donated plants. Our Hardy Plant Society used to have an annual swap. But those have all mostly gone by the wayside as most of us have the dreaded jumping worms.
ReplyDeleteMe, neither. I was quite amazed.
DeleteYikes! I looked those up--what a terrible pest. Do you have moles in your region? They are good predators for worms--they are here, anyway.
This is a fun event, aside from your discomfort. I like the very sweet ceramic pot you went home with.
ReplyDeleteI'll wait patiently to see what gets the honor of living in it.
Chavli
People were peacefully having a good time. :)
DeleteNothing will go into the pot--it's a very indoor object and no plants indoors except for an amazingly happy Ficus lyrata starting to press against the ceiling--must trim it!
That is quite a turnout! I'm impressed, but like you wouldn't have stayed too long. Lovely little pot!
ReplyDeleteA demonstration of the popularity of house plants. It will be interesting to see if this carries over into interest with outdoor plants, too.
DeleteIt is easier to chat when the event is smaller. Otherwise there are too many distractions, with the inevitable pushy or oblivious shoppers. Nice score on the pot!
ReplyDeleteSmaller events more my style, that's for sure.
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