Greetings

Greetings from the wild Ginkgo hamlet, located inside the West Tianmu Mountains, a member of the UNESCO's 'Man and Biosphere Reserve Network', Inside its abundant vegetation, live hundreds of wild millennium Ginkgos.

Surrounded by grand mountain ranges, Yangjia Village,the wild Ginkgo hamlet is situated in a long valley, with a population of over 1,200 people, hundreds of houses were built along several streams. There are a lot of Ginkgo trees scattered besides houses and in valleys. Each family has several female Ginkgo trees, whose seeds are one of our main sources of income.

As a native, I grew up, I played in the wild Ginkgo forests. I began to photograph Ginkgos late last century. I learned my craft through apprenticeship to a disciple of a master traditional Chinese painter Shoutian Pan. My works have been published and exhibited internationally. And I have been editing and polishing the book for recent years.

History

God created the earth. Dinosaurs and Ginkgos flourished. After the biological mass extinction 65 million years ago, plus the Quaternary glaciers which swept across the planet 2 million years ago, most forms of animals and plants disappeared. One species of Ginkgo tree survived in sheltered mountainous areas in east China. I am lucky enough to be a native.

In 1989, at Yi Ma Formation of Henan Province, China, a team of paleontologists led by Zhiyan Zhou (my advisor) and Bole Zhang unearthed some Ginkgo fossils, that they later traced back 170 million years--the oldest Ginkgo fossils found to date. Following is their leaf and seed patterns:

Because of their straight trunks and extraordinary shapes, Ginkgo trees were often planted in front of temples, lending an atmosphere of awe and solemnity. Old Buddhist monks liked to use walking sticks made of Ginkgo twigs, when they traveled as missionaries, they stuck their sticks into the soil inside the temple, where new trees would grow from these sticks. By this method Ginkgos spread to Korean peninsula and Japan about 1,500 years ago. About one thousand years later, Ginkgo nuts were carried from Japan to Holland, and the first Ginkgo tree in Europe grew. From Holland, Ginkgo was transplanted to other European countries and the U.S.A.

My Advisors

The book delves deep and wide, besides wild Ginkgo sceneries, it encompasses history, wonders, legends, folklores, etc, supervised by top scientists, including:

Zhiyan Zhou, academician, Research Professor of Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, one of the authoritative person in researching Ginkgo history.

Shiyan Xing, professor of College of Forestry, Shangdong Agriculture University, vice chair of Ginkgo Branch of China Forestry Association.

Zhaogen Zhang, historian, archeologist, former associate curator of Suzhou Museum, is currently the director of the Suzhou Institute of Archaeology, he has extensive knowledge on Chinese history.

Sheung Wai, (Sherry) Chan,  linguist in English and Chinese, a bilingual poet living in Australia.

Yusheng (Christopher) Liu,  former associate professor of Biology at Prairie View A&M University, U.S.A.

Get to know more about the story of wild Ginkgos?  Download 100+ pages of the Ginkgo picture book, by clicking the link:  

http://jmp.sh/6j2iXab

or you could get the whole ebook of 320 pages for 5 dollars by claiming any perk on the right. Discover and share wonders of Nature.

Perks

The book, hard cover, bilingual, in English and Chinese, 300 pages, 250+ color images, printed on 135 lb/200 gsm matt paper, 26 x 25 cm, /10.24 x 9.84 in. weight is about 4 lb. In order to keep the weight plus package under 2 kg, (which is the most convenient transportation packet in most countries), I may reduce some pages in the printing edition. 

All perks may add shipping charges, ranging from $2 and up. As the book is heavy, I will ship in lot by sea to my agents' warehouses in your country/continent, they will dispatch to you individually. 

Canvas style pigment prints

Here are the 4 canvas style pigment prints. Each image derived from a millennium-old Ginkgo, then computer enhanced.

A

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D

Tours

There are too much to be expressed by any words or images, so the book only serves as a taster. It would be my pleasure to welcome you to see wild Ginkgos here in the Tianmu Mountains, east China, where I am living. I will show you around.

Q/A

--Why the goal is set at $1000?

--Frankly, this amount is far from printing quality books. Publishing a book in China is quite different from that in the West. My publisher has already started the process, it has to pass the authority’s approval. And since I am not a star in China to guarantee the sale, I have to pay all the costs involved. I have been lucky to secure some rich friends to support this project. The proceeds here are supplementary. Increasing the volume of printing would reduce the cost per copy. So this is a win/win situation. Most of all, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to a lot of people who have encouraged and supported me along the long long way.

--Will the book be available in major bookstores in other parts of the world?

--Not sure, with ever expanding network of Chinese operated warehouses scattered in a lot of countries, and my Linkedin contact number grows fast, now exceeding 17k, I can easily handle myself. Moreover, I would be happy to make friends around the world.

I have been grateful

In fact, a lot (hundreds) of people have offered their kind comments in shaping the present edition. I have been so grateful to them along the way. Here are a few.

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 ‘What beautiful photos! Great to see Ginkgo in so many different habitats. I would strongly encourage you to publish the book.’

--Dr Mark Nesbitt, Curator, Economic Botany Collection Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, United Kingdom

May 08. 2016

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'This manuscript offers a wonderful glimpse of the stately ginkgo from its origins in China. The author and photographer show adoration for this most ancient of trees. I was gifted a digital copy to peruse and shall cherish it. The images are touching and the prose poetic. Love the history and folk lore as well as popular references. A wonderful tribute to tree we have only sparingly planted in Nova Scotian cities and towns.'

--Ms. Marian Munro, Curator of Botany, Nova Scotia Museum, Canada

May 09, 2016

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‘I also showed it to our librarian, and we both agree that the photography and design are stunning. It is a very lyrical combination of imagery, poetry and information about the treasured Ginkgos in China.’

--Ms. Lugene B. Bruno, Curator of Art & Senior Research Scholar, Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation, Carnegie Mellon University, U.S.A

May 14, 2016

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‘This is a beautiful book about a beautiful and intriguing plant. The photographs and stories are inspiring, and add to our enjoyment of the fascinating Ginkgo. Jimmy Shen has created a work of art and science!’

--Tim Entwisle, Professor, Director and Chief Executive of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, Australia

June 19, 2016

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‘This is an amazing book that will find its way onto everyone's bookshelf who is interested in Ginkgos. It has fabulous images of Ginkgos in the wild and cultivation.’

--Dr. Tony Kirkham, Head of the arboretum at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, United Kingdom

June 29, 2016

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‘Your exploration of Ginkgo biloba and the relationship between Chinese people and this remarkable tree through outstanding photographs, careful documentation and poetry is very important. You beautifully illustrate the interconnections between beauty and utility in this enduring relationship. The nature of this relationship over thousands of years is important for our understanding of a sustainable future. This is an important quest for you to continue.’

--Stephen Forbes, Director, Botanic Gardens of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia, Chair of the Council of Heads of Australian Botanic Gardens Australian

Aug. 21, 2016

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I just LOVE your book about "everything Ginkgo!" You have creatively woven fact with story, technical language with poetry, and amazing legends with dry history. The visuals are extraordinary and truly inspiring to the senses.

Many thanks for sharing and I know this book will be a huge success once published.

--Margaret (Meg) Lowman, Ph.D. Director of Global Initiatives/Lindsay Chair of Botany Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability California Academy of Sciences

Oct. 02, 2016

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‘It is an impressive compilation of information, anecdotes, medical remedies and even recipes from all over China. Some of the illustrations are quite spectacular! It must have taken considerable time and effort to gather all the information and photos from across the country. The book is a valuable resource for anyone wanting to know about Ginkgo and its long heritage. Great job!’

--Prof. Stephen McLoughlin, Swedish Museum of Natural History, Sweden

Oct. 12, 2016

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 ‘This is a beautiful and wonderfully complete body of work. I will take time to go through and read thoroughly, it truly deserves time to absorb and reflect. I would love to see this work being showcased in our garden and to be enjoyed by others who appreciate the nature and lore of Ginkgo.’

--Kevin Frediani, Inverewe Property Manager at the National Trust for Scotland, Honorary Lecturer Urban Agriculture, The University of Nottingham U.K.

Oct. 20, 2016

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‘Concerning your book, it is a delightful balance of art and information. I always love the Ginkgo for its beauty and place in natural history. I wish we were able to grow them in Florida but, alas it is not happy here. I did grow them in Michigan and enjoyed their ancient appeal. Your book really captured their mystique in a thought provoking and artistic manner. I will of course forward any interest your way as, alas as mentioned Florida does not see the tree grown this far south in the sub tropics.’

--Steven J. Royer, Professor, Palm Beach State College, U.S.A.

Oct. 25, 2016

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‘The Ginkgo book looks beautiful and extremely interesting. Thanks so much for being the champion for conserving the amazing Ginkgo tree!’

--Simon Stuart, Chair, Species Survival Commission, the International Union for Conservation of Nature

Nov. 09, 2016

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‘It was fascinating to learn more about the unique history of the Ginkgos, as well as how they fit culturally in both artistic and botanical traditions in China. This was clearly a labor of love for you, and you should be applauded for a fine work . . . and for sharing it with others!!’ Dec. 07, 2016

 'The book continues to amaze me . . . a beautiful work of art, science, and spirituality. Well  done!!'  July, 10, 2018

-- J. Eric Smith, President and CEO, TREE Fund, U.S.A.

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'Your work is absolutely beautiful! I am so grateful to you for sharing it with me.'

--Katie Frohardt, Executive Director, Wild Earth Allies

Dec. 07, 2016

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‘This is absolutely beautiful. The photographs are fantastic. You should be very proud of this book.’

--Rodney Honeycutt, Professor, Chairperson of Natural Science Division, Pepperdine University, U.S.A.

April 4, 2017

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‘I enjoyed reading the online version of your book on Ginkgos today. It is an amazing compilation of information, stories and folklore. The immense amount of work and attention to detail is obvious. There are places where the English translation could be improved. And perhaps somewhere you might want to address and dispute the widespread opinion among botanists that no verifiably wild Ginkgos exist.

Thank you so much for sharing your work with me. I hope that more people can become aware of your work.’

--Ross Clark, Professor Emeritus, Botany at Eastern Kentucky University, U.S.A.

Oct. 23, 2017

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‘The book is very beautiful, with a beautiful design, and the fact that you have edited it bilingually (in English and Chinese) gives it an air of superiority. ’

--Monica AXINI, Executive Manager, prof. at Monachus Group of Scientific Research and Ecological Education, Romania

Oct. 30, 2017

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‘What a delightful book. Not only the trees - but I am fascinated by the uses of wood and timber and the way the Gingko woods are managed.’

--Ian Rotherham, Editor of Arboricultural Journal, Professor at Sheffield Hallam University, U. K.

Nov. 08, 2017

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‘Gingko:The Living Fossil is lovely and important. Congratulations on such a special exploration of a tree and its culture. Your obsession is a good one. It is important, because it reminds us of something most people seem to have forgotten, that nature has shaped human culture since the beginning, even as human culture increasingly dominated nature. Your work provides a gateway for us to get back to where we need to be. Keep exploring, Jimmy!’

--Vance G. Martin, President, WILD Foundation, Chairman, Wilderness Specialist Group (IUCN/WCPA)

Nov. 20, 2017

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‘This is a very beautiful book. Thank you for sharing it with me. I particularly like the text along with the photographs, including the list of the 3,000-year-old trees and the couple trees. Congratulations on your achievement and thank you for sharing these trees' stories.’

--Sophia Shaw, Adjunct Professor of Social Impact at Kellogg School of Management, Former President & CEO of Chicago Botanic Garden

Nov. 26, 2017

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‘My first reaction was, what a wonderful production! I will look forward to reading it.’

--Chris Cleal, Head of Botany at Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales, U. K.

Dec. 06, 2017

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‘Like the redwoods of California, China's Ginkgo's are ancient forest survivors that have always inspired awe for their beauty and longevity. What Jimmy Shen has also captured, though, are the charm and rich cultural history of these golden, graceful trees in their native land.’

--Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club,U.S.A., via Jim Bradbury, Communications Specialist, Sierra Club National

Dec. 20, 2017

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‘The book is very nice! I enjoyed it a lot, beautiful photos and interesting facts about this ancient and magnificent species. Liked the legends part, stories showing strong bondages between the tree and humans throughout the history.’

--Ana Strbenac, Head of the Expertise Division at Croatian Agency for the Environment and Nature (ex SINP)，Croatia

Feb. 05, 2018

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Your book was astonishing, I believe that the ancient traditions linked to a plant species are one of the most interesting parts of our history. Also for this reason I want to thank the authors for sharing the wonderful images, the history and the interesting cultural connotations of Ginkgo biloba.

--Alberto Giuntoli, PhD, Adjunct Professor at the University of Florence, Associated to the National Research Council of Italy, President of the Tuscan Society of Horticulture

Mar. 31, 2018  

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It is impossible to pigeonhole this book into any one category. A sensitive blend of the sciences, humanities, and arts, a most remarkable tree is brought to life through spectacular photos and engaging text. At a time of so much biodiversity loss, I wish every species could have a Jimmy Shen, someone to tell its story with admiring words and inspiring images. I have always been fascinated by the Ginkgo. I now have many more reasons to be.

--Quentin Wheeler, President, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, The Ohio State University, U.S.A.

Apr. 04, 2018

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‘My first reaction is that your pictures are very beautiful indeed. I have seen a lot of photographs of Ginkgo - and taken many myself - but your images are really very special - and some (for example the fallen leaves with frost) are very unusual. Beautiful!’

--Sir Peter Crane, FRS, President of the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, former Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, London, former dean of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies at Yale University.

May 15, 2018

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"I have long been fascinated by the ancient Gingko since I first learned about it in forestry school. As a symbol of eternal life, I carry a Gingko leaf with me wherever I go to keep me safe and grounded to the Earth. I was delighted to have the opportunity to view Jimmy Shen's magnificent photo collection of ancient, old and young Gingko trees in their stunning natural environment. Jimmy has poured so much love and beauty into this wonderful creation and for that I am deeply grateful."

--Scott Poynton, Founder, The Forest Trust

May 18, 2018 

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‘This is a wonderful book on a wonderful plant with wonderful pictures! Congratulations. I look forward to the printed version.’

--Koen Camelbeke, Executive Director at Arboretum Wespelaar, Belgium

June 13, 2018

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‘Thank you for sending me virtual copy of your magnificent book of imperial quality. I hope your efforts of getting it published as you wish will be successful.’

J.J. (Hans) Groenendijk, Senior Expert International Cooperation and Development, TISE Consultancy; Interim Chief Technical Advisor Natural Reserve of Ngiri Triangle Project (DRCongo), World Wildlife Fund, The Hague Area, Netherlands

June 19, 2018

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‘It is indeed great to hear that all of your hard work and taking the comments of others into consideration to make the Gingko book the best it can be. Congratulations on the soon to be published edition. I know it takes a lot of work to visualize a project like this and persevere over time to make it a reality.’

--James R. Shevock, Botany Research Associate, Fellow, California Academy of Sciences (CAS), the U.S.A.

June 19, 2018

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'You must be delighted with the progress you have made with the Ginkgo book – it’s looking really good – a very smart production on a fascinating subject.'

--Dr Mark Johnston MBE, FArborA (Hon), FCIHort, FICFor, Independent scholar: arboriculture, landscape and urban forestry, Based in Belfast, Northern Ireland

June 22, 2018

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'I am grateful to Jimmy Shen for sharing his passion with the world like this. Years of experience have done a beautiful job of showing these ancient trees, both close up and far away, as part of their natural environment. They are not the pristine specimens of carefully manicured botanic gardens, but their rugged natural state is no less impressive! This book will surely bring new appreciation of the species to many plant lovers.'

-- Matt Borden, Doctor of Plant Medicine , University of Florida, U.S.A.

July 16,2018

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By the way, I am honored to be featured at Global Diversity Foundation https://www.global-diversity.org/a-photographers-passion-for-a-living-fossil/

...

I am going to shoot a documentary

My advisor, Prof. Shiyan Xing led a team of 100 plus professionals a few years ago, conducted field investigations on Ginkgo resources in China for a period of 3 years, and totaling over 62,138 miles/100,000 km. Based on the updated information, I am going to shoot a documentary. This time I am learning cinematography.

And if you are interested to join the team, please contact me. Climb a high mountain to shoot an ancient Ginkgo; See these leaves shivering in the breeze...

Where are these butterflies transformed from Ginkgo leaves flying?

Find out in the book.

Tell You a Secret

We all know male and female ginkgos are separate trees. There are no bees involved as go-betweens. How do Male and Female Ginkgos Date? In spring, pollen cones grow on male trees while the ovule develops on the females. Carried by the wind, pollen travels miles across hills and rivers, meanwhile the ovule sends out a drop of liquid on the top to catch pollen passing by.

Get to know more about the story of wild Ginkgos? Download 100+ pages of the Ginkgo picture book, by clicking the link:  

http://jmp.sh/6j2iXab

or you could get the whole ebook of 320 pages for 5 dollars by claiming perks on the right. Discover and share wonders of Nature.

Please spread this campaign

I have no Facebook, Twitter, Youtube or Vimeo account, I am an internet dummy, besides no access to them here in China. Please spread this campaign with your friends in your social media or send to your email contacts who you think might be interested.

Well, I have a linked-in account and have 17k contacts.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginkgo/  You could also meet me there.

Discover and share wonders of Nature.