Despite the intense heatwaves that have hit the country this summer, including one expected to break records this week, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel reports that the sea squill, the traditional harbinger of fall, has begun to bloom on time across the country.
The sea squill is perfectly adapted to the hot, dry Mediterranean climate.
It grows from a large subterranean bulb which ‘digs’ into the rock and is protected by cool temperatures — its Hebrew name hatzav shares a linguistic root with the words to dig or quarry.
In the spring, the bulb produces long green leaves, which photosynthesize and produce energy for the bulb. When temperatures rise, the leaves die off, giving way to tall, narrow stems topped by clusters of tiny white flowers.
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From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
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