L L B C (7) Ginkgo

🗾   L's Life in a Big City  (7) Ginkgo    🗾

The road in front of the building where I'm working is a 4-lane boulevard street trees planted. I want to explain these street trees this time.

Before I start the story, I'd like to mention the unusual weather of this year. During late June and the beginning of July is a rainy season named 'Tsuyu', so, usually we have much rainfall every year. 

However, this year is different. There were few rainfalls and the weather soon became very hot instantly.  

A little ago, people believed that many people sprinkled with water at the same time, then the temperature went down. Because the vaporization of the sprinkled water takes away the heat in the air. We experienced the event to sprinkle water at a same time with all of citizens.

Recently, I don't hear the information of such event, maybe city officials learned that such effort was useless against the violence of global warming. 

By the way, I hear that ginkgo trees are resistant to polluted-air from vehicles. So, ginkgo trees are popular as street trees.

Ginkgo leaves change color to yellow in autumn. This sight of ginkgo trees makes us feel the change of the season to autumn. Furthermore, their nuts which covered with smelly flesh cover the pavements. By this smelly and uncomfortable event also makes us feel an elegance of autumn in Japan.  

Until quite recently, I didn't notice the importance of existence of ginkgo trees in summer. They make shadow by their plenty of leaves. They avoid the violent sunbeam from the sun.

I see many boulevard streets uncovered by street trees. Even if there are street trees, they are cruelly pruned. But this 4-lane boulevard street has street trees covered with plenty of leaves. Thanks to them, I can spend a little acceptable atmosphere in front of my working place.