Семена деревьев, выживших после атомной бомбардировки Хиросимы, вырастут в Вирджинии

Seeds from Hiroshima: Trees that survived atomic bomb find new life in Chesterfield Lisa Ferrel: “I feel that war affects us all and by planting these seeds and growing them, it will be a living monument to peace.” CHESTERFIELD, Va. (WWBT) - Within the walls of Chesterfield Building and Grounds, Lisa Ferrel is known for her green thumb, helping seeds become trees in the county. “This is one of our grow tents where we have been starting seeds,” said Ferrel. “Little seeds just waiting for the right conditions to sprout and it’s just a miracle ever day.” From start to finish, the horticulturist takes pride in the process. “I love to see people’s interactions with the plants I’ve planted, see all the different pollinators that visit the plants,” she said. The next assignment is in a bag containing seven Ginkgo biloba seeds, which is rooted in history. “They are directly from Ginkgo trees that survived the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945,” said Ferrel. The Chesterfield County Arboretum received the delivery from the San Diego Botanic Garden as part of the Green Legacy Hiroshima Initiative, a program giving seeds from surviving trees a chance to flourish across the world. “I feel that war affects us all and by planting these seeds and growing them, it will be a living monument to peace,” said Ferrel. The seeds will go through several steps to help them sprout. “They are in the refrigerator for 90 days for cold stratification that mimics winter and helps them break dormancy,” said Ferrel. “Once they break dormancy, we’re going to pot them up and put them in the grow tent until they’re ready to go outside.” The goal is to move the sprouts to an outdoor nursery area next yar, before they’re planted in their new, permanent home in Chesterfield. “I’m really honored to be a part of it,” said Ferrel. Ferrel hopes the trees will become symbols of peace and resilience for future generations to come. “It is a great honor to have these seeds and be able to grow them out and it will be a great way to educate people, have a place for people to reflect and remember,” she said. Copyright 2026 WWBT. All rights reserved.