Ginkgo museum by loisl
The Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), sometimes also known as the Maidenhair tree, is a unique tree with no living relatives.In the 18th century we find that there was a desire by princes and royal houses to create and cultivate models of the English landscape into their own parks. Because of this new interest we find the Ginkgotree being introduced and spreading into Europe around 1730.
Goethe and the Weimar Duke Carl August, both had a common interest in botany and the creation of exotic parks and gardens.
Goethe of course is very well known for his studies in the 'metamorphosis of plants.'
Duke Carl August had sent his court gardener to the gardens of Kew (England) to study and learn about gardening and it was here that he learned about the Ginkgo.
The gardener returned to Weimar and made the first attempt to introduce the Ginkgotree in the Weimar Orangery Belvedere. During the time of Goethe, the Ginkgo was only about 3-4 m. in height. There was some success in introducing the Ginkgotree to the area, and in 1800, one could buy a Ginkgotree on Belvedere for 1 Taler in Weimar.
The oldest Ginkgo in Weimar, planted about 1820 by the royal court gardener Sckell, who exchanged botanic information with Goethe, can be found just southwest of the House of the Dukes and Princes.
Goethe was very intrigued and inspired by the Ginkgoleaf and this led him to write his poem ,, Ginkgo biloba".
This poem can be found in the book Sulekia, included in the poem-collection ,,West-Eastern Divan".
