During Dr. Luciano Bosso's visit to the Botanical Garden of Naples, the Director shared an interesting historical anecdote connecting the cities of Naples and Hiroshima:

"In 1952, a Japanese ambassador donated to the Naples Botanical Garden some roof tiles from the Hiroshima Botanical Garden, recovered after the atomic bombing. As a gesture of gratitude, the Naples Botanical Garden sent some Laurus nobilis plants to Hiroshima University. These were planted by the then President, Tatsuo Morito, in one of the university’s gardens. The current Director has kindly asked whether these plants have survived over the years and if they are still alive today. The letters and fragments of roof tiles from the Hiroshima Botanical Garden are currently preserved in the Ethnobotany Museum located within the Botanical Garden of Naples. I am attaching some photographs of the letter along with a fragment of the tile.”

Wonderful new partners, spearheading the first GLH planting in the Philippines -- GLH team happy to welcome Director Grace Magtaas  and her colleagues, received with usual warmth by UNITAR's Chisa Mikami and team, an initiative conceived by Johanna Diwa, former colleague at UNITAR Hiroshima Office. Longterm friendships, like the roots of the Hiroshima trees, bringing everyone together. New generation partaking in the effort, thanks to young school children as well as students from Hiroshima University, including PHUSO.

Spring - Letters from GLH Coordinator

Photos taken by Christophe Crock, Head Gardener of the Wespelaer Arboretum. 4/10 seeds have germinated. Photos show that these seeds did not have an embryo. Special thanks to dedicated partner Marie-Noëlle Cruysmans for keeping us updated. 

(Last photo: Quentin Eeckhout holding sapling)

The GLH team has been uplifted by the two most recent stories published by Keele University's Dr. Taylor, detailing the journey of the ginkgo seeds from their arrival to present!

Blog: Sarah L Taylor – Medium

Ginkgo seed: life and death growing ‘Hibakujumoku’ | by Sarah L Taylor | Medium

The baby ginkgoes are all tucked up for winter! | by Sarah L Taylor | Medium

Created and shared by Dr. Hope Elizabeth May, a beautiful record of how Central Michigan University became a GLH partner, and current acitivities related to the hibakujumoku saplings. 

• Updates: https://www.thinkwemust.com/Hiroshima%20Saplings/index.html
• About: https://www.thinkwemust.com/About%20Saplings/index.html
• Press: https://www.thinkwemust.com/Saplings%20Press/index.html

We have received an updated photo of the plaque!

Our partners at the Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques (CJB) in Geneva have sent an update of three of the Ginko biloba, which have germinated and are now growing in their experimental greenhouses. Pictured right are the saplings, as well as Head Gardener, Nicolas Freyre receiving the most recent delivery of seeds. Thank you to Diane Bacher for sharing this update with us. 

We have received a wonderful update from our partners at the Kutaisi Botanical Garden! Linked here is their detailed account and latest updates on the second-generation hibakujumoku since their arrival to Kutaisi, Georgia in 2017. 

Some exciting updates from Dr. Gerardo Avalos:

Ready to plant their first two ginkgos, one in the Japanese Garden at the Lankester Botanical Gardens in Cartago, the other on the main campus of the University of Costa Rica. They are also coordinating with the Japanese Embassy in Costa Rica, and hope to hold the planting ceremonies around August 6th, in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

As part of this project, we are developing a children's book (for ages 5–8) inspired by the Ginkgo story […] This book is being translated into multiple languages—12 so far—thanks to a dedicated international group of volunteers, mostly young students, who are generously contributing their time and expertise. 

– Dr. Gerardo Avalos

Dr. Avalos also plans to translate the book into two indigenous languages in Costa Rica, as well as producing a physical book and an online version (which will have all translations as well as background music).

I hope to spread the word about building a culture of Peace and a future in which humanity will not have to face the possibility of annihilation due to atomic weapons and weapons of mass destruction. 

– Dr. Gerardo Avalos