Five Beautiful Things

Variations on the Ginkgo

Ever since I was young, I was enamored of the ginkgo tree. I love the shape of its leaves and the uniformity of its signature vibrant yellow hue during the autumn months. It seems I am not alone, either. The tree, also known as the maidenhair tree, is native to China and was considered beautiful enough to be planted on the sacred grounds of Buddhist temples. It was first cultivated in North America in 1784 in Philadelphia and is now planted worldwide as a landscape plant. The fan-like shape of the ginkgo leaf has been used as a decorative motif for centuries: from furniture to jewelry, wallpaper to textiles.

The ginkgo’s charm may lie in its resilience. It is one of the oldest trees in the world. Modern ginkgoes are virtually the same as fossil specimens of the same species dating back more than 100 million years. The only plant older than the ginkgo is the fern. Much like the fern, the ginkgo reproduces itself using ovules that are fertilized by motile sperm, which are released by pollen grains when the tree germinates.

There is a ginkgo grove planted not too far from where I work and I love visiting it this time of year on my walk home to marvel at the swath of vibrant yellow and the striking shape of the fallen leaves. Below are five beautiful photos of the ginkgo used as a decorative motif. The first photograph was taken by my friend Lori Coleman who lives in Culpepper, Virginia. This tree grows in her back yard.