KAPAA — Mother’s Day is Sunday?
Fely Sams of Orchid Alley did not realize that until Saturday when throngs of people flocked to the tiny orchid shop sandwiched between two buildings in downtown Kapaa.
“We’ve been busy putting up material about Mother’s Day,” Sams said. “But it never dawned on us that Mother’s Day is already here.”
Sams and Ann Reid were busy Monday juggling between packing blooming orchid specimens and phone calls requesting shipment to the mainland in time for Mother’s Day.
This is one of the two busiest shipping dates of the year for Orchid Alley, the other being Valentine’s Day.
“We’ve been pretty fortunate this year,” Sams said. “The weather has been very cooperative and we haven’t had any bad luck on any of the shipments to the mainland. We make our final mailings Wednesday to ensure delivery in time for Mother’s Day.”
Then, Sams said the crew shift gears to take care of the local deliveries.
“There is no time to rest,” Sams said.
Choices of blooming plants are plentiful.
“The phalaenopsis, or moth orchids, are in full bloom right now,” Sams said. “The miltonias, or pansy orchids, are really nice, this year, and there are new cultivars to even better selection.”
Another new hybrid containing part oncidium and part miltonia is also available in several styles.
Because of their genetic makeup, including oncidium, or popularly known as the popcorn orchid, these orchids are very grow-able in Hawaii’s clime, with the promise of future blooming.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
