Student shoppers seeking to brighten up their apartments and dorm rooms could purchase plants and flowers from Happy Hole Flower Farm, Smiling Plants and Tickle Root, as well as plant hangers from Martian Macrame at the Back-to-School Plant Pop-Up at Zelicks on Aug. 23.
San Marcos resident Dani Longoria, who bought several plants during the pop-up, said she preferred to buy from local merchants rather than chain stores. “I like buying here because it’s more intimate, since the vendors cater to the community. And I feel that these plants last a lot longer.”
Stetson Click, co-manager of Zelicks, said that the bar wanted to put “their best foot forward” for Texas State students arriving in San Marcos for the fall semester. “We want to make them feel welcome, to make that transition a little bit easier.”
Morgan Dabelgott, co-owner of Happy Hole Flower Farm, offered a wide variety of colorful bouquets and potted flowers at her table. She was also the organizer who contacted the other vendors for the event.
“We’re basically welcoming all the students back into town and giving them some options, a variety of treasures that they can take home to their new apartments to make them feel more like home,” Dabelgott said.
The sellers kept students in mind when deciding which plants to bring to the pop-up. Ande Beasley of Smiling Plants said she prioritized hearty plants which are easy to care for. “I would definitely recommend something that is going to be ‘set it and forget it.’ So succulents such as cacti, will thrive as long as you can provide enough sunlight for them.”
Gregg’s Mist is also a popular plant with students, said Carey Jones of Tickle Root. “When it blooms it attracts butterflies. Some of the students really like the idea of having butterflies and bees on their balcony to look at.”
Claudia Zertuche was selling her colorful Martian Macrame plant hangers for customers to pair with their new plant purchases.
“I think that the aesthetic of these hangars is just pure joy. And on top of that, you’re putting a plant in it that is proven to increase endorphins and dopamine in your brain. I think the whole package is just very lovely, and it can kind of bring some creativity and color pop to a dorm room.”
Nina Leonard, of San Marcos-based Nectar Finds, said she thought her natural raw sunscreen would be a good match for sun-worshipping students returning from summer break. Leonard was also selling beeswax candles and raw local honey at her table.
Envy of Them All, a bluegrass/folk rock band based in Bastrop, was the perfect band to play the pop-up, according to Click.
“We try to think, Okay, what’s the market going to be?” Click said. “Then we pick a band that is going to resonate with someone and make them feel comfortable in that space of what we have going on.”
Envy of Them All fiddle player Mike Chionis, who manages a grocery store garden center in Bastrop, said he enjoyed visiting the plant vendors at the popup. “I’m definitely in my element, been looking around,” Chionis said. “there’s some great stuff.”
Zelicks set up a “tap takeover” for Austin-based Meanwhile Brewing, offering several of their beers on tap during the event.
Jakeb Copeland, an area sales representative for Meanwhile, said he kept the theme of the pop-up in mind as he was planning his display. He put small cups of the hops and grains used in various Meanwhile beers on the table to allow people to smell and taste the ingredients.
“I just thought it would be a cool way to kind of introduce people to the process of making the beer, and tie it into the plant pop-up,” Copeland said.
