10. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), Non-native Ginkgo trees have a fascinating story. Native to China and traditionally grown on Chinese and Japanese temple grounds, for many years they were unknown to the Western scientific community before the East opened up to the West. Ginkgo biloba evolved about 270 million years ago and is considered a living fossil, all its relatives being long since extinct. It’s not even a flowering plant, being more closely related to conifers such as pines, which are much more ancient than flowering plants such as grasses, roses and maples trees. Ginkgos have been used medicinally for thousands of years in Asian traditional medicine for everything from improving brain function to heart health. This home, along with all of those in the 100 block of College Terrace, was built in 1939 and the ginkgo tree was planted that same year making 2019 its 80 th birthday! When it was built, this was the very edge of the city of Frederick, with nothing beyond but farms. Baker Park did not yet exist. According to the owners, the leaves are voluminous, so they usually have to clear them with snow shovels, which is effective because the leaves are small. The leaves don't always come down at once, but if there is a super cold snap, it creates the conditions where most of the bright yellow fall leaves can fall within 24 hours. This lovely phenomenon happens occasionally but not every year. This tree can be found at coordinates: 39.4173, -77.42208 and on the map of all trees on the Baker Park Tree Walk Credit: Bethany Dell'Agnello, Board member