Via site feedGinko Leaves, Sun and Waves, a custom trellis by Get Bent Copper Works Custom Designs. Follow the link for more photos.
Ginkgo Fridays: Textiles
Ginkgo leaves print shadow fabric by frumafar.
Gingko #2
One of a series of four watercolors by artist Thayer Tomlinson.
Ginkgo Light
The Ginkgo Light, a book of poetry by Arthur Sze.
Ginkgo Sundays: House and Garden
Ginko ground chair by designer Onur Müştak Çobanlı
Ginkgo Fridays: Paper
Wrapping paper with ginkgo pattern by nicoletter. International shipping available.
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: Platter
From eBay.
Ginkgo
This beautiful piece is sculpted from a goose egg by artist Lisa Bolton.
Ginkgo Sundays: House and Garden
Beauty of Ginkgo Leaf vessel sink by Robert Guenther.
Ginkgo Fridays: Jewelry
Ginkgo leaf necklace by Michael Michaud.
Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: Paperweight
From eBay.
Festival of the Trees #42
The latest Festival of the Trees is now up at Via Negativa.
Festival of the Trees #28
You are hereby reminded that the next Festival of the Trees will be hosted by Jade Blackwater of Arboreality. You may send your submissions via email to jadeblackwater [at] brainripples [dot] com, or via the Blog Carnival submission form.
Preparing Ginkgo Nuts for Desserts
Stanley at Wery Nice offers the following method for preparing ginkgo nuts for desserts:
You can use the canned version (in water), or those still in shell purchased in the supermarkets or the dried food stalls (干粮) stalls found in China Town, and in Singapore, Waterloo Street Market (四马路), Hong Lim or any branches of the Chinese medicine stalls in most shopping centers（like 福华 or 正中平）. You have to de-shell it by knocking it with something hard (eg stone pestle) to crack the shell, and then peel off the brown skin (boiling it lightly helps to remove it easily). If you use canned version, drain away the water.
Put the nuts in pot, and cover it with just enough water to cover all the nuts. Add in lots of raw sugar (or white sugar, but I prefer the raw sugar), about half the amount of the nuts in volume (approximately, the exact amount is not very crucial, as we just need it to be extremely sweet to allow the nut to absorb). Leave it to boil for 15-20 mins. Cover and leave it for at least 12 hours (prepare this the night before you need it the next day). Scoop out and drain off the sugar solution. Set aside to be added into your desserts like 清汤，腐竹糖水，莲子糖水。
Do not pour away the sugar solution; it can be re-used to sweeten the desserts that you will be cooking anyway.
Ginkgo Sundays: House and Garden
Green Ginko Vine Wallpaper from USA Wallpaper.
The Consent
Late in November, on a single night Not even near to freezing, the ginkgo trees That stand along the walk drop all their leaves In one consent, and neither to rain nor to wind But as though to time alone: the golden and green Leaves litter the lawn today, that yesterday Had spread aloft their fluttering fans of light. What signal from the stars? What senses took it in? What in those wooden motives so decided To strike their leaves, to down their leaves, Rebellion or surrender? and if this Can happen thus, what race shall be exempt? What use to learn the lessons taught by time, If a star at any time may tell us: Now.
Howard Nemerov, The Western Approaches: Poems 1973-75
Ginkgo Sundays: House and Garden
Table lamp by Quail Hollow Studios.
(And it’s good to be back!)
May 22, 1980
The people’s challenge to the government was reflexive. They fought to survive. Nevertheless, the historic implication of their resistance was significant. For the first time since the peasant rebellion of 1894, the people had seized a region and were ready to forge a new order on their own. Slowly, the people of Kwangju began to realize the significance of the liberation they had won. Everywhere, people talked about what they had done during the uprising and what they should do now. Kŭmnam Avenue was already clean early that morning. All the debris was cleared and carted away by commandeered military trucks. Tow trucks pulled the burnt husks of vehicles off the streets. Only the ginkgo trees lining the avenue showed the scars of battle: the clouds of tear gas had defoliated the trees.
Lee Jai-eui, Kwangju Diary: Beyond Death, Beyond the Darkness of the Age
Festival of the Trees #24
Wrenaissance Reflections hosts next month’s Festival of the Trees. Entries are due by May 29 and may be submitted at jlblum [at] Wrenaissance [dot] com with “Festival of the Trees” in the subject line. Alternatively, you can use the online submission form.
Ginkgo Fridays: Paper
Pearlized ginkgo paper from Paper Mojo, available in four colors.
Ginkgo Sundays: House and Garden
Ginkgo leaf fireplace screen from New Craftsman Industries.
Ginkgo Fridays: Jewelry
Ginkgo jewelry by Lyn Stoll. Be sure to check out her other ginkgo jewelry.
Ginkgo Wednesdays: Photography
Image courtesy of randomix.
Ginkgo Sundays: House and Garden
Console table from Cardine Studios.
Festival of the Trees #20
[Above photo courtesy of The Seeded Earth. Brrr for now. But spring is coming to the north.]
I grew up in Missouri and was outside most of the time. I was able to enjoy those fearless years when it was nothing to climb to the top of a 40-foot-high tree, and to sway back and forth with one foot wedged into the crook of a skinny branch.
So writes Jennifer at Thursday Drive, just in time to put me in the mood for this month’s Festival of the Trees. She’s my sister, you see, and many moons ago we used to climb the oak tree in our backyard, just as high as the ever-thinning branches would let us. Never quite high enough to peek out of the top, but almost. We left our mark on that tree, and we left behind a few dreams.
The news isn’t all bad. The 
Ginkgo Fridays: DIY
Expert Village carries a video series by Susan Ting on how to make double-walled pottery vessels. The vessel made in the series is a ginkgo leaf teapot. Here, watch Susan display the final product:
Weekly Ginkgo News Roundup
Even if the reasons are good, it’s still sad to hear about the loss of a ginkgo tree:
Despite a homeowner’s pleas, a 50-year-old ginkgo tree in the path of a $5 million Roeland Park stormwater project will be removed. The Roeland Park City Council voted 6-0 Tuesday night to proceed with the condemnation for the project designed to alleviate flooding…
However, if the city actually follows through with this plan, it won’t be so bad:
The city is considering planting several Ginkgo trees, each 3 inches in diameter, in municipal parks to help compensate for the loss of the tree.
From The Kansas City Star.
Ginkgo Wednesdays: Photography
Image courtesy of IwateBuddy.
Danforth Pewter Artisan-Made Ginkgo Candle Snuffer
From eBay.
Ginkgo Sundays: House and Garden
Ginkgo shower curtain from Royal Home Fashions.
Festival of the Trees #20
A reminder that the upcoming Festival of the Trees will be hosted right here at Ginkgo Dreams.
Send your links to me at kelly (at) ginkgodreams (dot) com with “Festival of the Trees” in the subject line, or use the submission form at BlogCarnival.com. The deadline is January 29.
Gingko Fridays: Textiles
Ginko-Jewel fabric from Mission Studio.
Portmeirion Ginkgo 11” Dinner Plate
From eBay, and I’ve also recently seen these at T. J. Maxx.
Ginkgo Wednesdays: Photography
Image courtesy of gman16000.
Lasting Impressions
This is but one of several beautiful works by Dixie Biggs with a ginkgo motif.
Door Pottery Crystalline Ginkgo Slender Vase
From eBay.
Ginkgo Sundays: House and Garden
Handcrafted ceramic tiles from Crowfoot Studio.
Ginkgo Fridays: Paper
Ginkgo letterpress card by Pie Bird Press, available from Etsy.
Pewter Barrette
From eBay.
Ginkgo Wednesdays: Photography
Image courtesy of smartgrrrl.
Dansk Whisperwoods Gingko Branch 16 Pc Dinnerware Set
From eBay.
Ginkgo Sundays: House and Garden
Ginkgo butter dish from Ancestral Collections.
Ginkgo Fridays: Jewelry
One-of-a-kind ginkgo leaf pendant by Melissa Lester.
Ginkgo Fossil
From eBay.
Ginkgo Wednesdays: Photography
Ginkgo trees in Songyo Kangan Street, Pyongyang, North Korea.
Image courtesy of Kernbeisser.
Taro and Ginkgo Nut Congee
Ingredients (serves 2) ° 100g rice, washed and drained ° 15 ginkgo nuts, halved ° 60g taro, peeled and diced ° 20g beancurd sheet, washed and shredded ° 1.2 litres water ° 1 thin slice ginger (optional), ° salt, to taste ° light soy sauce, to taste ° sesame oil, to taste ° pepper, to taste ° a small handful fresh coriander leaves, for garnish Method 1. Put the rice, taro, ginkgo nuts, beancurd sheet, ginger, mushrooms and water in a claypot or pot. Let it stands for 1 hour or more, if desired. 2. Bring the congee to a boil for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat, cover with a lid and leave it to stands for 30 minutes or more. Re-boil the congee for few minutes prior to serving. To thicken the congee, mix 1-2 tablespoons of glutinous rice flour with 4 tablespoons of water and stir into the congee, if desired. Season with salt, light soy sauce, sesame oil and pepper. 3. Ladle the congee into individual serving bowls, garnish with corianders leaves and serve hot.
Recipe courtesy of Crystal at The Modern VEGETARIAN - Recipes.
Ginkgo Sundays: House and Garden
“Little Gingko,” a handmade paper lamp from Wyldewood Papers.
Ginkgo Fridays: DIY
Follow the step-by-step instructions at HGTV to make this ginkgo leaf teapot sculpture.
Jessie Steele Bib Carmen Ginkgo Leaf Apron
From eBay.
Ginkgo Wednesdays: Photography
Image courtesy of bitmapr.
Snow Fall Haiku
Nonhexagonal, Swirling golden ginkgo leaves. O radiant snow.
Ginkgo Sundays: House and Garden
Schrodt Design ginkgo leaves bird feeder from Backyard Style.
Ginkgo Fridays: Textiles
Rayon batik available from Saf-T-Pockets Patterns.
Gentle Ginkgo
Etching by artist Ana Dora.
Festival of the Trees #19
A reminder that Lorianne of Hoarded Ordinaries hosts the upcoming Festival of the Trees. Deadline for your entries is December 30. To submit, email your entry to zenmama (at) gmail (dot) com with “Festival of the Trees” in the subject line, or use the submission form at BlogCarnival.com.
Weekly Ginkgo News Roundup
Most autumns bring at least one news article on the beauty and uniqueness of ginkgo trees. In one from The Clarion-Ledger, Norman Winter poses a pertinent question:
It was brought to the United States in 1784 from Asia, but ginkgo fossils have been found in America. For a good debate, I love to pose the question: if ginkgo fossils have been found in America, does this not mean it’s native?
You wouldn’t find much of a market here in the United States selling ginkgo nuts as a school fundraiser, but it’s a different story in Japan:
Students at Habu Primary School in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, are maintaining a tradition of gathering nuts from a tall gingko tree in the school yard to sell for charity. The Gingko Nuts Fund of the school, where 91 pupils study, is an endeavor dating back more than 30 years. Vice Principal Hiroaki Hara said the charitable work, no matter how small, helps students broaden their horizons. “With our fund, we hope we can support those in need,” he said. “Also, we hope the children become convinced of their ability to help.” The 15-meter-tall tree drops nuts between September and December. The nuts smell and cause people slip on them if left on the ground. From about 7:30 a.m. to the start of classes each morning, an average of 20 pupils from all grades gather around the tree to pick up the nuts. (via the Yomiuri Shimbun.)
Festival of the Trees #18
Riverside Rambles hosts the upcoming Festival of the Trees. Deadline for your entries is November 29. To submit, email your entry to larry (dot) ayers (at) gmail (dot) com with “Festival of the Trees” in the subject line, or use the submission form at BlogCarnival.com.
Greetings
I hadn’t intended this hiatus to become as long as it has, but it did, and now I’ve returned. I’m eager to fall back into the routine of scouring the world for ginkgo.
I have a few outstanding reader e-mails to respond to, and I expect to be able to process those shortly. Unfortunately, there are a number of older e-mails (and I do mean old) that won’t get an answer, as a sad computer event earlier this year wiped them out (just the e-mail, as I had everything else backed up). If you’d like a response, please (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) again, and I’ll respond shortly.
Snow is falling outside my window as I write, big wet globs of it. Very likely all of the ginkgo leaves have fallen. A recent absence meant that I didn’t check up on my local ginkgos. I’ll make a drive by later this week to confirm.
In any case, I look forward to bringing you the best ginkgo I can find. It’s good to be back.
Ginkgo Sundays: House and Garden
Ginkgo fabric by Standard Textile.
Ginkgo Fridays: Jewelry
Ginkgo necklace designed by Robyn Nichols and available from Evanport Trading Company.
Gingko Tree
Collage and acrylic on panel by Susan Weil.
Ginkgo Sundays: House and Garden
Using a ginkgo tree to display your family geneaology is a nice touch to an old tradition. Available from Red Envelope.
Ginkgo Fridays: Paper
Ginkgo leaves are but one of the choices in this set of six tiny gift notes by celula.
Inspector Ginkgo Tips His Hat To Sherlock Holmes
I almost passed over Inspector Ginkgo Tips His Hat to Sherlock Holmes
Ginkgo Sundays: House and Garden
Ginkgo Fridays: Jewelry
Sterling silver ginkgo earrings by Courtney Lipson.
Ginkgo Wednesdays: Photography
Image courtesy of maybemaq.
Festival of the Trees #13
The 13th Festival of the Trees is now up at Wrenaissance Reflections.
They’re still looking for a host for #14, so if you’re interested, head over here.
Ginkgo Leaves
Painting by artist Wendy Brockman.
(It was this painting that first gave me the idea for Ginkgo Dreams.)
Ginseng and Gingko with Bird’s Nest
Ingredients : 113g superior Ginyi Bird’s Nest soaked until soft 19g American Ginseng 19g Gingko Rock sugar to taste 6 cups hot water Methods : 1. Wash & soak American Ginseng 2. Break & peel clean gingko 3. Double boil American ginseng, gingko and rock sugar with 6 cups of hot water 4. Add in bird’s nest after 1 hour of double boil again for 1½ hours.
From Ginyi.
Ginkgo Sundays: House and Garden
Although I don’t plan to order more than one (in order, as the site suggests, “to form a colorful bouquet”), I do intend to order one of these ginkgo fly swatters from Modern Motive.
Even though it seems but one step away from total ginkgo kitsch.
Ginkgo Fridays: DIY
Try Stamp Zia’s Ginkgo Paper project for some summer ginkgo fun.
Ginkgo Wednesdays: Photography
Image courtesy of tanakawho.
Pearl Moscowitz’s Last Stand
I found Pearl Moscowitz’s Last Stand
Pearl Moscovitz’s Last Stand is the story of the street on which Pearl grew up, and the ginkgo trees planted there. In fits and starts, the trees begin to disappear, one to lightning, another to make way for a bus stop, and most of them to make room for new development, until there is only one tree left. Pearl saves the last ginkgo tree with some charm, great food, and a little activism.
Ginkgo Sundays: House and Garden
Ginkgo birdbath available from Plow & Hearth.
Ginkgo Fridays: Textiles
Ginkgo leaves scarf by Joann A Lot.
Ginkgo Wednesdays: Photography
Image courtesy of muskva.
Festival of the Trees #13
Wrenaissance Reflections hosts the upcoming Festival of the Trees. Deadline for your entries is June 29. To submit, email to treefest (at) wrenaissance (dot) com, or use the submission form at BlogCarnival.com.
Chilled Sweet Beancurd-Water Chestnut and Sweetcorn Soup
Ingredients: (makes a large pot of soup) 2 can creamed sweetcorn 150 gm ginko 150 gm water chestnut, finely diced 2 blocks fresh soft tofu (about 400 gm) 1.5-2 ltr water (depending on how watery you want it to be) 20-30 tbsp sugar (or to taste) Method: 1. Mix sweetcorn, ginko, water chestnuts, water and sugar. Bring to boil and let it simmmer for 15 minutes or so. Let it cool down. 2. Prior to serving, blend beancurds with a little bit of water) until mashed. (Run the beancurd through boiling water before this step) 3. Pour into the sweetcorn mixture. Add in some ice and eat it cold. Note: Will use “Tau Fu Fah” instead of soft beancurd to see if it yields better results.
Recipe courtesy Little Beancurd.
Ginkgo Sundays: House and Garden
Dining table by Russ Riddle.
Ginkgo Fridays: Paper
I’ve looked before, but this is the first time I’ve found ginkgo wrapping paper. Wooster & Prince Papers, available from Paper Mojo.
Ginkgo Wednesdays: Photography
Take a good look, and you’ll understand why ginkgos are also known as maidenhair trees.
Image courtesy of Matthew Turner’s Photos.
Ginkgo
Acrylic and ginkgo leaves with resin on canvas, by artist Melissa Wagner.
Getting to Know You
This morning you find yourself hugging a tree: it’s your front yard gingko, bare-leafed and rough, the trunk just narrow enough to get your arms around. It’s one of those moments when people and trees come together, when the mind empties out like spilled milk and you are that tree; and when the UPS man climbs out of his truck, surprised to see you hugging a tree but too polite to ask why and hands over a package to sign for, you think: Who is this woman—and isn’t it time to get to know her? And when the neighbor who just moved in next door with six cats and an old red pickup comes jogging down the road, you holler, Kettle’s on! C’mon in. And though her eyes widen to see you stroking the bark of the gingko—she turns and trots up your walk. And you know this is exactly what you were longing for when you first embraced that tree: a cup of green tea and a neighbor who looks bewitching today in her purple cape, her tall rubber boots and a rusty frizz of hair that sticks straight up like an antenna, like a genie dropped in from some distant star and in your own front yard.
Ginkgo Sundays: House and Garden
Three-piece ginkgo bath set from Wal-Mart (online only).
(Yes, you read that right. And it’s not half bad.)
Ginkgo Fridays: Jewelry
This ginkgo necklace from Kristin Laing is one of my favorites. I’m putting it on my Christmas list.
Weekly Ginkgo News Roundup
Down in New Zealand these days it’s fall, and that means only one thing for female ginkgo trees and those unlucky enough to be in their vicinity: smelly nuts. Seems everyone around in Te Awamtu agrees that the female trees need to go, but so far no one’s actually made the decision.
Pastors Pam and Ariki Ashford, of the Assembly of God, said they had battled with the council to get rid of the gingko tree outside their church for the past 15 years. “When you stand in one and squash one it smells like dog spew,” Mrs Ashford said. Mr Ashford said he’d noticed many pedestrians, including school children, preferring to walk on the road rather than through the whiffy fruit.
Via Waikato Times.
Meanwhile, at Logan International Airport in Boston, MA, USA, officials are very focused:
Logan’s $10 million landscaping plan relies on thousands of trees, flowers, and bushes that don’t draw insects. It pays attention to the smallest detail to balance appearance and safety. The gingko trees had to be all male, because females drop seeded stinkbombs that attract birds and bugs. Plantings shunned certain shades of red and violet because they attract Japanese beetles. Roses, too.
Via Boston Globe.
Introducing the Weekly Ginkgo News Roundup
The staff here at Ginkgo Dreams has (since there’s only one of me) always had a nose for ginkgo-related news, which is why it’s surprising that it took me so long to develop the Weekly Ginkgo News Roundup.
Through WGNR I intend to present the latest in ginkgo-related news. Some weeks will be fuller than others; I can already tell you that this week’s Roundup is on the short side, but the stories have a definite ginkgo scent.
Expect to see it each Thursday. Or not, if there isn’t any.
Housekeeping
I seem to have had a long-standing problem with both comments and e-mail, both possibly now fixed.
Would a few readers be so kind as to either leave a comment or to drop me a e-mail through the Contact link on the sidebar?
Thanks for both your help and patience.
Ginkgo Wednesdays: Photography
Image courtesy of Matthew Campagna. See Project Seoul for more of his photography.