Ginkgo trees around town will soon reach their fall color peak, and you don’t want to miss out on this eye-popping spectacle. Clothed in radiant, golden splendor, Ginkgoes are hard to miss when they reach maximum incandescence, which will likely occur within the next week.
Some really big specimens live on or near Boone Avenue. Take a walk or a drive, and you’ll see what I mean. There’s one on the lawn of the Clark County Public Library, and they’re cropping up in yards throughout the community.
But hurry — the show won’t last long once it gets underway. When one Ginkgo leaf falls, they all follow suit. Within an hour or two, even the most massive Ginkgo can shed its multitude of leaves into a bright, glowing puddle. If you’ve got the time and inclination to watch, this steady rain of leaves is a sight to behold in its own right.
Ancient, mystical beauties, Ginkgo biloba species have graced our blue planet for at least 150 million years. They are sometimes called Maidenhair Tree because each fan-shaped leaf resembles a flowing ponytail.
Ginkgoes aren’t native to Kentucky, but we shouldn’t hold that against them. They are beautiful in every season, grow at a slow-to-moderate pace, and aren’t susceptible to diseases or insects. In addition to being gorgeous, Ginkgoes are believed to have medicinal qualities. Their extracts have been used for centuries to treat numerous ailments, including most notably in recent years, memory loss.
Let’s never forget that we are surrounded by beauty. We just need to notice it. Go outside. Look around. It’s autumn in Winchester, and the Ginkgoes are glorious.
