Winter Dreams II

I always try to use this space to share the Israel I love - its history, its landscapes, its creativity and culture. I generally stay away from politics. But sometimes politics does not stay away from us.
For the past two days, sirens have sounded almost constantly and missiles have flown overhead. Most have been intercepted by the remarkable Iron Dome defence system, for which we are deeply grateful, though heartbreakingly not all have been stopped.
For years, both Israel and the United States have expressed serious concerns about Iran's nuclear and missile programmes. Tensions have been building steadily, and on Saturday 28th February, the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran, targeting military infrastructure and key sites. During the operation, named "Lion’s Roar" - Sha'agat Ha’Ari in Hebrew - Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, was killed.
What happens next is uncertain. The situation could escalate further, and I will not pretend that I am not afraid. At the same time, I am holding on to hope. I hope that the people of Iran, who have endured decades under a regime often more focused on hostility towards the State of Israel than on the welfare of its own citizens, may one day experience freedom, stability and peace. For Israel, I hope that the threat of a nuclear Iran will be removed.
In the meantime, I want to share something lighter - a post about a light festival I visited a few weeks ago, Winter Dreams II. It already feels so distant now, indeed, like a dream from another lifetime.

At the end of January, Mister Handmade in Israel and I went to see 'Winter Dreams II', a large international light festival created by Deutsche Entertainment Aktiengesellschaft (DEAG), one of Europe's leading entertainment and production companies. It was held at the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens in Givat Ram. The festival, which had already been hugely popular in cities like Berlin, Barcelona, Paris, London, and Rome, ran for two months. Luckily, we managed to visit just before it ended.

As part of the festival, we followed a scenic trail illuminated with stunning light displays, giant LED sculptures, and creative interactive effects that responded to movement and sound. The lights were perfectly paired with an original musical soundtrack, making the walk feel truly magical. Mister Handmade in Israel said it felt like being on the set of a Disney film!

Around two million colourful LED lights lit up the trail, lake, and treetops. Highlights included the lotus-filled lake, where dozens of glowing globes floated gently on the water while the surrounding trees sparkled with stars. We also admired the 5.5 metre-high illuminated Roman Gate, a glowing kaleidoscope path, a 17 metre-long light train, and a giant ultraviolet dragon head. The Botanical Gardens' large greenhouse was transformed into a laser show complex - although, to be honest, we were excited when we entered but felt a bit underwhelmed by the rest.

No festival would be complete without food. Stalls curated by Chef Moshik Roth brought gourmet (and pricey!) winter flavours with a European vibe to Jerusalem. We joined the queue for chips and hot apple cider. The chips were perfectly crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy inside, while the cider was warm, fragrant and delicious! It was a simple but wonderfully tasty way to enjoy our stroll.

Overall, the festival created a magical winter atmosphere in the heart of Jerusalem. But was it as impressive as the Festival of Light we used to enjoy in Jerusalem's Old City? Not even close.

* This post has been shared on Mosaic Monday, Busy Monday, Through My Lens, Tuesday Turn About and Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop.

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.

* This post has been shared on My Corner of the World, Wednesday Around the World, Little Things Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things Party, Friday Bliss and Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday).