Pop-up market for rare house plants
Back in March, Brew Union brought in fresh hops from Nelson to make a special freshly brewed batch of craft beer. An annual occasion, it demonstrated the relationship between the plant and the drink that is the bar’s bread and butter.
Tomorrow, the Brew Union courtyard will host a pop-up marketplace where all manner of rare, unusual and collectable plants will be on display.
Palmy Plant Pop-Up was originally discussed last year, but Covid-19 restrictions kept postponing it. Now that the country is at the orange alert level, it’s finally able to go ahead.
Project manager Eva Octaviani says the market is open to both seasoned plant collectors and newcomers.
‘‘We’re focusing on house plants that are rare and unusual ... plants that you can keep at home but that you might not find in a garden centre. We also want to have a few easy-care plants so that people who are interested in collecting plants can have a good start.’’
The market is coordinating with the Manawatū branch of the Cactus and Succulent Society of New Zealand. Octaviani will be joined by fellow collectors Jill Palethorpe, Michael Loh and Nirvan Gurung. ‘‘Already 170 people have said they’re confirmed to go, and 800 people are interested,’’ she says. ‘‘We weren’t expecting this kind of big response.
‘‘There’s more people getting involved who are starting to collect, so we’d love to continue this event and grow the community over the next few years. I’ve been collecting for a year and a half, and already my lounge looks like a jungle.’’
Palmy Plant Pop-Up will take place tomorrow from 11am to 2pm at the Brew Union in Palmerston North.