I have the fortune of living near one of the only female ginkgo trees in the area, I pass by it on the rare occasions that I take out the garbage.  A powerful presence in the yard, I stand in awe of its sheer size and shading capacity in the summer time.  The beautiful ginkgo tree has distinctively beautiful, supple, green fan-shaped leaves which turn a stunning butter color around this time of year.  Its fruit, approximately the size and shape of a cherry with a thin yellow skin like a peaches, drop into the yard.

Earlier this morning, I was tootling away at some light work here in my cube, fidgeting to find comfort in my seat when I caught a whiff of something slightly unpleasant.  I saw the empty bag of white cheddar cheese-its which was promptly deposited into a distant trash can.  Time passed, I noticed the fetor was still around.  I didn’t shart, there’s nothing on my sweatshirt, and I didn’t eat anything pungent.

Quite annoyed I went back to work and sat with one leg tucked under another .  I noticed the smell and saw the crushed unfertilized ova of the ginkgo on the bottom of my shoe.   As beautiful and majestic as the female ginkgo tree is, it is equally as hideous and horrendous if the skin of the fruit is breached.  When unfertilized ova of the ginkgo tree hit the ground they ferment and the smell ranges from spoiled milk to feces.  The cruelty of the tree’s beauty is an irony that I cannot bear, especially in the springtime when the snow melts and all that’s left in the yard is dog feces and rotted ginkgo fruit.

Beware of trees that bear beautiful leaves and pretty fruit.