Dr. Vladimir Rouvinski, a dear friend of GLH and UNITAR who championed the planting of the first GLH trees in Columbia, visited Hiroshima recently. Pictured left, Dr. Rouvinski and Dr. Azimi in front of the Chinese Parasol, Weeping Willow, and Camphor trees. ICESI University's very own Camphor tree is healthy and growing, currently at 10 meters!

A recent photo of the thriving ginkgo sapling!

A ginkgo, nurtured from seed to sapling for seven years, was planted on World Peace Day in Dunedin. Thank you to all of those in New Zealand who have made this planting a reality.

A moving speech by the dedicated GLH partner in the Netherlands, Dr. Rinny Kooi—on the occasion of the dedication of a Hiroshima tree at Eemsdelta College, Appingedam. Click here for the speech.

Akiko Perona, UNITAR chief of communications who was instrumental in helping us plant a hibakujumoku sapling at ICRC, sent us photos of the tree as it stands (July 2024) — a magnificent specimen, clearly ICRC gardeners have taken good care of Hiroshima’s green ambassador of peace.

An article published in the Yomiuri Shimbun about six camphor and 13 ginkgo of hibakujumoku that survived the tragic fires in Chile. New leaves have sprouted from these trees, encouraging residents during the recovery process. To read the article, click here (Japanese).

GLH is pleased to introduce its newest partner, the Godmanchester Community Plant Nursery, along with Roger Leivers, a local World War II historian and author who initially contacted us with a request for seeds. The wonderful GLH regional hub coordinator, David Dowd of CAFRE, stepped in and sent hibakujumoku Hackberry, to be nurtured by the Godmanchester Community Plant Nursery. This collaboration symbolizes a shared commitment to history, peace, and environmental stewardship, as captured in a snapshot at the nursery's orchard, where the seeds will eventually be planted.

Ted Samuel, Senior Director of Oberlin Shansi, visited Hiroshima and was given a tour of the hibakujumoku by GLH coordinator Nassrine Azimi and secretariat team member Ben Echikson, who has been working at GLH as part of a 2-year Shansi fellowship. Throughout the tour, they visited hibakujumokus on Atagoike, around Hiroshima Castle and Shukkeien Garden.

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 V.F.F. Institute Mare Nostrum e.V. NPO-Austria, who since have diligently documented the process. Their 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 their care and efforts, as well as those of Shuichi Hamatani and colleagues from the Hiroshima Botanical Garden.