Henry Clay's Legacy.

[alfredo]

Most know him from the "Great Compromise", but he also changed our landscape with the introduction of the Gingko. The Gingko is one of the oldest trees in the world, going back some 200 million years. Henry Clay was given Gingko as a gift when visiting China. The trees you see in this image are descended from the first Gingko introduced by Senator Clay. They are lovely trees, but their fruit and leaves smell like dog shit. What fallen leaves you see now is just the scouting party, soon there will be a big fall. The rest of the leaves will fall in one day. It's quite a sight to see.

[Callalily]

1. Beautiful!

I feel like I'm on a golden path!

[Celebration]

2. nice photo

We have one in our yard, and it is spectacular when the sun shines on the yellow leaves.

I didn't know of the Henry Clay connection, so thanks for that.

[alfredo]

5. Don't you just love the one day fall of leaves?

[Celebration]

12. I'm going to try to remember to document this

I just took a picture of one branch of the tree, with yellow leaves still there. Over the next week I'll take a picture every day. I would guess the leaves will be off within the week. I'll report back, even if I fail to remember to do this.

[Mira]

3. Oh, this is an education. Visual and otherwise. Amazing and beautiful, so

timely.
Each one of these is truly great. Thanks for the narration, too.
The first one, split in half by light and dark, and then all light as a summation on the bottom. A work of art.

[alfredo]

4. Thanks. If you have ever read Michael Pollan's "The Botany of Desire"

You might think there is a reason behind its beauty. Like the bee and the flower are tied together, we could be tied to the Gingko and other "ornamental" plants. The flower seduced the bee for its own purposes. The Gingko has seduced us for its own purposes. It has found how to make humans plant it all over the world.


Potatoes, Apples, Maize, Orchids, and tomatoes have formed useful relationships with humans. That potted plant is pretty damn smart too.

[Mira]

6. I have not read yours, have you read mine? It is "The secret life of plants".

I read it about 35 years ago and it blew my mind.
Will look into yours.

[alfredo]

8. Thanks for reminding me of that book.

[Celebration]

9. The Secret Life of Plants??

Woo Hoo, LOVED that book. Really far out! It's a classic, too.

[Solly Mack]

7. I love'em!

[Mira]

10. Is it possible that this is a Ginko tree?

I was startled when I saw it, because the ground was as yellow and covered as in your photos, except more completely. Maybe the big final "dump" had just happened.
I was fascinated when I saw it.
This was in 106 degree heat in Phoenix last May.
I do not remember a disagreeable smell.

[alfredo]

11. Can't see the leaves, but the trunk is not what I'd ID as a Gingko.

Gingko grows up, not out.