Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
PalmTalk

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.
Request For Help - PalmTalk needs a few “Beta Testers.” 1-2 hours of your time.

WELCOME GUEST

It looks as if you are viewing PalmTalk as an unregistered Guest.

Please consider registering so as to take better advantage of our vast knowledge base and friendly community.  By registering you will gain access to many features - among them are our powerful Search feature, the ability to Private Message other Users, and be able to post and/or answer questions from all over the world. It is completely free, no “catches,” and you will have complete control over how you wish to use this site.

PalmTalk is sponsored by the International Palm Society. - an organization dedicated to learning everything about and enjoying palm trees (and their companion plants) while conserving endangered palm species and habitat worldwide. Please take the time to know us all better and register.

guest Renda04.jpg

Enigmatic Hilo Garden

realarch
realarch
in DISCUSSING PALM TREES WORLDWIDE

Featured Replies

I've been meaning to share photos of this private garden for a couple of months now after a few scouting trips preparing for a Hawai'i Island Palm Society garden tour that took place during the summer. 

Jerry Hunter, who has recently passed away, began the garden 30 some years ago and was the owner of Rancho Soledad nursery in Southern California whom many of you know well. The property is up for sale and HIPS, after much wrangling, was fortunate to arrange access to the property. There is one caretaker maintaining the garden and considering the size and planting, does a fantastic job. 

Naming the palms would take forever, so I'm posting without description. 

Being there was magical especially wrapped in warmth, humidity, and that typical brooding Hilo sky. 

Tim

IMG_1795.jpg

IMG_1798.jpg

IMG_1800.jpg

P1020737.jpg

P1020758.jpg

Tim

Hilo, Hawaii

    • Like 1
    • Upvote 8
    • Author

    IMG_1805.jpg

    IMG_1810.jpg

    IMG_1812.jpg

    IMG_1814.jpg

    IMG_1820.jpg

    Tim

    Hilo, Hawaii

    • Like 1
    • Upvote 10
    • Author

    IMG_1823.jpg

    IMG_1836.jpg

    IMG_1840.jpg

    IMG_1842.jpg

    IMG_1844.jpg

    Tim

    Hilo, Hawaii

    • Like 1
    • Upvote 8
    • Author

    P1020738.jpg

    P1020740.jpg

    P1020741.jpg

    P1020742.jpg

    P1020743.jpg

    Tim

    Hilo, Hawaii

    • Like 1
    • Upvote 10
    • Author

    P1020744.jpg

    P1020746.jpg

    P1020747.jpg

    P1020749.jpg

    P1020750.jpg

    Tim

    Hilo, Hawaii

    • Like 1
    • Upvote 9
    • Author

    P1020751.jpg

    P1020752.jpg

    P1020753.jpg

    P1020755.jpg

    P1020757.jpg

    Tim

    Hilo, Hawaii

    • Like 1
    • Upvote 11
    • Author

    P1020759.jpg

    P1020761.jpg

    P1020765.jpg

    P1020766.jpg

    P1020767.jpg

    Tim

    Hilo, Hawaii

    • Like 1
    • Upvote 6
    • Author

    P1020770.jpg

    P1020771.jpg

    P1020772.jpg

    P1020773.jpg

    P1030053.jpg

    Tim

    Hilo, Hawaii

    • Like 1
    • Upvote 8
    • Author

    P1030058.jpg

    P1030059.jpg

    P1030060.jpg

    P1030061.jpg

    P1030062.jpg

    Tim

    Hilo, Hawaii

    • Like 1
    • Upvote 9
    • Author

    P1030064.jpg

    P1030069.jpg

    P1030070.jpg

    P1030072.jpg

    P1030073.jpg

    Tim

    Hilo, Hawaii

    • Like 1
    • Upvote 9
    • Author

    P1030074.jpg

    P1030077.jpg

    P1030078.jpg

    P1030081.jpg

    P1030086.jpg

    Tim

    Hilo, Hawaii

    • Like 1
    • Upvote 8
    • Author

    P1030109.jpg

    P1030110.jpg

    P1030112.jpg

    P1030114.jpg

    P1030118.jpg

    Tim

    Hilo, Hawaii

    • Like 1
    • Upvote 7
    • Author

    P1030119.jpg

    P1030128.jpg

    P1030129.jpg

    P1030130.jpg

    Tim

    Hilo, Hawaii

    • Like 1
    • Upvote 6
    • Author

    and the last batch.........part of the 100 plus members attending the tour, one of our largest ever. 

     

    Tim

    P1030132.jpg

    P1030134.jpg

    P1030138.jpg

    P1030139.jpg

    Tim

    Hilo, Hawaii

    • Like 1
    • Upvote 7

    OMG Tim,

    Sadly it seems that a palm garden is at his best after his owner passed away ... I'll be prepared ...

    is that Areca vestiaria or A.macrocalyx?

    IMG_1823.thumb.jpg.e962c0cd5370ded5eae90

    Which Pinanga is this? P. caesia?

    P1020744.thumb.jpg.48693f3b6a30fb0f662b9

    Is that a monumental Oncosperma clump? or Euterpe?

     

    P1030110.thumb.jpg.3512d6db3c2774f1d8707

    Many thanks .... some more pictures soon? 

    5809129ecff1c_P1010385copie3.JPG.15aa3f5

    Philippe

     

    Jungle Paradise in Sri Lanka

     

    • Upvote 1

    Thanks to your pictures, one can learn a lot from this wonderful mature garden.
    I am very interested to notice the density of planting and how all palms look good in this situation.
    I believed I planted my palms too close to each other but maybe not.
    ( you'll see after 30 years ...)

    5809129ecff1c_P1010385copie3.JPG.15aa3f5

    Philippe

     

    Jungle Paradise in Sri Lanka

     

    • Author

    Philippe, evidently the garden is said to have looked it's best while Mr. Hunter was active and still planting. I can only imagine.

    To answer your questions, A. vestiaria, looks like Pinanga maculata, and the clumping Palm is Euterpe. Mahalo!

    Tim

    Tim

    Hilo, Hawaii

    • Like 1
    • Upvote 1

    Tim the photos are wonderful and yet another Palm Society meeting I would have loved to have attended!  

    It is nice to see that both the PSSC and your HI chapters are so active!

    I do hope the stunning property continues to be well maintained.

    Thank you so much!

    Cindy Adair

    Oh man how do I get residency :D what a garden some very nice palms, beaut pics Tims 

    Wow

    Just incredible!

    Come on lotto!  

    Land O Lakes FL, a suburb on the North Side of Tampa, FL

    Summers are great, 90f/32c in the day & 70f/21c at night with plentiful rain & sun

    Winters are subtropical with occasional frosts and freezes. Tropical cyclones happen.

    We have a few Royal palms in the warm microclimates but Coconuts freeze.

    I am a Kayaker, Hiker, Bicyclist, and amateur Photographer that loves the outdoors.  

    • Upvote 1

    Awesome Tim. Another sensational Hilo garden. 

    Hawaii is another planet. Just incredible.

    Thanks Tim for posting these fantastic pictures. I need to get over there one of these days.

    Edited by Pando

    Thanks for the photos Tim. I haven't been there in a long time. But you reminded me that this is one of the few places I would leave my garden and move to. While you captured the beauty of the plants and garden - it is impossible to capture the beauty of the entire piece of property with two streams, multiple waterfalls and a natural feeling of paradise.

    animated-volcano-image-0010.gif.71ccc48bfc1ec622a0adca187eabaaa4.gif

    Kona, on The Big Island
    Hawaii - Land of Volcanoes

    • Upvote 1

    Tim,

       Thank you for your incredible pictures you shared with us. I once got to visit this garden during my first ever trip to Hawaii. It has to rate as having one of the finest collection of palms and other tropical plants in the world. Gorgeous!

    Searle Brothers Nursery Inc.

    and The Rainforest Collection.

    Southwest Ranches,Fl.
    7 hours ago, realarch said:

    P1020759.jpg

    P1020761.jpg

    P1020765.jpg

    P1020766.jpg

    P1020767.jpg

    What are the fan palms seen in the first pics of this post?

    -Krishna

    Kailua, Oahu HI. Near the beach but dry!

    Still have a garden in Zone 9a Inland North Central Florida (Ocala)

     Thanks for sharing the pictures Tim

    From here a very big Thank you as well - the garden looks too nice to be true!

    I really hope that the next owner will value this place as what it is - a paradise!

    best regards

    I'm at a loss for words.

    amazing pictures. thanks for posting!!

    I knew Jerry and he will be missed

    Carlsbad, California Zone 10 B on the hill (402 ft. elevation)

    Sunset zone 24

    I am so glad I opened this thread.  Wow.  Beautiful. 

     

    :bemused::bemused::bemused:

    Zone 10a at best after 2007 AND 2013, on SW facing hill, 1 1/2 miles from coast in Oceanside, CA. 30-98 degrees, and 45-80deg. about 95% of the time.

    "The great workman of nature is time."   ,  "Genius is nothing but a great aptitude for patience."

    -George-Louis Leclerc de Buffon-

    I do some experiments and learning in my garden with palms so you don't have to experience the pain! Look at my old threads to find various observations and tips!

    Incredible garden the water falls are killer :drool:

    Dominic

    Awwwwwwwww, I need to move!

    Waterfall!!!!!! My dream! 

    • Upvote 1

    Whoa....I can only imagine how it looks in person. Thanks for sharing! Found the listing on-line. Over 6 acres of Paradise!!

    Mission Viejo, CA

    Limited coastal influence

    5-10 days of frost

    IPS and PSSC Member

    Wow, has to be one of the best of the Hawaiin gardens I have seen. Amazing. Just need to save up a million dollars.

    Len

    Vista, CA (Zone 10a)

    Shadowridge Area

    "Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are."

    -- Alfred Austin
    1 hour ago, LJG said:

    Wow, has to be one of the best of the Hawaiin gardens I have seen. Amazing. Just need to save up a million dollars.

    Is it for sale?

    The weight of lies will bring you down / And follow you to every town / Cause nothin happens here

    That doesn't happen there / So when you run make sure you run / To something and not away from

    Cause lies don't need an aero plane / To chase you anywhere

    --Avett Bros

    What's with all the beautiful garden threads lately? :drool: Those pygmy dates...so common but so perfectly placed. 
    Thanks for the photos!

    Jonathan
     

    24 minutes ago, sur4z said:

    Is it for sale?

    It has been for a while. Not sure what the price is as I never looked. Just guessing about a million. 

    Len

    Vista, CA (Zone 10a)

    Shadowridge Area

    "Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are."

    -- Alfred Austin

    Create an account or sign in to comment
    Go to topic listing

    Account

    Navigation

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.