The Goodlett Ginkgos

Every fall I look forward to driving by the row of ginkgos on Goodlett between The railroad tracks and Central. The cross street is Grandview Ave. The trees are so fine that others have already posted them on the web as an ad for the Grandview Area Neighborhood Association, Memphis, TN, USA (see the link below).

Grandview Ave and Goodlett 

Ginkgos have the reputation for dropping their leaves all at once. This does not always happen, but it seems to happen after a hard frost. When driving to work on Nov. 14, 2014 just before 8 AM, I saw the leaves falling. I did not have a camera so I called Susan and asked her to come with a camera and take pictures before it was too late. She could not get there right away but she did come later after most of the leaves had fallen. Here is what she saw.

Carpet of ginkgo leaves, Nov. 14, 2014

There were a few left hanging on the trees, but not many.

Waiting for the next breeze

These ginkgos are behind a large holly hedge.

The holly and the ginkgo

 Well, there is always next year. I need to keep that camera in the car.

Solo Ginkgo on Kirby Parkway north of Cottingham.

Nov. 16, 2014

This blog is dedicated to Memphis trees, but I have to make this one exception for a ginkgo we saw in Kyoto. After much pointing and gesticulation I was able to get an old gardener to tell me this tree is 400 years old. I cannot verify this, but the size of the trunk seems to fit.

Ginkgo at Nishi Hongwanji temple Kyoto, Sept. 20, 2014

Closeup of the trunk of this amazing tree.

Meeman-Shelby State Park Oct. 4, 2014

When I was younger my two boys were scouts. They often went on hikes in the Memphis area and farther afield with their troop (Troop 276). Adults went along and this was a great excuse to do things most adults would not make time for on their own. One local trip was to Meeman-Shelby State Park. The one notable tree species here is the American Beech. I went back with my two sons and Susan to revisit this park, just a little north of Memphis.

Tennessee is divided into geographic zones. Most of Memphis is in the Tennessee bottoms These end in bluffs about 200-300 feet tall overlooking the Mississippi River. below these bluffs is the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, less than 300 feet above sea level. Meeman-Shelby State Park has trails that take you into the alluvial plain, where the beech trees love to grow.

Here are a series of photos taken on October 4, 2014 that show the trails and some of the trees. This park is home to 11 championship trees, but that info is not available at the visitors center.

Tree at the visitor center with five-pointed deep-lobed leaves, possibly a fig tree

Same tree, full shot

Welcome to the trail

Tree #100 American beech

Beech trunk

Same tree, upper branches

Stephen and David

Lots of ups and downs on the trail

A red arrow on the trunk marks the trail

Just because a tree has fallen does not mean it is down and out

Down in a hollow

Beech

Top part of the same tree

Some people can't help carving on these beech trunks

Come on. Put your hand in!

Large liane

Base of a large oak

Upper part of the same tree

Identifying features for this tree

The stream has patches of rushes

Yes, you are still on the trail

Stephen, Susan, Adam (in Shakespeare shirt), David (in Muir Woods shirt) and Merlin

Notice the woodpecker holes in the bark

Rosie checking the trail

Rushes closeup

another large American beech

Interesting striations. What is this tree?

Glorious maple in the fall

Tree #99 Sugar Maple in golden fall color

In 2013 I drove past this tree always with the idea of taking a picture, but I let it get past me until the leaves fell. This year I got it in time.

Maple overhanging Poplar Pike west of Kirby Parkway, east of Old Lake Pike

Nov. 16, 2014 an under the overhang view

The radiant yellow color is not quite captured on this overcast day

On a sunny day this tree stands out as a golden ball on a street that has no other yellow competition. Since it goes over the street you can see it from half a mile away. It makes one glad that is is not on the other side of the street where MLGW cuts the tree branches to keep them out of the power lines. This is necessary, but it makes for some badly hacked trees. 

A longer view approaching from the west. Old Lake Pike is the corner street.