Downtown Vacaville has a spectacular event that happens every year. It has been blogged about previously by Kathy Thomas-Rico, but I think it warrants additional praises. Standing proudly on the corner of West St. and Buck Ave., lives a large female Ginkgo tree. For about 6 months, the tree is hardly noticed as the fan shaped, double lobed leaves are dark green. In October those same leaves turn a blazing yellow and within a week they blanket the ground like a thick Chinese carpet.

It’s not unusual to see travelers stop, get out of their car and start taking photos. The tree is a female Ginkgo as it bears fruit. The fruit falls on the lawn and cement below and we observe the same Asian ladies picking it off the ground every year. I understand they make a sugared candy type treat with the fruit. When I have been nosy and picked up the fruit, it looks ugly and has a stinky smell. Maybe I should do further research on that-I may be missing something quite tasty.

The Ginkgo tree (Ginkgo biloba), is from China. They were known to grow well in serene temple areas and countryside gardens. Now you see them everywhere including home landscapes. They first appeared over 200 million years ago.

The male tree is upright and irregular in form, whereas the female tree is lower growing with a spreading habit. Being deciduous they are cold hardy and can handle blustery wind. They tolerate heat, and wet and dry conditions. Relatively immune to most diseases and insects, they are a perfect choice for any setting. They come full sized up to 40 feet and are even available as a dwarf. I have a miniaturized bonsai specimen that I got many years ago at the Master Gardener plant exchange. One of the nurseries that has a nice selection of Ginkgo’s is the Urban Tree Farm in Santa Rosa.