Blondie and the blond trees

The red momiji (Japanese maples) are used to be the stars of the fall season in the archipelago, with their violently flaming tones attracting the visitors in the mountains, the forests and the parks; but for me, in autumn, there's nothing like the Tokyo golden gingko trees shining on the perfect blue sky. Pure beauty. Pure energy. And God knows that I need it these days.

Yellow vegetal torches

Gingko biloba (銀杏, "ichou" in Japanese : silver apricot) is also called the "maidenhair tree": this is probably the reason why I feel so close to them! Hey, soul sisters! Furthermore, according to the specialists, ginkgos are remarkably easy to care for and will grow in most conditions from sun through to shade. And this type of tree is sexualized: there are male and female gingkos. In Japan, kids learn to identify them according to the shape of the leaves : a skirt shape for a female tree, a trouser shape for a male tree.

Ichou trees are very familiar vegetals in Tokyo, and they are part of the daily landscape of millions of Japanese, but actually, they are very special, because we don't know any "relatives" to this specy. It makes it amazingly unique. The scientist call it a "living fossile", because it belongs to this range of species that were born 270 millions years ago. Gingkos are wise, very wise trees.

Let's get inspired

Whisper words of wisdom: let it be.