creative jewish mom

Almond Trees In Bloom In Northern Israel, Just Like In Van Gogh's Painting!

Here in Northern Israel where we are blessed to be living close to nature, the yearly blooming of the almond trees is something that brings great joy! The almond tree is the first tree to bloom, and as fruit bearing tree it is one of the trees whose New Year we celebrate on the Jewish holiday of Tu B'Shevat.

Every year we await the first blooms, the kids arrive home with reports on the status of the trees, and it is something mentioned among friends and neighbors. Why? because it is truly a joyful sight, in the middle of the winter, when all the other plants are still sleeping, to see white and light pink blossoms dotting the hills! While the first trees bloomed several weeks ago, there are still many with closed buds, so I was able to capture some of this loveliness today to share with you. Granted, the trees are more beautiful when the sky is blue, so I'll give it another try soon, but in the meantime, enjoy!

Fields Of Red Poppies In The Kidron Valley, Jerusalem

Okay dear readers, here is another WOW moment that happened to me and my 13 year old son during our adventures in the Old City of Jerusalem this past Passover. While these amazing fields of red poppies in bloom in the Kidron Valley, just below the walls of the Old City, was something publicized on a poster, I did not see that poster (fortunately) and completely by accident we stumbled upon one of the most stunning displays of wild flowers I have ever seen in Israel, any I really just couldn't believe it. I also couldn't believe that while this is something that occurs each Spring, it was new to me. Wow, wow, wow. After a tour of an Arab village, called Kfar Shiloach, with armed guards  (more on that later) instead of going up with our group through the area now called The City of David, we started along a path that leads to the Valley of The Kings, and came upon these amazing fields in bloom. If you are in Jerusalem in the spring, don't miss it! And in the mean time, enjoy!

Lovely Weeds On The Old City Jerusalem Walls

During our 11 night stay in the Old City of Jerusalem, one of my favorite sites was the Ramparts Walk, NOT TO BE MISSED! And of course, as a lover of things botanical, I just had to photograph some of the weeds growing on the ancient walls. And guess what, my daughter (who had to speed ahead in order to catch a bus back up North and bring the rest of our Passover food from the freezer at home as we unexpectedly decided to stay in Jerusalem) took the very same picture of the very same weed. Such a proud parent moment! This weed looks very similar to a snap dragon, and likely is in the same famliy. Enjoy, and don't forget to keep your eyes open for weeds growing in unexpected places where ever you go!

Spring In Northern Israel On A Hike To Mount Tabor

Hello to Spring in Northern Israel. A cool and rainy Spring, but Spring nonetheless, as the wildflowers are out and the hills are green green green! I sprained my ankle quite badly just as the almond trees started to bloom, along with other wild flowers, and so this year I was unable to walk anywhere to take photos of this wonderful and glorious sight. Fortunately one of my adventurous nephews showed up for a visit along with some very lovely photos of a hike he'd taken to Mount Tabor just the day before. And so, with his permission, I just had to share some of the beauty of Northern Israel with you via his photos. I know, you thought Israel was just dessert and crumbling walls, but guess what it is not! And while I won't be getting out to enjoy the nature for the next few weeks, I think we will have the chance to enjoy the great outdoors during the week of Passover, can't wait!

The Fig Tree Awakens With Tiny Leaves And Fruit In Northern Israel

One sign that Spring has truly arrived is the tiny leaves and tiny figs that begin to appear on the sculptural bare branches of our native fig trees. The leaves are miniature versions of their larger selves, and just so very very sweet that I had to capture the magic on my camera. Enjoy the signs of Spring where ever you may be! And keep on reading to see the tree these leaves belong to!

Early Spring Is Alive With Blossoms in Northern Israel

Spring has arrived here in Northern Israel, and a little walk around town revealed so many flowering delights I just had to share them with you! Now if I can just find the time to take a nature walk to see what is blooming in the fields, more gorgeous flowers I'm quite sure. But with the packed pre-Passover schedule, I'm grateful to have at the least taken in the gorgeous wisteria and more.........

Judah's Tree, Klil HaChoresh, Now In Bloom In Northern Israel!

The klil hahoresh tree is now in bloom in Northern Israel, and it is truly a delight. The blooms are so unusual, and when one drives out of the city the tree covered hillsides are puncutated by bright pink, love it! Okay, I just realized that while I wrote Red Bush on the photo, this tree is in fact a look-alike cousin of Red Bush, and not exactly the same tree, or something like that, as I have explained in a previous post here. 

In any case, name aside, the blooming of these trees is another yearly event, like the blooming of the almond trees, that gives me great joy. A few years ago I designed a garden down the street from our home, and there I planted two Jacaranda trees, who have a stunning purple blooms and gorgeous foliage, though I may just have to include a few Judah's Tree if another garden design project comes around!

Almond Trees In Bloom In Northern Israel, A Yearly Treat

The almond trees are now in bloom in Northern Israel, right on time I might add, and we are so very happy to witness this lovely passage into Spring yet again this year. I set out for a little shopping trip with my daughter with camera in hand as the store we were walking to is situated in one of the areas with greatest number of old almond trees, and big sigh, what a lovely site! I know so many of you enjoy seeing photos of Isreal, the Isreal that I know and love, so enjoy this little photo essay!

Just by the way, here in Israel (dry dessert areas excluded) the almond trees are the first trees to show signs of life, signaling to the rest of nature that Spring is on its way......and since we are all connected (plants, animals, humans)  I think it is also a sign to us to get outdoors, the appreciate the cycle of life/nature and embrace the good. So lets do it!

The Thorny Caper Weed Now In Bloom Leads To An Interesting Discovery!

The thorny caper, which generally grows as a weed here in Israel, has such a lovely exotic flower, that one can't help but notice it! I've seen this "weed" growing all over the place, and have always thought that it was much too lovely for something that can be a bit obnoxious. And as you'll see from all the photos that follow in this post, I was atually quite captivated by its beauty earilier this week. The funny thing is that I had no idea what this plant actually was called, and had no success in my google search, until I remembered that I have seen the same plant growing form the crevices in the kotel, the wailing wall, and voila, a name for this little plant was discovered. And, I have to say, was so surprised that this is in fact the plant on which capers grow, wow, I had always wondered about that, and whaddya know......there are even capers in my photos!

I also discovered that the sages compared the Jewish people to the caper bush, any guesses why?