Spring Market Cultivates Plants, Connections

Although Kent and Karen Moyer started their business, Karen’s Plants, about two and a half years ago, they work out of their Temple Terrace back yard and have no store.

So, they sell their plants at shows and expos around Tampa, and they’ve even participated in events as far away as Fort Meyers and Ocala.

On Saturday, they’ll have a booth at the at , 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

“It’s actually one of our best shows,” Kent Moyer said.

The event is put on annually by the .

“This is our ninth year and the second we have paired up with the to host their art sale,” said Cheri Donohue, a member of both the Garden Club and Arts Council.

The art sale takes place in the Woodmont Clubhouse adjacent to the park.

“The park will be filled with vendors selling all things lovely for the home and garden as well as personal items,” Donohue said.

Emphasis will be put on Florida-friendly plants.

Garden Club members will be selling their homegrown specimens, and more than 60 vendors will be selling plants, pots and accessories for home and personal beautification.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase, Hillsborough County master gardeners will be available to answer questions, and attendees can bring their yard tools to have them sharpened. There also will be free entertainment and activities for kids.

“All of this will happen under the shade of the oaks throughout the park,” Donohue said.

The group is looking forward to participating in the Spring Market for the first time, said member Travis Malloy.

“We think it’s a great way to get the word out about the community garden,” Malloy said. “The more people involved, the more successful it will be.”

The Community Garden group shares a small garden with . Soon, members hope to start building a at . They want to share their plans with the community at the Spring Market.

“We’ll have the drawings of the future big garden, plus pictures of what we’re currently doing in the school garden,” Malloy said. “We’re going to have a ‘mini-raised bed’ to demonstrate how the individual garden plots will look. And there will be a raffle for items that members are donating, including air-plant/orchid baskets, a nice basket of garden tools and soil, Temple Terrace-made fertilizer, and a worm bin.”

The Moyer’s, who live near Riverhills Elementary, will be selling desert roses, chalice vines, gardenias, cacti and succulents.

“We’re going to have a smattering of everything,” Kent Moyer said.

Moyer said he and his wife hope to open a Karen’s Plants store after Karen retires from the Post Office later this year. Until then, the Spring Market is especially fun for the couple because they get to see many of their neighbors in addition to new faces.

“You meet all kids of people,” he said. “It’s always a great show.”