Ants really live inside this plant, said Rebecca Indvik of her purchase Saturday at the National Tropical Botanical Gardens plant sale at the South Shore Visitor Center, where shoppers discovering their purchases waited to be checked out.
“This is really called the ‘ant plant,’” Rebecca said. “The ants not only live in the plant, it helps pollinate the plant. They said it does well in the bathroom where the ants won’t become invasive. Maybe I can leave it on the lanai.”
James Auwae was thrilled with his new sanseviera, or snake plant, or mother-in-law plant, wondering if the new variety that was devoid of the telltale snake markings giving it its name had the same propagation properties.
Those were just two of the steady stream of customers flowing through the entrance of the South Shore Visitor Center that has been reduced to just select days of opening due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s nice to see people again,” a greeter at the center said while busily checking out shoppers’ purchases. Currently, visitors need to call 742-2623 to see when the facility is open and tours are available. “It’s been a long time since the start of this pandemic.”
Plants available for purchase were from the NTBG McBryde Garden, and included a wide variety of palms, cycads, breadfruit, including ma‘afala breadfruit trees, a variety of native plants and assorted landscape plants.
“I got a mamaki plant,” said Kurt Indvik. “I’m planning on making tea.”
Janet Killermann was thrilled to find a sealing wax palm, or lipstick palm, because of its strong red coloration in the central midribs, and Mary Williamson smiled with her discovery. “It’s free,” she said, holding up a pot of Hawaiian sweet potato starter. “I can’t believe it. I’m putting this in the garden.”
Joining the activity outside the South Shore Visitor Center, NTBG also offered tours to both the Allerton and McBryde gardens. Shoppers spending a designated amount on plants earned a discount on the tour admission.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
