The ginkgo seeds, sent by our CAFRE regional hub, have arrived at the Collège JB de la Quintinye and GrandChêne Section Internationale, GLH's new partners in France. Grateful to former UNITAR Hiroshima Office staff Kaori Okabe who made the connection possible, to focal points Elise Barth and Jodie Sokhan (pictured left) who received the package, and to school directors Mme Marescaux and M. Macé for their support as well as to the SEGPA students who will be taking care of the seeds.

We are excited to announce our new partner, Keele University! 

Shared by Cody Azotea, an image of their first germinated seed! The seeds will now be taken out of cold storage and potted in the greenhouse. 

Lovely illustrations, courtesy of Dr. Rinny Kooi, titled, Illustrations E, F and G.

"E: Leaf of a young twig with incised leaf and a leaf of an older twig without incised leaf, F and G: twigs with leaves"

2024 marks the first time that the only Eucalyptus hibakujumoku—located on the grounds of Hiroshima Castle—gave fruit, which were collected and sent to our partners in Australia. While no seeds were found, we will all persevere and try again next year.

(Pictured from left to right in group photo: Dermot Molloy, Senior Curator Horticulture at Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne; Virginia McNally, System Garden Curator and Arborist at The University of Melbourne; and Jo Brennan, Horticulturalist at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne)

Our stately Eucalyptus hibakujumoku, sketched and kindly gifted by Mr. Peter Sparber of Philadelphia. 

GLH Seasonal Photo (January 2025): Eucalyptus globulus subsp. bicostata

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!

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).

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.