Planting a Hiroshima peace tree

by Jessa Gardner

On October 5th, 2020, a small Ginkgo biloba sapling was planted just outside the Seattle Japanese Garden. This very special tree was gifted to us by Green Legacy Hiroshima —you may remember our earlier blog post about this amazing new partnership.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the welcoming ceremony for the tree was limited to just a few speakers. Representatives from both Japan and Seattle gave speeches to honor the legacy of both the Seattle Japanese Garden and Green Legacy Hiroshima.

This precious gift is a monument to the friendship between Japan and Seattle, and represents the wish of the Seattle Japanese Garden for peace and understanding between all people.

We hope you come visit the garden soon and say hello to our new sapling.

You can also enjoy the following slideshow, documenting the Gingko biloba’s journey from Japan to Seattle. Photos courtesy of Green Legacy Hiroshima, Peggy Garber, and Susan Ott-Ralph.

The survivor tree that produced the seed of our little sapling, from Shukkeien garden in Hiroshima, Japan.

Azar Azimi, who grew the sapling gifted to our garden. Her daughter, Nassrine, along with Tomoko Watanabe, started Green Legacy Hiroshima.

Ray Larson, UWBG Curator of Living Collections, who has been caring for the sapling since it’s arrival in Seattle this summer.

The sapling in transit from San Francisco to Seattle, lovingly transported by garden volunteers Susan Ott-Ralph and Cara Izumi.

Ginkgo biloba sapling, October 5th, 2020

Ginkgo biloba sapling and commemorative plaque, October 5th, 2020.

Mayor Jenny Durkan, Consul General of Japan Hisao Inagaki, Superintendent of Seattle Parks and Recreation Jesús Aguirre, Arboretum Foundation Executive Director Jane Stonecipher, and Garden Guide Susan Ott-Ralph all help plant the Gingko sapling.