16th Annual Lawn and Garden Fair Opens Saturday
By Sonia Isotov
The Maui Association of Landscape Professionals (MALP) will host its 16th Annual Lawn and Garden Fair on Saturday, November 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Maui Mall in Kahului this weekend.
There will be a combination events and activities including landscape vendors, educational presentations, non-profit information booths, university experts, and plant sales. Plant sales will include non invasive landscape plants, like fruit trees, native Hawaiian plants and trees, drought tolerant succulents and clumping bamboo.
The fair will also feature the 2nd Annual Artscapes, a “living art” exhibition. Artscapes is a design/art competition for artists, landscapers, students and garden enthusiasts to express their artistic side using plants and other natural elements. Entries have to use at least 50% plant material as a part of the exhibit.
“Our first Artscapes, held last year at UH Maui College, had some wonderful works of living art,” said Gary Mohrlang, current president of MALP, in a written statement. “This years’ event poses fresh challenges for the entrants as it will be in a more compact, indoor space.”
Cash prizes for the top three winners and a People’s Choice award will be presented.
Soil and plant experts from the University of Hawaii will include the University of Hawaii Maui Campus’ Agriculture Department, who will conduct pH testing of soil samples. The College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources’ Cooperative Extension Services will also be making a plant pathologist available to diagnose sick plants and pest samples. The public is encouraged to bring in a sample.
For more information, go online to www.malp.org/.