We are delighted to learn that Jo Brennan of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria could receive today a batch of hibakujumoku Ginkgo seeds, hand delivered by GLH partners Virginia McNally and Dominic Napoleone of the University of Melbourne. Under a shining sun, a small handover ceremony was set against the backdrop of one of the Gardens' flourishing Ginkgo specimens. The seeds are currently undergoing cold stratification in the Gardens' nursery as they prepare to be sowed. We extend our gratitude to all involved for their efforts to make this exchange happen.

In June 2017 GLH sent seeds to the Research Institute Mare Nostrum, who since have diligently documented the process. The Mare Nostrum website features images of the seeds, and the flowchart below, detailing application, arrival and sowing of seeds. It also has a detailed technical analysis that includes step-by-step images and explanations for germinating the seeds. Gratitude for the care and efforts of Peter Bauckmann from Mare Nostrum and Shuichi Hamatani from the Hiroshima Botanical Garden.

GLH is happy to welcome Kendal at Oberlin, a retirement community near Oberlin College, as a new partner. Their wisteria was cultivated by retired professor Dr. David Benzing since the spring of 2019, from a cutting of the wisteria in Oberlin College's Science Building courtyard. Horticulturist and focal point for GLH Rachel Duncan anticipates its inaugural bloom in a year or two. Winter photos taken in mid-January attest to the tree's hardiness. The plant is part of The John Bartram Arboretum collection (Kendal at Oberlin’s arboretum) with accession #1569.

In early December our partner, Professor Gerardo Avalos at the University of Costa Rica, hosted a webinar focusing on the Hiroshima hibakujumoku. His lecture covered GLH’s efforts to distribute seeds from the A-bomb survivor trees worldwide, along with the narrative of these seeds in Costa Rica. Titled “Árboles de la Paz de Hiroshima” – “The Trees of Peace from Hiroshima”, the webinar provided insights into the many ways Prof. Avalos, his students and colleagues have found, to share the message of peace and love of nature that the trees and GLH represent. Additional information is available on the project’s Facebook page, and an article about the initiative can be found on the University of Costa Rica’s website (all in Spanish).

The second seed-picking of 2023 in December convened a larger gathering of the A-Bomb trees community at Hiroshima Castle for picking seeds from the majestic Kurogane Holly tree.

University College Cork (UCC) recently hosted Japan's Ambassador to Ireland, Mr. Norio Maruyama. During his visit, the Ambassador had the opportunity to explore UCC's remarkable tree collection, with a special emphasis on the second-generation A-bomb survivor trees from Hiroshima. For a detailed report on this visit, please visit this link. Photo credits: Max Bell (UCC).

Our partner Janja Makše from the University Botanic Garden in Ljubljana sent us pictures of Ginkgo and Hackberry trees growing strong into a beautiful green and yellow hue. Janja also informed us that they have 18 Hackberry trees and 9 Ginkgo trees.

Andreas Løvold of the Oslo University Botanical Garden holds a tray of hibakujumoku seeds waiting to be germinated. The seeds arrived thanks to our dedicated partners at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) in Northern Ireland.  Some will be grown in Oslo, while others will be shared with new GLH partners in Finland and Denmark.

We are excited to share an update on the Gingko tree planted at the Geneva Headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) by Green Legacy Hiroshima. This hibakujumoku was planted in 2013 and has grown beautifully and is flourishing. Its remarkable growth at such a symbolic site embodies resilience and hope, a reminder of ICRC’s humanitarian efforts and also the work and unique contribution of Dr. Marcel Junod to Hiroshima.

We are happy to announce the safe arrival of the hibakujumoku at The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), Green Legacy Hiroshima’s dedicated regional hub for Europe. The CAFRE team has informed us that some of the seeds, including camellias, had already started to germinate, but they have been quickly planted in the college and the team hopes for the best.