Would you vote for a tree?
No, this isn’t a sarcastic, political post — it’s true. Here in Victoria (my state), we’re regularly asked to vote for a tree, as well as a bird and other things.
The National Trust of Victoria began asking people to vote for a tree back in 2016, in an effort to to raise awareness about trees around Victoria and advocate for their protection by celebrating significant trees. It’s a nice idea, I think. Too many grand old trees get knocked down in the name of “progress” and this is one way of protecting them. You can see the list here.
To be eligible, the trees must be listed on the National Trust significant tree register, which it recognises up to 10,000 important trees in Victoria for their cultural, scientific, and historic value. Each year people nominate their favorite tree and a short list is drawn up. Then we’re asked to vote. It’s purely voluntary, and I think it’s also a bit of fun, scrolling through the list and deciding which tree to vote for.
Normally I’d vote for a native tree, but this year I’m going for this magnificent ginkgo tree. This particular tree was planted in the Geelong Botanic Gardens in 1859, and is more than 167 years old. Another name for the ginkgo tree is the “maidenhair” tree, and that’s because the leaves look exactly like maidenhair ferns, only bigger, and in autumn they’re pure, brilliant gold.
Do you know the ginkgo tree? I first saw some many years in a beautiful old garden (The Alfred Nicholas Memorial Garden) in the Dandenong Ranges, about an hour from Melbourne.
Actually, it was a grove of ginkgoes planted around a small lake, and I was there in autumn and the leaves were gloriously golden. The fallen leaves were scattered on the little lake like floating golden coins. It was a breathtaking sight and I’ve never forgotten it.
The Alfred Nicholas Memorial Garden is a beautiful garden to visit at any time of the year, but my favorite times are autumn and spring, when blossoms and flowers are everywhere.
Do you have a favorite tree? Or a favorite garden to visit?
Thanks for the delightful info and pictures of Ginkgo trees! Some 65 years ago my Mother planted one in Vista, California where I grew up, and it was a beautiful tree. Now I live in southern Minnesota on 9 heavily wooded acres and love trying to figure out “what tree is THAT?” Our Black Walnut trees look a bit like those trees between the Ginkgo trees in the bottom picture.
Thanks, Pat — yes, when you move to a new area, it’s a whole new learning curve, isn’t it?
I bet that Ginkgo your mother planted looks magnificent now.
Black walnut eh? Do you get nuts from it? When I was a kid we gathered masses of walnuts from a nearby orchard where the owner was old and had stopped gathering them.
Thanks for sharing. I have never seen a ginko tree in person.
I hadn’t either, Tami, until I took a bunch of students on an excursion to this garden — and fell in love. <g> I used to take my parents there a lot — the garden looked lovely at any time of year but in spring and autumn it was spectaculr.
What a beautiful picture of ginkgoes .I really like the beautiful shape of the leaves. I don’t have any in my yard, but there are a lot of trees here. Thanks for the post
Thanks, Carolyn — yes, the leaves look exactly like large maidenhairs, which are one of my favorite ferns.
Love this picture Anne. I like the idea of the Significant Tree in your state. I’m going to investigate if we have a similar list in Western Australia. Only yesterday I along with a friend visited our beautiful display of wildflowers at Kings Park…The photo shows the Floral Clock in its Spring flowering.
Thanks Pamela. Kings Park in Perth is a beautiful spot — I’ve visited it a few times and always enjoy it. And that photo looks lovely — thanks
Beautiful! I don’t think I”ve even seen an actual tree–the closest is a pin I have in the shape of a gingko leaf!
Thanks for the picture!
That pin sounds lovely, Elizabeth. The ginkgo leaves are a beautiful shape, I agree.
Yes. I love trees +++ and would definitely vote for your choices. Right now in NSW there are some fabulous trees gaining new shoots. I will set out for Victoria tomorrow when I will be heading to Bright Festival of Photography for my annual BFOP trip. Today I visited the Lilac Festival in Goulburn. There are some beautiful trees there and birds to add into the mix. I spotted an occupied birds nest but I won be handing out the directions b/c it wouldn’t be fair on the bird to get inundated with viewers. Some time back there was an… Read more »
Thanks Robyn. I hope you enjoy Bright — my favorite time of year there is autumn, but it’s a lovely town. And the lilac festival sounds wonderful, too. Happy photographing <g>.
And I’m glad your comment finally got through. Thanks for persisting.