Photo Essay: Celebrating the Trees of Israel
For the fourth year running, photographer Michelle Baruch shares a glimpse of Israel's trees with readers in honor of Tu B'Shvat, the New Year for trees.

by Ezra HaLevi, Arutz Sheva
February 9, 2009

For the fourth year running, photographer Michelle Baruch shares a glimpse of Israel's trees with readers in honor of Tu B'Shvat, the New Year for trees.

Almond blossoms sprouting in the Jerusalem Forest - a sign of springtime.
 

Date tree in all its glory - full of new dates - in Tel Aviv.
 

'Katlav' tree (AKA Eastern strawberry tree) in the Jerusalem mountains. Notice the deep blood-red bark on the trunk.
 

Beautiful acacia tree in the Eilat mountains
 

Orange tree grove at Kibbutz Givat Hashlosha, founded in 1925 near Petach Tikva.
 

Washingtonian Palm tree overlooking the Judean Desert.
 

The Lone Oak of Gush Etzion (approximately 800 years old and the landmark that remained of the original pre-1948 Jewish towns when Jews returned to the region after the 1967 Six Day War.)
 

Fig tree growing next to a water wheel at the Neot Kedumim Biblical nature reserve.
 

Old olive tree in the "Nazareth village"
 

Baby sabra still at the nursery
 

More almond blossoms in the Jerusalem Forest
 

Olive tree growing next to the ancient synagogue of Bar Am in the Galilee
 

A shady place to rest beneath a pine tree overlooking the Hareidi-religious Gush Etzion community of Beitar Illit
 

The huge trunk of the Lone Oak tree in Gush Etzion
 

Sabras, the fruit of the cactus, grow wild throughout Israel.
 

A pomegranate tree budding near Jerusalem
 

Oranges hang from a tree in Kibbutz Givat Hashlosha (near Petach Tikva)
 

An olive tree grows just south of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City.
 

Michelle Baruch (Brocco) made Aliyah (immigrated to Israel) in October, 2001. She is a nature photographer and a private tour guide and can be contacted at: info@mishmishcards.com.

Her website: http://www.mishmishphotos.com/ is currently under development.