Boasting the largest plant collection in Israel, the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens (
www.botanic.co.il/en) opened to the public in 1985. Director of development Sue Surkes calls it “the best kept secret in Jerusalem.”
More than 10,000 species of plants from around the world are here, divided into six geographical sections. The tropical conservatory contains rainforest plants, including edibles such as pineapple and rice, and even carnivorous ones.
Among the new features are the African Savannah grass maze and the 500-meter Bible Path. “What we discovered was that plants literally littered the Bible,” says Surkes. Just one example is the tamarisk, planted by Abraham when he arrived in Beersheva.
Hopping aboard the “flower train,” as the ride is popularly called, is one of most fun ways to see the entire site, which is located on the Givat Ram campus of the Hebrew University.