ABOUT OUR LOGO:

Why is there a Gingko leaf growing off of the “W“ in our Logo?

Strength, Perseverance, Resilience, Hope....

About Gingkos:

The oldest tree in existence, the gingko tree is viewed by many as a living fossil.  This is the only tree that has survived since prehistoric times dating back 270 million years.  The Gingko is special because it is one of the few living links between the modern world and the age of the dinosaur.  The gingko's reputation is one of resilience and tenacity.  Known by many as the  “tree of hope”, examples of its indestructible nature are many, all of them equally amazing.

The gingko comes from lands that spark the mind as to the possibilities of life.  They are elegant, beautiful trees.  They speak of the timelessness of nature and our relatively short time on this planet in comparison.  “By appreciating them and what they stand for, we appreciate the power of nature itself.  And by understanding the appeal of their indestructibility, we echo the hope that our own spirit is as strong.”

A Gingko tree growing next to a temple less than a mile from Hiroshima  survived the atomic blast. It suffered no deformities or scarring even though the temple next to it was annihilated. Other gingkos in Hiroshima also survived, even some inside the city itself, which is truly astonishing.  This is why in Japan the Gingko is called the "bearer of hope."

In Russia many years later, a Gingko was the  only  plant  to survive the nuclear meltdown at Chernobyl.  Observers and analysts immediately noted the correlation between this and the events of Hiroshima, and the legend was further cemented.

For its distinctive appearance, gingko ranks in the top few  trees  worldwide. Its winter shape can vary from angular and erect to weeping and elegant. In the spring its multi-lobed, fan-shaped green leaves erupt from both trunk and branch and turn golden in the fall.  Gingko grew in many parts of the world, preceding the Ice Age. The still to be seen decomposed stumps in Forest State Park in Washington, USA, are testimony to this. Gingko is special in that it can thrive in subtropical temperatures and also adapt to colder conditions when necessary. 

Gingko more than any other tree is highly resistant to  insects, bacteria, and pollution that ravage most other species--there will never be a need to spray this tree with chemical sprays.  Gingko is a truly magnificent tree, which  can live for up to a thousand years  and reach up to nine meters wide and twenty-seven meters high.  They are planted worldwide as hardy shade protectors, especially in towns, because they are extremely resilient to any form of pollution.

The Chinese have used gingko in medical preparations since 2800BC and they call it the "Fountain of Youth" herb.  They revere gingko as a sacred tree  and this is evident by the paintings in their temples.  The leaves and nuts have been used safely as a medicine for several thousands of years.  It has a  unique chemistry, which give it a mystical ability to survive and be resilient against drought, frost, low, or no sunlight, smog, radiation and  counteract pollution.   Its uses in healing help to prevent cell aging, promote healthy  eyes, skin and lungs and supports  blood vessels to be flexible, strong and  decongested  so that they are able to remove toxins and deliver nutrients.  Its leaves are among the most extensively studied botanicals in use today.  

Gingko has been used in traditional medicine to treat circulatory disorders and enhance memory. Scientific studies throughout the years have found evidence to support these uses. Although not all studies agree, gingko may be especially effective in treating dementia (including Alzheimer's disease) and intermittent claudication (poor circulation in the legs).  It also shows promise for enhancing memory in older adults. Laboratory studies have shown that gingko improves blood circulation by dilating blood vessels and reducing the stickiness of blood platelets.