Lundkvist Palm Garden

[MattyB]

After a nice drive from Kona, over Sadle Road (we waved at ElHoagie because he was up at the observatory at the same time), and into the Hilo side of the Big Island, we jumped out to be greeted by Bo Goran Lundkvist.  Dean jumped up on the porch and I took this shot!

Jen took a picture of Karolyn, Bo, Dean and Me!

We got settled in, exchanged pleasantries and began our garden tour!  I soon realized that there's no possible way to document or create a single thread about Bo's garden.  It's just too extensive.  So, you just have to shoot it as it strikes you.  Here we go!

Basselina sp.

[MattyB]

One of Bo's many Dypsis sp. "Orange Crush".  I was surprised at the girth of these palms in person.  They're big!

Pinanga copelandii

Bo providing scale for the spreading root system of Clingostigma samoense.

[MattyB]

For Paul

[MattyB]

Areca sp.  I thought it was guppyana but I think Bo said it's not.  Like he knows. ???

One of several sitting areas.  Looks like a jungle bus is gonna roll on through and pick me up.

Kerridoxa w/ flash

Kerridoxa no flash

[paulgila]

cool!

are you & dean sharing shirts?i know i've seen you in that one with the bismarkia on it  

whatever "floats yer boat",i guess.

[MattyB]

I don't even remember.

Dean about to be eaten by man eating plant.

One of my favorite palms of the day.  Wettinia praemorsa.  Gorgeous!

[MattyB]

Unknown Syagrus.  Bo said I.D. needed.

Iriartea sp.

[MattyB]

Some Red Lemur action.

Dictocaryum lamarkianum.  

My wife said, "Babe what's that?"

I said, "Oh, we've got a bunch of those.  They'll be that big next year." :laugh:

Dypsis florencii

[MattyB]

A peek inside the outhouse.  Jen tried to sneek in there to drop a deuce and a little Koki frog jumped out of the toilet and scared her. :laugh:

OK, so here's a Bismarckia.  Super nice.  But the reason I took this picture is:  Look in the background at some White Dypsis that are planted.  See if you can follow the spear all the way up.  It's amazing!

Bo, pointing out some more palms I'll never have.

[MattyB]

They should call this one Pink something.

[MattyB]

The most abundant species that Bo is growing is Areca vestiaria with over 200 specimines.

[MattyB]

Pinanga javana....yes it grows in CA!

If your Veilonia alba looks like this, you need help. ???

Bo and Carpoxylon.

Up the Clingostigma.

[MattyB]

Out back is another 200 + acres that Bo and Karolyn lease from Kamehameha Schools.  This is a clearing for future nursery use.

Bo's cleared the forest and layed a base course all by hand.  I remember when he posted shots like this before and said that he cleared the forest.  I thought, yeah right, you mean you paid someone to come clear it.  Uhhhhh, no, Bo did it himself!  This particular path took us 10-15 minutes to hike and took Bo one year to clear and lay a lava rock path.  Dude is a machine!

[MattyB]

A view from our room at the Lundkvist Inn.

The bellhops, Orville and Wilbur provided great service.

The fruit breakfast was out of this world!

[MattyB]

Karolyn preparing our awesome breakfast!  Dean and Bo checking the RLR encyclopedia.

Breakfast

I caught Bo sneaking in from his morning walk.  This was the morning after our 5 hour lava hike.  Bo said he did his best time in weeks.  A machine I tell you , a machine!

Dean w/ the forum on his lap and his advisor at his side.

[MattyB]

Well, I thougt Bo was all that.  Until I saw this.  Yes folks!  It's a fake palm!  Blashpheme!

I've gotta get outside and see some real palms.

D. slick willy

Beccariophoenix

Jen just had to have me take a picture of this root.  I swear.  You can see her finger eagerly pointing at it! :laugh:

[MattyB]

The family.

Jen made a new friend in Karolyn.

And we all lived happily ever after.

Thanks Bo and Karolyn, it was an amazing experience and we were so glad to meet you.

[www.dadluvsu.com]

WOW! I am totally hypnotized!!!

Matt, how did you ever make it back to the mainland?  I don't think I would want to leave!  It is so beautiful, I don't think words can describe it!  

Bo, that is such a fantastic place to enjoy life...  You and Karolyn look very happy!  

[www.dadluvsu.com]

I just took the tour again!  WOW!!  Those Areca vestiaria are nice and all, but breakfast looked outstanding!!!

[Zac in NC]

Lordy. This was so you Matty. Talking about dropping deuces and frogs in the can. I didn't expect anything less than this nice show of Bo's stuff. Wow!!!!!!!!!

Zac

[Zac in NC]

Oh yeah, Does Jen read the forum?? LOL

Zac

[bgl]

Matt,

it was great to finally meet you and Jen, and I certainly enjoyed our garden tour together! You did an excellent job in capturing the ambience and essence of your visit here.

A few IDs for those who might be interested:

Post 6, first photo: Cyrtostachys, possibly C. loriae

Post 6, second photo: Verschaffeltia splendida volunteer plant!

Post 7, third photo: Socratea sp.

Post 9, third photo: Dypsis sp. bejofa (sold as D. bejofo)

Post 10, first photo: mystery Dypsis

Post 10, second photo: Dypsis sp. "Neophloga pink crownshaft"

Bo-Göran

PS to Bill, thanks, yes we love it here! Can't think of a better place to live. And we've tried a few!

[deezpalms]

Simply incredible!! Next visit back home to see my family on Oahu I'm definitely making an extra island stop! That is, if it's okay with Bo!!  ???

[palmazon]

Excellent - thanks.

signed,

The Enigma

[Kim]

Breathtaking.  I was completely entranced until you got to post #9, (also breathtaking, but in a different sort of way) but you pulled me back in with the Areca vestiara pix.  The Kerriodoxa and A. vestiara pix are very calendar-worthy, nice job MattyB.  Stick this in a magazine and it reads like a visit to palm royalty, cute little dogs and all.  I am soooo jealous.  Palm people are fortunate that Bo and Karolyn take such pride in the their garden and share it so willingly.

Wow, do you really think the Pinanga javana would grow so beautifully in California??  Ok, dumb question.

[BS Man about Palms]

I'm just all warm and fuzzy inside!  Thanx to all responsible!  

[mike453]

Impressive photography of an impressive collection.

Thanks for sharing your vacation with all of us, these are some of the nicest palm photos I have seen on the forum.

                       Mike

[paulgila]

to quote a little known beatles song by george harrison:

"its all too much".i can hardly believe what i'm seeing its so spectacular.if i were catholic i think i'd nominate bo fo'

sainthood!

i always enjoy matts snarky narration,too

[Peter]

Great photos Matt.  I'm still dreaming about my visit to Bo's a few days after yours.   It's really heaven for a palm colllector.

[MattyB]

Just realized a pic I forgot to share.  It exibits the incredible growth rate of a Cyrtostachys sp.  Look at the nodes!  They've got to be 30" apart!

[deezpalms]

(MattyB @ Apr. 20 2007,09:06)

QUOTE

Just realized a pic I forgot to share.  It exibits the incredible growth rate of a Cyrtostachys sp.  Look at the nodes!  They've got to be 30" apart!

Damn, I mean DAMN!!! That looks more like the nodes of some giant bamboo!!  

[LJG]

It is always amazing looking at pics of his and Jeff's gardens. It seems Jeff's is better served for looking at the individual palm, as they seem to have separation from each other so it is easier to get full appreciation. Kind of like a car show. But Bo's seems to be set up like a botanical garden. Bo has put a lot of time and money into his "hobby" and is really shows. Great stuff. I can't wait to visit someday.

Bo, how many 'helpers' do you have? You can't manage that all yourself, no matter how much energy you have.

[Scott]

Yeah this is one you gotta look at at least twice - first just the wonder of the whole "paradise" thing, then the palms in detail.

Great photo tour

[bgl]

Thanks for all the comments, and thanks to Matt for taking some great pics! And if anyone is heading this way - let me know and we'll schedule a garden tour!

Len,

Yes, we do have help. Two guys put in a total of about 23-24 hours a week, primarily with basic maintenance like mowing grass, weedwhacking, removing old palm fronds and generally keeping the place looking clean. I do stuff like fertilize, plant more palms etc. Most of my work now however is in the nursery & forest area, adjacent to our 5 acres. This is where I'm getting ready for some major plantings.

Bo-Göran

[Scott]

Bo - How exciting is it when palms become a major operation!

It must be fun!

[ania]

Simply wonderful!! Probably as close to Eden as you can get.

I need Dave's swooning sofa.

Ania

[amazondk]

Matt,

Thanks for the great pictures of Bo's place.  I am always impressed when I see what a great job he has done.  I hope to create something similar someday.  At least that is a good goal to have.   Great job Bo.

dk

[Kathy]

Matt, like Dean and his close-ups, you've made Bo's place breathtaking all over again!  Amazing job with the camara.  Bo, you and Karolyn (OK, and Wilbur and Orville) are soooo generous with sharing your paradise, showing us what life is best about.

And that white Dypsis spear, yikes..... and that Beccariophoenix, huge!  And that fruit plate, and......manoman, the tropics are the place to be.

Oh, and is the fake plant 'cuz you're spoiled with never having to water, Bo?!  Veeery funny.

[Alicehunter2000]

I'm dumbfounded! As close to palm heaven as you can get! Bo-------incredible. I hope to visit someday

[bgl]

Everybody - thanks for your comments! Let me know when you'll be here!

And Kathy,

actually, we have a couple of nice planters in the house, with drainage, but we pretty much gave up on the live plants in the house. Too much work! Plus, with everything so nice and green right outside, what's the point!? So, yes, we got lazy.....

Bo-Göran