I used to work out of Devou park in Covington, KY. There is a very large old Gingko tree by the Behringer-Crawford Muesum. It was a rumored to be a gift to that family from Henry Clay? However I’m not sure there’s much history on the tree. And I wish the Muesum would somehow include the tree in its information. There’s other Gingkos maybe of similar size in Cincinnati too (Spring Grove Cemetery). Although those might be related more to Dr. E. Lucy Braun?
Many people have told me that they have “one of Henry Clay’s ginkgo trees.” It is true that ginkgo trees were introduced to the estates of wealthy people with large properties throughout the eastern US. However, a careful examination of Clay’s own records and those of his properties shows that Clay knew nothing about gingkgo and did not plant any. The oldest ginkgo trees in Lexington are in Lexington Cemetery, not in Ashland. The best information I can find is that ginkgo was introduced by the early horticulture trade. Regardless of its origins, it is one of our most spectacular trees.
Wow. Thanks for the info. Must be a myth that Henry Clay was related to the trees. I suppose the large Gingko trees at Devou must’ve been a gift from a horticultural trade. And they truly are spectacular trees!
I spent several weeks working with the historian at the Henry Clay Estate, and found no evidence that Clay knew anything about ginkgo. It was a fun investigation.
I, too, memorized the smithy poem. I love tree stories, too. They give me joy, but also sorrow that none of us will ever see the forests that covered the northeast before the loggers took the trees for lumber.
I used to work out of Devou park in Covington, KY. There is a very large old Gingko tree by the Behringer-Crawford Muesum. It was a rumored to be a gift to that family from Henry Clay? However I’m not sure there’s much history on the tree. And I wish the Muesum would somehow include the tree in its information. There’s other Gingkos maybe of similar size in Cincinnati too (Spring Grove Cemetery). Although those might be related more to Dr. E. Lucy Braun?
Many people have told me that they have “one of Henry Clay’s ginkgo trees.” It is true that ginkgo trees were introduced to the estates of wealthy people with large properties throughout the eastern US. However, a careful examination of Clay’s own records and those of his properties shows that Clay knew nothing about gingkgo and did not plant any. The oldest ginkgo trees in Lexington are in Lexington Cemetery, not in Ashland. The best information I can find is that ginkgo was introduced by the early horticulture trade. Regardless of its origins, it is one of our most spectacular trees.
Wow. Thanks for the info. Must be a myth that Henry Clay was related to the trees. I suppose the large Gingko trees at Devou must’ve been a gift from a horticultural trade. And they truly are spectacular trees!
I spent several weeks working with the historian at the Henry Clay Estate, and found no evidence that Clay knew anything about ginkgo. It was a fun investigation.
That does fun! Kind of feels like solving a mystery. You are likely the only person who has looked into this.
I, too, memorized the smithy poem. I love tree stories, too. They give me joy, but also sorrow that none of us will ever see the forests that covered the northeast before the loggers took the trees for lumber.
Love this idea of sharing tree stories.