"Vanda Man" Tony Romani prepares his orchids for the West Palm Beach Green Market opening

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Tony Ramoni and his crew are busy getting ready for the West Palm Beach Green Market, opening Saturday morning.

"I get a chance to see what my colors are going to look like tomorrow, you know?" He says while hanging his plants.

This is his 10th year coming to the Green Market!

"I thought of the green market as…that's my home. No matter where this business takes me, which is hopefully to the stars, the Green Market will always be my home and I will always be at the Green Market."

Tony specializes in exotic Vanda orchids, which grow without soil, hanging from the sky.

"These are like Rolls-Royces hanging here on my car lot,  so to speak, you know. That's exactly what Vanda's are, they're the king of the orchid world."

Tony is also known as the Vanda man, and his orchid business is blooming, despite the economy. He credits the Green Market for his success.

"If it wasn't for the Green Market, I would not be here, I can say that unequivocally. The Green Market has given me the opportunity to share my passion with the best clientele that you can on earth," he said.

He has love for his family and his flowers. "You could have the worst morning, and come out into your little greenhouse, and have something that looks like this, and it just makes you happy, you know?"

He looks forward to coming to the Green Market every year, not just to sell. "Saturday morning is the day I go out and spend time with my friends. They're not just customers, they're my friends. It's nice to hear people ask me how my family is, " Tony said.

"Starting at 9 o'clock there will be a pumpkin patch, scarecrows on stilts, lots of picture ops for the families, pumpkin carving, and at 10 a.m. we have our opening ribbon cutting ceremony with the mayor and the commissioners, lots of fun at the green market!"  Katrina Resch, the Green Market manager said.

The Green Market will stay open an hour later this year, until 2 p.m.

It is located at the end of Clematis Street, in downtown West Palm Beach waterfront.

For more information go to: http://wpb.org/greenmarket/