Sir Peter Crane FRS is known internationally for his work on the diversity of plant life; its origin, fossil history, current status, conservation and use. He is President of the Oak Spring Garden Foundation in Virginia, an estate of Rachel Lambert Mellon that includes an exquisite garden as well as an exceptional library focused on the history of plant science, plant exploration, and the development of gardens and landscape design. The Foundation is dedicated to inspiring and facilitating scholarship and public dialogue on the uses, history and future of plants, including their importance for human well-being and in the culture of gardens and landscapes. Prior to 2016, he was Dean of Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

Ginkgo: The Tree that Time Forgot

Thur, Mar 21, 12:00

Perhaps the world’s most distinctive tree, Ginkgo is a botanical oddity and a widely recognized botanical “living fossil”. Wild Ginkgo exists only in China, but today it is beloved for the elegance of its leaves, prized for its edible nuts and revered for its longevity. It is one of the world’s most popular street trees and herbal medicines. This lecture will explore the evolutionary and cultural history of the species from its mysterious origin to its proliferation, drastic decline and ultimate resurgence.