Gingko biloba

These leaves were lying in the grass near the path in the village this morning, not knowing where they had come from I then espied a young tree over someone's hedge.  They are really stunning at this time of year as the foliage turns bright yellow.

The tree is native to East Asia and a living fossil, first appearing about 290 million years ago!!  Fossils have been found dating from 170 million years ago. Gingkos can grow very tall and have a preference for disturbed ground.  I was so pleased to see many had been planted along some of the streets in London when I was last there.  They are also one of the few growing things to have survived the blast of the Hiroshima atom bomb.