Queens, NY – Residents of a Queens neighborhood say the trees on their street stink.
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New York City’s Parks Department acknowledges that the gingko biloba trees it planted years ago present a problem. But it says it has no plans to remove the Langdale Street trees.
Resident John Foertsch told WCBS Radio that the fruit of the female trees gives off a nauseating stench. He described it as “a combination of dog excrement and vomit.”
The Park Department said it no longer plants female ginkgo trees but that it does not remove healthy ones.
It added: “Trees offer many benefits which far outweigh any inconveniences that they may present.”
Gingko biloba is said to improve memory. Residents says health food fans gather on the weekends to pick the fruit.
This is an example of of the city government running riot. In the name of planting a million trees, the mayor and his administration have not a care about the degree of inconvenience to the residents. They only look to place all kinds of fines and penalties in the name of revenue. This PC stuff (going green, environmental stuff) has gotten out of hand.
I remember those trees as a kid. A neighbor had one. We used to call it the stinky cheese tree. Just wait until till they fall off & start to rot. PHEW!
Hmmmmmmm… how does one prepare this ginko stuff to consume?? It apparently really is good to improve memory and host of other things. Google it…This is a creation of HKB”H – why knock it??
Is it okay to take fruit from City-owned trees? I’m surprised the City doesn’t arrest people for stealing City property.
I wonder if there’s one at Jewel and 141st Street, as I have frequently noticed a dog poop smell when exiting the bus there.
“it does not remove healthy ones”
If this were a problem for me I would make it my business to find out how you can make a tree unhealthy.
We have a ginko on our block. Aparrently It’s a Chinese delicacy,the equivalent of our chulent, because fist fights sometimes break out when they fight over the fruits that fall to the ground. I can verify that there are very few odors that can match its stench.
the city does not work for the people who live here they work to bring in more tourists and re\venue to continue the corrupt systems that exist at city hall and in albany
the nut inside the fruit is what is edible, but just in case anyone want’s to try them, over-consumption is hazardous especially for children.
There’s a ginkgo tree on the Avenue K corner. It smells so badly I need to cross the street just to get past the intersection. The Chinese are seen picking them up off the ground………….. yum
What a big deal over something simple. If they don’t like the smell the can simply cross the street. Or they can grow up and deal with it. There are some in my neighborhood and while the smell is unpleasan it’s nothing anyone over age 12 should have an issue with. Re: Preparing them I’ve heard you need to remove the nut inside and cook it so the shell gets soft enought to break open and mash/eat the inside. The leaves can apparently used to make tea.
Anyone making light of the Ginko tree obviously never smelled it
Only the female gingko produces nuts (and the foul smell). Gingko nuts taste ok, but nothing exceptional – kind of like a blander version of Brazil nuts. Asians use it in cooking, soups and drinks (boiled with dried fruit, seaweed and sugar – an acquired taste).The trees are beautiful – no reason why they can’t plant only male trees in urban settings. I would be very careful about taking gingko biloba as a medical supplement. The scientific evidence of memory improvement is not at all conclusive, and there are studies that indicate it might increase strokes and other problems. I would recommend consulting with your doctor first.
I grew up on Langdale St & my mom still lives there. I remember when they planted those trees around 30 years ago. The stink is horrendous! you can’t even open up the windows! & the mess their fruit makes when it drops is dangerous! I would seriously try to get the government to remove it as a hazard to safety just for that.
There’s gotta be one at corner Brooklyn Ave & Empire in Crown Heights.
Never knew what tree could produce such a stench. The fruit drop & create such a slippery, smelly mess it’s dangerous!
there is one on E.31 st bet ave J & I you literally have to walk across the street to avoid the stench,and if you step into the fallen nuts.FORGET about it! you accidentially bring it into your house and it reeks of vomit. makes you want to throw up yourself.
And as far as the memory improvement, recent studies have shown that the benefits are very much in question. it might even be dangerous.