Island PRA

[realarch]

About a month ago, Hilo Jason and I visited Mike Merritt and took a tour of his palm garden. PRA = Palm Related Activity.

Mike's place is upslope of Hilo and all of his hard work over the years is really paying off. He's got some impressive, unusual specimens on a nice chunk of old sugarcane land. Mike, Jason, you'll have to remind me of the acreage, that number went in one ear and right out the other. It did take three hours to scout through the garden on what was a warm humid day. Mike's got a mind like a steel trap and knowledge of his inventory is impressive including his Copernicia, which are relatively uncommon here in east Hawaii.  

Mike, Jason, feel free to add any comments as I'm just going to post palm pics and ID's.

Tim

 

Copernicia hospita

[realarch]

Heterospathe phillipsii

[realarch]

Syagrus amara

[realarch]

Hydriastele microspadix

[realarch]

Attalea maripa. One unusual palm.

[realarch]

Hydriastele kasesa

Ravenea sambiranensis

[realarch]

Dypsis mananjarensis

 

[realarch]

How bout some Clinostigma!

C. harlandii

C. ponapense

[realarch]

Check out these Tahina. Holy Moly!

 

[realarch]

Ptychosperma burretianum

Veithcia filifera

[realarch]

Acanthophoenix rousellii. You don't see many of these. 

An impressive Latania verschaffeltia

[realarch]

Hydriastele longispatha

Euterpe edulis

[realarch]

Copernicia fallaensis

Mauritia flexuosa

[realarch]

And finally, a Pritchardia lanigera.

Much aloha Mike!

[Palm Tree Jim]

Incredible!

[mike in kurtistown]

Tim,

It's actually a treat for me to show off my collection, and especially to people like you and Jason who are very knowledgeable about and appreciative of what you are seeing. I really like your photos. You're both welcome to return if you would like to check something out.

Just a few ID corrections:

Heterospathe phillipsii is actually Heterospathe intermedia

Hydriastele microspadix is Hydriastele microcarpum (formerly Gronophyllum)

Hydriastele kasesa is Hydriastele microspadix, 

Clinostigma harlandii is Clinostigma exhorrizum, and

the last Copernicia is a blue form of baileyana.

BTW, I have a cheat sheet that I use all the time to help me keep all the Hydriastele micros and macros straight.

If you have more pictures, I think forum members would like to see them, and I know that I would.

[Rickybobby]

Insane 

[Tracy]

2 hours ago, mike in kurtistown said:

If you have more pictures, I think forum members would like to see them, and I know that I would.

 

2 hours ago, mike in kurtistown said:

It's actually a treat for me to show off my collection, and especially to people like you and Jason who are very knowledgeable about and appreciative of what you are seeing.

Spectacular specimens Mike, and thanks for sharing the photos Tim!

[NOT A TA]

Awesome! Thank you both for sharing!

[realarch]

Hey all, my pleasure. 

Thanks Mike for the corrections, too many palms, so little time.

Tim

[jimmyt]

Blue with envy gentlemen!    Very, very beautiful!

[Big Eye]

Amazing! Had no idea Copernicia resembled Pritchardia so much. Looks like I need to do more research! Nice pics @realarchand great garden @mike in kurtistown!

[Xenon]

I'm in love with the tall canopy type Hydriastele species (almost all of them are formerly Gulubia), not too many pics of them on the web. The H. longispatha are spectacular!

Thanks for pics  

[Dypsisdean]

Tim - I've never made it to Mike's - but knew he must have some cool stuff. Thanks for letting me have a look.

When things get back to normal, I'll have to see in person. That reminds me, I've never seen your place in person either.

I've been sheltering in place much too long.

[Cindy Adair]

Hi Mike! So many species that I don't think I've ever seen. Thanks to Tim for posting them. Wish I could have been there. One day....

[mike in kurtistown]

There's plenty more stuff here, Cindy. I don't know how long it will be before people can travel normally again, but come on by if you make it to Hawaii. Dean, you're welcome to tour my garden sometime (let me get some more grass cut, if it ever stops raining over here on the windward side).

[Kim]

Nice to see these photos.  Mike has many gems in his extensive garden. Can't imagine how you manage it, Mike. Well done!

Tim & Jason, thanks for the photos. Wish we could connect while I'm here, but you know...

[realarch]

Nice to hear from you Kim, yeah very unusual times to say the least. When all this is over, Mike wants to have a 'Rave' party at his place. 

Tim

[Hilo Jason]

Great pictures Tim!  And thanks for having us Mike!  I only took a few photos that day, here they are:

Dypsis Arenarum:

ravenea lakatra (I think)

Clinostigma:

[Hilo Jason]

Dypsis Madagascariensis of some sort. Really stocky, solitary form:

Clinostigma ?

ptychosperma buretianum?

And another shot of these really tall Hydriastele Longispatha! I’m happy to have a sibling of these in my yard.

Thanks again Mike!  Awesome place!

[bgl]

Wow, great pictures Tim!  And yes, Mike has indeed a very extensive and impressive collection.  I'm still amazed that he's able to keep up with it all. I know from experience what's involved.  And a "rave' party would be something to look forward to! 

[mike in kurtistown]

Truth is - I'm not keeping up with it as I would like to. My objective for years has been to keep things under control while not trying to keep the area manicured. But I'm not sure I'm even doing that. My lot is 8.3 acres in size. I am still trying to clear areas near trees that can be characterized as "partial sun" locations for the dozens of shade-loving species in my shadehouses that have waited patiently for years to be put in the ground. But when things that did make it into the ground start growing, it's great fun and seems worth the work involved.