Blossoming of an iris in the Ilanot forest (photo: Surfers videos, editing: Shmarit Goldstein)
Spring will officially arrive only towards the end of the month, but in the meantime it is warm, pleasant and great to take advantage of the time for walks in the blossoming nature.
Winter doesn't make a real impression this year and unfortunately it didn't bring enough rain, but most of the plants are blooming, sometimes in a slightly less impressive show and not at a high altitude.
Yael Zilberstein Barzida, director of the Urban Nature Unit at the Society for the Protection of Nature, recommends several urban locations for a family trip with a colorful bonus - the blooming of the irises.
"Iris are geophytes with a thickened rhizome, i.e., plants that have underground storage organs similar to a tuber (such as an anemone, cyclamen) and an onion (such as a narcissus, a carnation, a lily). The hall irises are a wonderful and impressive subgroup that in Israel are represented by 9 endemic species (unique) to Israel or the region, including Iros Hermon, Iros Hador, Iros Nazariti, Iros HaGilboa, Iros Shachum, Iros Hanegev, Iros Yeruhem, Iros West and Iros Argaman," she explains.
The Society for the Protection of Nature points out that the scarlet iris grows on sands, hamra and kurkar on the coastal plain, and was common in the past on the coastal plain mainly from Gedara to Hadera - the most developed area in the country.
Development has affected most of its populations, but it can still be found in spotted form in several locations in this area.
The flowering takes place in the months of January-March and especially in the month of February, which has ended.
It is a magnificent, rare, endemic and protected species and for no reason is it the symbol of the Society for the Protection of Nature, a public association that has been working for 70 years to preserve nature and the environment in Israel.
It also appears as a symbol of royalty in many cases and as the symbol of scouts.
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The place is managed by the municipality of Netanya as an urban nature site.
The Red Iris Reserve in Netanya (photo: Society for the Protection of Nature, Yael Zilberstein-Barzida)
Iros Argaman urban nature site, Netanya
Many are confused to think that this is a declared nature reserve, but the place is managed by the municipality of Netanya as an urban nature site through an urban ecologist who promotes research, interface, conservation, monitoring and social and community activities in the place.
•How to get there?
Wise to the "Iros Crimson Netanya Reserve"
• What do you see?
This is a unique natural gem that is blooming these days, one of the most extensive and significant urban nature sites in Israel, where hundreds of dunams of sand have been preserved that serve as a habitat for a population of scarlet irises.
•What to do?
A circular trip in the place can include going down to the beach or to the beach observation and rolling in the dune.
The place has great signage and a clear walking route.
• Who is it suitable for?
to all the family.
Not suitable for strollers.
•What more?
The hiking route is part of the Israel Trail and is connected via an overhead bridge to the Dora Pool Park, which if you have energy left is recommended for adding to the trip.
This is a winter pool - a seasonal pool of water, an endangered habitat in Israel that houses amphibians, crustaceans and more.
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Hundreds of dunams of sand that serve as a habitat for the iris population.
The Red Iris Reserve in Netanya (photo: Society for the Protection of Nature, Yael Zilberstein-Barzida)
There is also a lot of Eretz Israeli lupine in the reserve in Netanya (Photo: Society for the Protection of Nature, Yael Zilberstein-Barzida)
Givat HaKurkar National Park, Nes Ziona
The place, which has not yet been declared a national park and is under the category of a national park, is offered due to challenges with private landowners in the place.
A charming group of residents called the "Guardians of the Hills" has been promoting the preservation of the Kurkar Ridge in the area for many years and its management in a way that excludes the off-road vehicles that damage the area.
•How to get there?
Ways to "Givaot HaKurkar Nes Ziona" (west of the Givat HaKurkar Hills)
• What do you see?
A natural area adjacent to the city's neighborhoods that includes hiking trails, diverse blooms and lovely views.
•What to do?
Go to the northern part of the area and enjoy the blooming of the irises and the variety of other species blooming there - over 300 species!
Don't miss the grove in the center of the area, where the trees invite the children to climb, under parental supervision of course.
• Who is it suitable for?
to all the family.
•What more?
It is recommended to visit the Shomer Givaot Square on the way to Givat HaKurkar, which includes a statue known as the Keeper of the Hills.
Varied blooms and lovely views.
The purple iris in the Korchar Hills National Park, Nes Ziona (photo: Society for the Protection of Nature, Yael Zilberstein-Barzida)
Korkar hill in the heart of agricultural fields.
Ness Ziona's Kurkar hill anemone (photo: Society for the Protection of Nature, Yael Zilberstein-Barzida)
Givat Irosim Rishon LeZion
Korkar hill in the heart of agricultural fields with clusters of irises and an impressive view of the surroundings.
The hill is within the scope of the Rishon LeZion municipality, which promotes the preservation of the place as a protected and managed area, with an agreement and compensation for the private landowners in the place.
The place has been proposed for many years as a nature reserve and is expected
to be part of the Metropolitan Park (Metropolitan Recreation Area) between Rishon Lezion and Nes
Ziona
. What do you see?
This is one of the only kurkar hills in Gush Dan and the only one left in the area of Rishon LeZion in the area of an old quarry that changed the face of the landscape but most of the vegetation has recovered and birds nest in its walls. From the top of the hill you can observe the surrounding settlements and the agricultural fields that surround it. What to do? Explore
the
trails In the field, look for the clusters of irises and enjoy the view and the beautiful blossoms.
• Who is it suitable for?
to all the family.
•What more?
There are also blooming anemones, marsias, desert rotem and more.
The place is expected to be part of the metropolitan park.
The Hill of Engagements in Rishon Lezion (photo: Society for the Protection of Nature, Yael Zilberstein-Barzida)
Afka Caves, Tel Aviv-Ramat Hasharon
A small Kurchari area in the Gilit Valley that was preserved thanks to Samaritan burial caves - an ancient site located there.
The site is located adjacent to Ayalon Lanes in Emek Gillot bordered between Route 5 in the north, the Coastal Road in the west, Ayalon Lanes in the east and the Ramat Aviv C neighborhood in the south.
The area is fenced and includes entrance to the caves themselves for those interested, alongside a spectacular bloom of clusters of irises, anemones and many other species.
These days, a construction plan is being planned for the entire South Gillot complex, which will determine the future of the complex.
A determined group of residents known as the "Gilot Eco-Park Community" and the municipalities of Tel Aviv and Ramat Hasharon are promoting the preservation of the place and the diverse natural areas around it, while shifting construction to less valuable areas in the Gilol Valley.
•How to get there?
Wise to the "Afka Caves" or the "Brush School Parking Lot" or Yehiel Drezner Street 73 in Tel Aviv
• What do you see?
Burial caves, blooming irises and other species, Nahal Ahya, a grove and comfortable walking paths.
A circular tour of the valley areas starting from the winter pool to the Afka caves and Nahal Ahia.
Enjoy the blossoms, the open air and the pleasant space in the heart of the metropolis.
• Who is it suitable for?
to all the family.
•What more?
Don't miss a visit to the winter pools adjacent to the Ramat Aviv C neighborhood - pools restored by the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality and filled with water these days, alongside a variety of typical plant and animal species.
In the fall there are narcissus but in the winter anemones and irises.
Afka Caves (Photo: Society for the Protection of Nature, Yael Zilberstein-Barzida)
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