Jewish Burial Chambers from First Century AD

THE FLORA IN ELAH VALLEY

Here are snaps of some of the trees and flowers taken during my hike to the Elah Valley (Although most of them are not restricted to this valley alone). A brief description is also appended with the photographs....

The Blue Lupine (Lupinus pilosus) / Turmus (Heb).

This part of Elah valley is covered with the beautiful blue lupine flowers and is also called as Givat HaTurmusim (Heb) or Lupine Hill. More details later....

The Cyclamen / Rakefet (Heb)

Cyclamen flower (Cyclamen persicum) represented Israel for the Beijing Olympics (2007). The voting turn out was 30% for cyclamen, whereas the second best candidate anemone (see below) received 28%.
see more http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3455278,00.html

Interestingly, there is even an UK based cyclamen society to encourage its cultivation and conservation.
See more http://www.cyclamen.org/indexCS.html

The Red Crown Anemone / Kalanit (Heb): The most probable candidate for the "lily of the field", referred by Jesus (Matt. 6:28; Luke 12:27).

The Withered Fig Tree / Te'enah (Heb) / Athi (Mal)

The Shakedh (Heb) / Almond / Badam tree

Details later...

The Elah (Heb) / Terebinth / Pistacia / Oak / Karuvelam (Mal?)

The tree from which the name of this valley is derived. More details later...

The Acorn (fruit of oak tree) / Alon (Heb)

The Ezov (Heb) or Hyssop?

The Vineyards: after harvest

The Carob Tree / Charuv (Heb)

The pods of this tree tastes like sweet mild honey and you can chew the whole fruit. In ancient times there were people who survived the lonely desert with just carob and water. Carob is also known as St. John's bread as some say that the "locusts" on which he lived refer to carob pods, and not grasshoppers (Mathew 3: 4). Pods of the carob tree, were also believed to be eaten by pigs in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:15-19). More details later...