Despite high heat and humidity and the threat of thunderstorms, Rare Plant Day at Logee’s Greenhouses, on Sept. 9, was absolutely packed before the event even started.
At 10 a.m., the actual start time, all parking lots were already full, and the closest side street had cars lined up for blocks. The line to get into the Rare Plant Room wound around outside, doubling back on itself to allow for enough room for a huge number of visitors wanting to get a look at, and shop for, some of the rarer plants being offered.
Owners Byron and Laurelynn Martin were sitting near the entrance to the room, under an awning, signing copies of the newly-released, second edition of their book, “Edible Houseplants – Grow Your Own Citrus, Coffee, Vanilla, and 43 Other Tasty Tropical Plants,” complete with a new blurb by Martha Stewart.
Laurelynn said that for years, Logee’s held a Summer Solstice event that focused more on entertainment. After things opened up again after COVID, the business decided to hold an event that focused more heavily on the plants.
“When the pandemic hit, there was such a renewed interest in plants,” she said.
Laurelynn said that the vendors featured at the event also all shared a plant-related theme.
Although Logee’s always carries a selection of rare plants, with a special focus on fruiting varieties, there is a year-long focus on producing some of the rarer, harder-to-find varieties to present on Rare Plant Day. At this year’s event, folks were willing to stand in line for more than an hour in the extreme heat to get a chance to shop in the Rare Plant Room, featuring plants such as Thai Constellation monstera, albo monstera, Jose Bueno philodendron, and many varieties of anthurium and other plants that are more difficult to find.
“I shop at Logee’s several times a year anyway,” said Griswold resident Stephanie Elliott, as she was waiting in line to pay for her plants.
“This is s great place to come any time of year,” continued Elliott, “but I especially love to come in the wintertime, when it’s miserable outside. Just wandering through the greenhouses, you feel like you’re in a tropical paradise.”
Logee’s is located at 141 North St. in Danielson, and features six greenhouses packed with plants both common and rare. Logee’s also does mail-order, through both a paper and an online catalog.
