November flowering on Mount Hermon

I am James T, the current Friends of JBG-sponsored intern at the Gardens.I arrived at the beginning of November 2015 for a six-month placement. 

Within two days of being in the country – and even before I had done any work to earn my keep – Ori (Scientific Director) took me on a botanical tour of the Golan Heights and Mount Hermon.

It was a fascinating experience seeing species such as Crocus pallasii, Colchicum antilibanoticum and Sternbergia colchiciflora as well as many more. The highlight was the carpet of Sternbergia and Colchicums found on the border to Syria within the Golan Heights – flowers, minefields and nearby gun fire a surreal mix.

The rocky outcrop (pictured) was a great habitat for these geophytes protecting them from being uprooted by hungry animals; an issue that the Gardens have with their resident porcupine population, though Sternbergia seem to be fine as they are poisonous to the species.

Sternbergia and colchicum (c) James Toole