After weeks of squinting at screens — to keep up to date with Israel’s election campaign — and gazing up at the sky, following the path to the moon of the Beresheet spacecraft, it’s time to look down, if you haven’t already done so, at Mother Earth.
Because during this last gasp of spring, you can see her still strutting her stuff, particularly in the north of the country, producing riots of floral color that will be gone in a matter of weeks when temperatures rise.
On the Golan Heights, the Sa’ar River is fuller than it has been for years, thanks to abundant winter rains after a long period of drought and to snowmelt from Mount Hermon.
Here, the waterfalls are still gushing and the riverbanks are carpeted in the blue-mauves of purple viper’s bugloss and hyacinth squill, the lime greens of wild euphorbia, white and yellow daisies, and, higher up, the vivid reds of anemones and poppies.
Silvery poplars compete with the dark greens of riverside oleanders. The young leaves of oaks are still bright green, those of the pistachios a temporary, UV-protective red.
Get The Times of Israel's Daily Edition
by email and never miss our top stories
By signing up, you agree to the
terms
This is God’s own garden, painted with a palette that knows no rules, absorbed in a last burst of fecundity before the annual dance between nectar-filled flowers and their insect, pollen-carrying messengers draws to a close.
Over the weekend, it felt as if half of Israel had arrived to marvel at the Sa’ar’s bounty — to photograph the plunging water (and particularly themselves) on the bridge at the start of the nature trail, and to walk along the rocky two to two-and a half hour trail itself.
After a bruising and divisive election campaign, it was restorative to see so many Arabs and Jews, not to mention Druze (carrying handfuls of wild asparagus picked along the way) enjoying nature, picnics and paddling.
Youth swimming in a quiet part of the Sa’ar river, Golan Heights, April 14, 2019. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)
A Druze woman relaxing under the shade of an oak tree near the Druze village of Ein Kinya at one end of the Sa’ar river trail, Golan Heights, April 13, 2019. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)
A barbeque by the banks of the Sa’ar river, Golan Heights, April 13, 2019. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)
The russet colors of young pistachio leaves by the Sa’ar river, Golan Heights, April 13, 2019. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)
Waterfall at the Sa’ar river, Golan Heights, April 13, 2019. (SueSurkes/Times of Israel)
A bright red anemone, whose black center dupes pollinating beetles into thinking ‘there’s a beetle inside, it must be worth visiting!’ Photographed at the Sa’ar river, Golan Heights, April 13, 2019. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)
The arum, which looks and smells like rotting meat to attract fly pollinators, on the banks of the Sa’ar river on the Golan Heights, April 13, 2019. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)
Wild euphorbia on the banks of the Sa’ar river on the Golan Heights, April 13, 2019. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)
Wild garlic on the banks of the Sa’ar river on the Golan Heights, April 13, 2019. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)
Purple Viper’s Bugloss on the banks of the Sa’ar River on the Golan Heights, April 13, 2019. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel.)
Wild oats and barley on the banks of the Sa’ar river, Golan Heights, April 13, 2019. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)
The Hyacinth Squill, with the remains of the Crusader-era Nimrod Fortress visible on the horizon, Golan Heights, April 13. 2019. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel).
Daisies on the banks of the Sa’ar river, Golan Heights, April 13, 2019. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)
Israelis paddling in the cool waters of the Sa’ar river, Golan Heights, April 13, 2019. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)
Crowds on the bridge over the Sa’ar river, April 13, 2019. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)
One of waterfalls of the Sa’ar river on the Golan Heights, April 3, 2019. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)
Anemones, poppies and daisies on the upper banks of the Sa’ar river on the Golan Heights, April 13, 2019. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)
Bridging the US-Israel divide
While the heart of The Times of Israel’s work takes place in Israel, so many of Jerusalem’s actions are influenced by those in Washington’s halls of power.
As ToI’s US bureau chief, I work to gain access to decision-makers in the United States government so our readers can understand the US-Israel relationship beyond the platitudes evident in public statements.
I'm proud of our ability to inform without sensationalizing, our dedication to be fast while ensuring accuracy, and our determination to present Israel's entire, complex story.
Your support through The Times of Israel Community helps us continue to keep readers around the world properly informed about the critical Israel-US relationship. Do you appreciate our news coverage? If so, please join the ToI Community today.
- Jacob Magid, The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
Yes, I'll join
Yes, I'll join
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
You're a dedicated reader
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel eleven years ago - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Join Our Community
Join Our Community
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this