Althouse: Ginkgo circles.

October 26, 2014

Ginkgo circles.

16 comments:

Bob said...: Pretty trees, especially in the fall. There's a gorgeous one at Colonial Williamsburg.; 10/26/14, 2:44 PM
YoungHegelian said...: Pity the poor, lonely gingko. 250 million years ago, it was a thriving genus, with multiple species.

Now, it is a living fossil, a genus that has only one surviving species -- ginkgo biloba.

Maybe that's why it likes to raise a stink. I find it interesting that I can smell a ginko two blocks away, but my wife can't smell them right under the tree!; 10/26/14, 3:02 PM
bleh said...: Althouse, did you notice the assortment of women in red suits on drudge today?; 10/26/14, 3:48 PM
jimbino said...: Why do I hear on NPR and elsewhere folks pronouncing "larvae" as LAR-vuh instead of LAR-vee? They do the same, mutatis mutandis, with "alumnae" and "pupae," I suppose.; 10/26/14, 4:32 PM
MathMom said...: Ginkgo.

I didn't know they grew in Wisconsin. The only place I've ever seen ginkgo growing is in Japan!; 10/26/14, 6:20 PM
Ann Althouse said...: Hey, I spelled it wrong.

Fixed.; 10/26/14, 6:27 PM
RecChief said...: interesting debate on public television right now regarding polarization in politics. fascinating to hear (again) the arguments for a certain interpretation of the role and scope of government that I don't agree with.; 10/26/14, 6:41 PM
RecChief said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 10/26/14, 6:41 PM
Unknown said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 10/26/14, 6:42 PM
Unknown said...: We have a huge ginkgo tree in our yard and 4 dogs. The seasonal ritual is for all of the dogs to go outside and eat as many ginkgo balls as possible, and then come back in the house and barf them up.; 10/26/14, 6:46 PM
MathMom said...: No worries. It's a weird word. Everyone thinks it's gingko, I had to practice it to know how to spell it.; 10/26/14, 6:49 PM
Bob R said...: Had a huge one in our yard in NJ. Beautiful leaves in the fall. God, the fruit smelled awful. Which made it great for throwing at your siblings.; 10/26/14, 8:23 PM
Danno said...: Here in St. Paul, our City Forester's staff started planting ginkgo trees in its diversity program quite a number of years ago. They planted a number of female trees by accident, which when the fruit falls, it smells like dog poop. I understand the need for having a diverse base of trees to avoid the problems they had with Dutch Elm disease in the 1970's, but these trees are not very attractive compared to the maples and many other varieties that are available. Ann's picture was the first positive thing I have seen on the ginkgo.; 10/26/14, 10:01 PM
rhhardin said...: Last Days for the Norway Maple.; 10/27/14, 11:11 AM
JOB said...: Maidenhair Tree

Fühlst Du nicht an meinen Liedern,
Daß ich eins und doppelt bin? – Goethe

Maidenhair tree, you living fossil (also “Ginkgo”) –
Around tomorrow’s roots you grow from ancient days
Implying leaves evolved from petals each time they blow,
Dynastic in brilliant hues. In fan shapes you praise
Early autumn’s fanfare – flower house fandango
Neglecting neither flesh nor mind. You hide to show
High courtship with seasoned arts learned in woman’s ways –
As blushing bush will show to hide what loosened stays….
Informed by loneliness, the autumn’s barren limbs
Release your leaves upon the cold-creek mountain air.
This plants you – orphaned phylum, species, class – and limns
Relevance to love as organic Yiji love:
Each fall you play the courtesan and let your hair
Enlighten Kingdom Earth through the pleasure that you give.; 10/27/14, 12:21 PM
JoyD said...: This photo of the ginkgo tree is amazing! I would enlarge and frame that one in a heartbeat. Not only is it cool photography, it is so uplifting.

The previous fisheye of treeline and skyscape is glorious too. Thanks for sharing.; 10/27/14, 4:04 PM