Tu B’Shevat in Jerusalem

It’s raining. It’s pouring.

It was so windy I refused to go outside.

Jerusalem, Israel, was bone chilling cold.

The eastern US coast was buried under mountains of snow.

But it was Tu B’Shevat, the New Year for Trees,

 in spite of the winter weather today.

 Scenes from last week,

seem much more appropriate for this holiday, than grey fog.

 The flowers in pots were overflowing,

outside of Beit Hanasi, Israeli President’s House,

for all to see.

Inside, the row of former Israeli Presidents greets visitors,

and the resident cat was enjoying the sun.

This cat is there all the time,

but most people do not get to enjoy the gardens.

Therefore, in honor of Tu B’Shevat, the New Year of Trees,

I took special photos to share the landscape with you.

Trees line the left front walk way inside,

while flowers are on the right side of the entrance.

Tu B’Shevat is about the new season of fruit trees.

Olive trees grow in several places,

 the orange trees were bursting with fruit,

as were the kumquats.

Special visitors plant trees, even if it is not Tu B’Shevat,

and one tree came from the White House.

Flower beds were looking good,

now that Shemitta year of no planting has ended,

but one lone rose was all I saw.

First Lady Nechama Rivlin is a proud savta, grandmother,

and for Tu B’Shevat invited school children to Beit Hanasi.

The cat checked out her short presentation,

but did not hang around to help,

as planting in her new community garden began.

Tu B’Shevat is not a time in the synagogue,

but outside planting.

Glad I was there when the sun was shining!

Now we are ready and waiting for snow,

never know what will happen next in Jerusalem.

Update:

 In case you think I was exaggerating,

this is not snow,

but morning fog on road to Knesset,

ready and still waiting for snow.