Ideas For An Avant Garden

Dick and Brenda Brown of Tampa look for cactus during the 2007 Tropical Plant Fair at the University of South Florida Botanical Gardens. They bought two from the vendor and expected to buy more throughout the day. Dick collects them and has 20 at home.

By MICHAEL SPOONEYBARGER / Tribune

By STEVE KORNACKI The Tampa Tribune

Published: Jul 15, 2007

TAMPA - Don Swanson found a solution to cutting grass in his backyard. He has covered most of his small Seminole Heights yard with 2,000 pepper plants.

"This is my backyard hobby," said Swanson, pointing to the 1,500 plants he brought for sale Saturday at the Tropical Plant Fair at the University of South Florida's Botanical Gardens, which continues today. "I have them in pots up on tables I made from scrap lumber.

"I have over 50 different flavors, and my goal is to have 100 flavors by next year with my entire yard covered. Look at this catalogue I've made; it's almost like a wine list approach. I have so many peppers that I can't keep track of all of them without this.

"So, this way, I can set you up with the pepper plant to fit your taste. The sweetest ones are the banana peppers, and the pepins are the hottest ones in the world. Whew, those babies are hot!"

A sign posted with his peppers reads: "Sweet to High Heat."

Mild to Wild Pepper Plants is a side business for Swanson, an optician who works as a quality control inspector at a Clearwater optical lab.

"I grow them from seed and really enjoy it," he said. "My dad grew roses and I wanted to do that, too. But I wasn't any good at it. I found that I was good with peppers."

There are dozens of vendors at the Tropical Plant Fair, selling just about anything you can imagine that grows. There are hibiscus, bromeliads, mango and papaya trees, banana plants, bougainvillea vines and bonsai trees. Vendors also provide advice on caring for plants and landscaping.

Some patrons carted away wheelbarrows full of plants, and few returned to the parking lot empty-handed.

The "Going Bananas" display of Homestead's Don Chafin featured the 90 varieties of bananas he grows on 5 acres.

"The grand nain is the kind used by Chiquita and Dole and are sold in all the grocery stores," Chafin said. "You'll be getting fruit 16 to 18 months after you plant them. The sunnier the better for them. All you have to do is fertilize them once a month and keep it moist."

Luci Keith of Tampa said she bought a banana plant from Chafin three years ago and had fresh bananas every day in June. "And they are better because they ripen right in your own backyard," Keith said.

Chafin, 63, a retired Eastern Airlines jet engine mechanic, got involved with banana plants 13 years ago and discovered another career. He annually travels to 20 plant shows between Tampa and Key West.

Linda Worle, owner of Flowers & Other Things in Tarpon Springs, offered plant and landscaping tips and sold plants.

"I like to share information and empower people to do something special," Worle said. "I love artistry and horticulture."

She helped Paula DeSouza of Tampa with designing a topiary, making cuttings to multiply plants and planting the 10 Eugenia globulus plugs she purchased.

"We're just nuts about plants," Worle said. "I'm a plant addict."

TROPICAL PLANT FAIR

WHAT: View tropical plants, fruit trees and pepper plants; sample salsas and sauces

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today

WHERE: USF Botanical Gardens, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa

HOW MUCH: $4, free for under 12, free parking

Reporter Steve Kornacki can be reached at (813) 731-8170 or skornacki@tampatrib.com.