Thanks for all that useful information and inspiration! I’ll be looking for ginkgo trees now. Another horrible smelling tree is the Bradford pear, which has lovely flowers in the spring but smells like rotting garbage. It also doesn’t exactly make pears, just small, mushy crabapple-like fruit. Landscapers love these trees, but they don’t hold up well.
As for your roomies, at least you didn’t have one who threatened to stab you! Imagine how quickly I left my quarters when this was said!
Craig, previous to today, all I knew about ginkgo biloba was that it's an herbal supplement and also a natural blood thinner - not to be used by people taking blood thinning medication (such as my husband) because it could lead to excessive bleeding. I thank you for this wonderful in-depth post and am grateful to have my knowledge greatly expanded!
Doc, such a beautiful account as I am busy looking at the topic of beauty for my next article. I'm absolutely sentimental as it relates to Ginkgo Biloba. I almost died in July of 2023 and this tree has become one of my best friends ever since. I drink it almost daily for blood perfusion (-leaves look like lungs🤗) and mental agility. After reflecting on it in this article, I now pray to have one of our own one day. I'm in love all over again. Wow, thank you. Much respect. Ps. I can relate ito tertiary education too. Belonging is such a fragile concept.
When I was a freshman in college, I was confronted with a similar experience. A stench in the air that simultaneously arrested my every action and triggered my every emotion. It too was often inappropriately described as dirty socks and occasionally compared to dog vomit.
And it recurred often on campus, to the point where it was a norm, yet it never stopped arresting me and triggering me in multiple ways.
I wish my stench memory had all the deep symbolism and life meaning as yours. I went through an herbalism apprenticeship last year, and we covered ginkgo, and it didn’t cover the depth of your article.
My stench had no beautiful story to it. It was known as “cheese breeze” and was simply the air pollution from the nearby Hormel factory. Namely Spam gone bad.
Wow. It's comforting to know that understanding can flip a distant emotional experience. I never knew that the tree's fruit had a stench. Forever grateful to it, nevertheless. 💛
This was the first thing I read this morning and what a delight. I knew nothing of Ginkgo’s and their symbolism… the messages of endurance and patience. Beautiful. Thanks for the education!
Thanks for all that useful information and inspiration! I’ll be looking for ginkgo trees now. Another horrible smelling tree is the Bradford pear, which has lovely flowers in the spring but smells like rotting garbage. It also doesn’t exactly make pears, just small, mushy crabapple-like fruit. Landscapers love these trees, but they don’t hold up well.
As for your roomies, at least you didn’t have one who threatened to stab you! Imagine how quickly I left my quarters when this was said!
This is a beautiful essay. I loved learning about this tree. Thanks for the novelty of not being about politics. ~~~peace
Craig, previous to today, all I knew about ginkgo biloba was that it's an herbal supplement and also a natural blood thinner - not to be used by people taking blood thinning medication (such as my husband) because it could lead to excessive bleeding. I thank you for this wonderful in-depth post and am grateful to have my knowledge greatly expanded!
Excellent! Wow, so much to love about this article on ginkgo trees! Great work.
Doc, such a beautiful account as I am busy looking at the topic of beauty for my next article. I'm absolutely sentimental as it relates to Ginkgo Biloba. I almost died in July of 2023 and this tree has become one of my best friends ever since. I drink it almost daily for blood perfusion (-leaves look like lungs🤗) and mental agility. After reflecting on it in this article, I now pray to have one of our own one day. I'm in love all over again. Wow, thank you. Much respect. Ps. I can relate ito tertiary education too. Belonging is such a fragile concept.
When I was a freshman in college, I was confronted with a similar experience. A stench in the air that simultaneously arrested my every action and triggered my every emotion. It too was often inappropriately described as dirty socks and occasionally compared to dog vomit.
And it recurred often on campus, to the point where it was a norm, yet it never stopped arresting me and triggering me in multiple ways.
I wish my stench memory had all the deep symbolism and life meaning as yours. I went through an herbalism apprenticeship last year, and we covered ginkgo, and it didn’t cover the depth of your article.
My stench had no beautiful story to it. It was known as “cheese breeze” and was simply the air pollution from the nearby Hormel factory. Namely Spam gone bad.
Wow. It's comforting to know that understanding can flip a distant emotional experience. I never knew that the tree's fruit had a stench. Forever grateful to it, nevertheless. 💛
Wonderful article; I knew nothing about ginko trees other than their use in bonsai. Do people eat the fruit?
The nuts can be cooked and eaten in small amounts. Too large an amount is toxic.
This was the first thing I read this morning and what a delight. I knew nothing of Ginkgo’s and their symbolism… the messages of endurance and patience. Beautiful. Thanks for the education!
So happy you enjoyed this. I appreciate the feedback.