City News

Ginkgo Tree to Be Planted in Sebastopol as Part of Peace Crane Project Commemorating the Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

October 14, 2024, City News

The City of Sebastopol has been working with the Peace Crane Project of Sonoma County to coordinate the planting of a Ginkgo tree in a public space in Sebastopol. The Peace Crane Project, a project of the Peace and Justice Center of Sonoma County, has been producing commemorations of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki for over 35 years. 

The Gingko tree(s) that the Peace Crane Project are proposing to plant were grown from the seeds of a descendant of a Ginkgo tree that survived the bombing of Hiroshima in 1945. The seeds have been nurtured by the Sonoma Botanical Garden in Glen Ellen and are about 6 feet tall. The first community tree was planted in front of the Lucchesi Community Center in Petaluma, and they are working on plans to plant others near the lake at Sonoma State. The Peace Crane Project’s plan is to create a memorial in Sonoma County for all nuclear bomb victims, to remember this tragedy as well as to nurture this symbol of peace and hope.

In working with the Peace Crane Project, the City of Sebastopol has agreed to plant the tree (possibly two trees) in the area between the Peace Garden and the Youth Annex. The Peace Crane project has agreed to utilize the Adopt-A-Landscape program to provide ongoing maintenance for the tree plantings. The city will provide soil amendments and mulch similar to the support that would be provided to any adopted landscape site.

The ceremonial planting of the tree(s) is set for Tuesday, October 29, 2024.

Tree planting at 3:30pm and Dedication Ceremony at 4:00pm.

Location: Peace Garden next to the Youth Annex lawn – 425 Morris St., Sebastopol

Visit the Peace Crane Project of Sonoma County website for more information.