Thursday, April 11, 2024 at 8:30 p.m. on KPBS TV / Stream now with the PBS App + Encore Monday, April 15 at 8:30 p.m. on KPBS 2
—Learn about plumeria, a big, tropical looking plant that captivated Southern Californians—
In the 1950s and 1960s, the Aloha Spirit captivated Southern Californians at a time when the Beach Boys were singing about surfing, home gardeners were planting plumeria in their gardens. These big, tropical looking plants produce fragrant and sometimes colorful flowers that were a staple of Hawaiian leis, despite their arid origin. Over the years, the popularity of plumeria has waxed and waned, making a big comeback in the last five or ten years.
September marks the Southern California Plumeria Society's annual luau and plant sale in San Diego's Balboa Park. On this episode, we visit the show as we explore the history and attraction of these easy to grow crowd-pleasers.
We meet some of the old time growers who were part of the original wave of plumeria popularity, along with the new generation of aficionados. We learn how easy it is to grow these plants in our region, and see the vast array of colors, shapes and sizes. We even learn how to even make a lei or two.
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ABOUT THE SERIES: More and more San Diegans strive to make socially, environmentally and economically-responsible choices. From earth-friendly and water-wise gardens to organic foods and habitat restoration, we demand options that protect our health, feed our communities and protect our natural resources. A GROWING PASSION is an Emmy-winning lifestyle program that explores San Diego County's agriculture and horticulture activities as an expression of this growing earth-friendly movement. From backyard food production to major horticultural growers, from low-water landscapes to sustainable practices around the home and in the garden, we tell stories about the natural and manmade landscapes that shape the social, cultural, environmental and economic interests of our community. We celebrate how San Diego grows.
