Thursday 12 May 2022

The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens

The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens are located in the neighbourhood of Nayot in Jerusalem, on the southeastern edge of the Givat Ram campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The gardens were originally planned as the successor to the National Botanic Garden of Israel on Mount Scopus, which was established in 1931 and still exists to this day. In 1948, during Israel's War of Independence, access to Mount Scopus and the university campus was cut off from the rest of Israel. It was decided to create new botanical gardens on the new campus of the Hebrew University in Givat Ram in western Jerusalem. The new gardens were opened in 1954, soon after the establishment of the Givat Ram campus. 
At around 30 acres, the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens are the largest in Israel. They hold over 6,000 species and varieties of plants from around the world, which are displayed geographically. The 6 phytogeographical sections cover Southern Africa, Europe, North America, Australia, South-West and Central Asia and the Mediterranean. The sections simulate the landscapes of these areas. The gardens' Japanese section contains over 150 bonsai trees, the largest concentrated collection of bonsai trees in the world. The 500 metre long "Bible Path" is planted with most of the 70 species that scientists have identified as some of the 400 types of plants mentioned in the Bible.
The reason for our visit to the gardens was to see the augmented reality contemporary art exhibition "Seeing the Invisible", above.  It is the first exhibition of its kind to be developed in collaboration with botanical gardens around the world and is on view simultaneously at twelve different gardens. The participating gardens all present the same exhibition, but as the works are augmented into the unique surroundings and context of each garden, the exhibition is experienced differently against the backdrop of each location. 
The exhibition can only be viewed by visiting the participating gardens and through the "Seeing the Invisible" app on your phone. It features thirteen augmented reality works by established artists from various countries. By setting these digital experiences inside botanical gardens - without disturbing the environment and keeping the carbon footprint to a minimum - the exhibition explores the boundaries and connections between art, technology and nature.
We explored the botanical gardens, locating the artworks scattered throughout them. Several friends had told me that I needed to see the exhibition, so I was hopeful! However, I must admit that Mister Handmade in Israel and I both felt that we were missing out on the real beauty of the gardens because we were so busy focusing on our phones!
We were far more enamoured by the gardens Tropical Conservatory, which was first built in 1985 and reopened to the public in 2019 after a $2 million transformation that took a year and a half. The conservatory boasts approximately 300 kinds of plants - endangered plants, exotic banana trees, coffee plants, orchids and cacti - all differing in shape and colour. It is divided into two regions, the tropical region and the desert region. In the tropical region, the visitor enters a rainforest, complete with tall plants growing on even taller trees. In the desert region, the visitor is exposed to some of the world’s most unique plants and their adaptation to dry conditions. The Tropical Conservatory also houses a stream with aquatic plants growing in it and the remains of an ancient columbarium carved into the rock, dating back to the Second Temple period. The columbarium was exposed at the site during construction. Today its pigeon niches serve as natural beds for Stapelia, small succulent plants.
The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens also serve as an education, learning and research centre. They focus on nature conservation, education, and community.
The gardens serve as a safe haven for many endangered plants and contain more than three hundred other species of local plants that are endangered or are already extinct in Israel. In addition, the botanical gardens have a large seed collection, which is used for breeding plants in the garden plots and for distribution to botanical gardens around the world.
Cultural events and recreational activities are held at the gardens throughout the year. The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens run a gardening and landscape school, which operates in the botanical gardens. It trains professional gardeners and holds various courses for the general public as well.
The botanical gardens also offer a variety of social and community programs such as therapeutic gardening sessions, occupational rehabilitation, volunteer opportunities, botanical gardeners scholarship programs, guided tours, activities for senior citizens, farming and more.
PoCoLo

22 comments:

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

You had my attention with the title of botanical garden. Lovely photos - looks like a great place to spend time. Thanks for sharing!

Amy Johnson said...

I love botanical gardens and I would love to see this one some day!

Tom said...

...I love botanical gardens and this one is lovely, thanks for taking me along.

Michele Morin said...

Loved going on this tour with you!

VeggieMummy said...

I do love a botanical garden. The Bible Path sounds like a lovely idea and I agree that I'd rather appreciate the plants, rather than stare at a phone! xx

Tamar SB said...

That's a gorgeous place!

Hels said...

How appropriate that the Bible Path is planted with most of the 70 species that scientists recognise from plants mentioned in the Bible. I hope the botanists have written detailed labels, since I won't recognise the plants by myself.

Aritha V. said...

You looks so nice on that one photo. What a nice flowers in this botanical garden. Thanks for sharing them. I like the blue flowers above all! They are very tall, I think. And what a nice color they have.

https://momentsfrozentime.blogspot.com/

riitta k said...

Botanical gardens are always interesting places to visit. What a great idea to have a digital art exhibition in them. That was certainly a wonderful experience.

Emille (Jesh) said...

Always love to see another botanical garden - like the display of seeing the invisible:) The orchids are a serious contender:) Thanks for sharing the beauty here, Lisa.

Ruth@playworkeatrepeat said...

I loved reading about The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens and your photos are beautiful! How interesting that the gardens have so many of the plants mentioned in the Bible. I've never been to an augmented reality exhibition. To be honest, I have never actually heard of one. But if I ever see one advertised near me I would definitely love to go! Thanks so much for sharing xx
#mmbc

Jayne said...

Stunning botanical gardens. The augmented reality contemporary art exhibition sounds interesting but like you, I think I would rather take in the sights than keep having to check my phone. Lovely pics. xx

Emma T said...

I love seeing all the different flowers from different places in botanic gardens. Some lovely ones here #pocolo

Miss Val's Creations said...

This is right up my alley! The bonsai trees must have been a unique experience. Conservatories are always full of wonderful, lush plants. That would have been one of my favorites too. What an amazing place to display and view artwork too. I see an ice plant (what we call them here) in one of your photos. We grow those in our yard as a gorgeous groundcover.

Joanne said...

Oh I just love exploring botanical gardens! There are so many great variety of plants and that virtual exhibit sounds neat.

Anne said...

Really beautiful photos, what a gorgeous place to visit. Thank you for sharing with us. I really want to visit our local botanical gardens now.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

I too would prefer to just look at the beautiful plants and flowers. It's amazing that they are able to replicate the different climate and growing zones. And it looks as if they have done a wonderful job.

Lydia C. Lee said...

They're lovely. This augmented reality art exhibitions are really in at the moment - we had one on the streets of Barangaroo and for one of the Lunar New Year's there were Dragons everywhere in World Square....

NCSue said...

How lovely! What a wonderful outing you had! Thanks for sharing it at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2022/05/yowzah.html

Soma @ inkTorrents.com said...

I do have to agree with you on staring at the phone while you are in a beautiful garden really takes away from the enjoyment. I am so glad you had a great time there despite the shortcoming of the exhibition. Love the photos.

-Soma

Eclectic Red Barn said...

What lovely gardens. So pretty. Congratulations, you are being featured on Thursday Favorite Things.
I hope you stop by.
https://www.eclecticredbarn.com/2022/05/thursday-favorite-things-party_0388177731.html
Hugs,
Bev

Jim said...

Great shots.