Touring Israel with a tour guide

The Holy Thistle – Notobasis syriaca This striking thistle is common across Israel’s Mediterranean regions, from the coastal plain to the Jezreel Valley, Judean Foothills & Galilee. It thrives in open fields, roadsides & disturbed ground. It is also native across the eastern Mediterranean & Middle East, from Israel & Syria to Cyprus & Turkey. Blooming season: April–July Its spiny leaves deter most grazers, but goats & camels will feed on it. Bees & other pollinators love its nectar-rich flowers. Young leaves (before they harden with spines) can be eaten in salads or cooked, though handling requires care. #imagineisraeltours #simonostertourguideisrael #wildflowersofisrael #HolyThistle #notobasissyriaca #israelnature #mediterraneanflora #ediblewildplants #israeltourism #visitisrael #touringisrael #tourguideisrael #floraandfauna At Imagine Israel Tours we love to notice not just the big moments of history, but also the small details of nature that m...

Meet the Common Buzzard is one of Israel’s most elegant raptors 🦅 Native & migratory populations patrol woodlands, agricultural zones, open rocky terrain & forest edges. They prefer vantage points such as trees, poles or hilltops, from which to survey the land below. In flight, they often circle on thermals or glide with slightly raised wings, scanning the ground for movement. Their diet is opportunistic: small mammals (especially rodents), birds, reptiles, amphibians & large insects. When prey is spotted, they swoop down swiftly or pounce from a low perch. Breeding pairs build substantial stick nests high in trees or on cliffs. They’re devoted parents: both adults feed & care for a small brood until the young fledge and can hunt independently. Spotting a Common Buzzard is a reminder of Israel’s rich biodiversity & the wild connections that tie this land to larger migratory paths. #commonbuzzard #birdsofisrael #birdwatching #raptors #natureisrael #wildlifephot...

The Church of All Nations, Jerusalem On the Mount of Olives, at the foot of the Garden of Gethsemane, stands the Church of All Nations, also known as the Basilica of the Agony. The present church was built between 1919 & 1924, designed by Italian architect Antonio Barluzzi. Funding came from Catholic communities across the world - each country contributing a share - which gave the church its name. Inside, the subdued light & striking mosaics create a space for prayer & reflection. At the heart of the church is the bedrock where, according to tradition, Jesus prayed on the night of his arrest. Earlier churches stood on this site: a 4th-century Byzantine basilica & a 12th-century Crusader church, both long since destroyed. The current basilica brings together centuries of Christian devotion with 20th-century architecture. For Christian visitors to Jerusalem, the Church of All Nations is a key stop - linking scripture, history & the living city.  When you travel wi...

155 Years Since the Birth of Avraham Shapira – Petah Tikva’s Guardian Long before 1948, Jewish life in the Land of Israel faced constant challenges - & remarkable resilience. Avraham Shapira (1870–1965), later known among Jewish & Arab neighbours alike as Sheikh Ibrahim Miko , embodied this spirit. By just 20 years old, he was head watchman of the city of Petah Tikva, protecting the pioneering community against raids & dangers. His courage earned him respect from local tribes, who called him “Sheikh of Sheikhs.” Over his lifetime, Shapira became a symbol of Jewish self-defence & leadership. He guarded Baron Rothschild, cooperated with the Haganah, protected Chaim Weizmann, mediated disputes, & opened his home to leaders & villagers alike. When he passed at the age of 95, tens of thousands - including Israel’s president - accompanied him to his resting place. His gravestone simply reads: “A living example of heroism to the entire people of Israel and to his city,...

Desert Autumn Crocus (Colchicum persicum) 2 days ago we experienced earl autumn rains in Israel - allowing us to meet one of the most enchanting wildflowers of Israel’s desert landscapes. Appearing suddenly after the very first autumn rains, it pushes through the dry, rocky soil as if by miracle. Its soft pink petals & golden stamens bring unexpected colour & beauty to the stark desert. Unlike many flowers, the crocus blooms without leaves, its foliage only appears later in winter. This clever survival strategy allows the plant to take advantage of the short bursts of moisture that follow rain, ensuring its survival in such an unforgiving climate. #simonostertourguideisrael #imagineisraeltours #israeltour #tourisrael #visitisrael #floraandfauna #DesertBloom #ColchicumPersicum #WildflowersOfIsrael #DesertMagic #ImagineIsrael #DesertLife #FlowerPower #NatureWonders #HiddenIsrael At Imagine Israel Tours we love to notice not just the big moments of history, but also the small det...

A New Discovery from the Temple Mount Sifting Project in Jerusalem Everyone knows the story of David felling Goliath with a stone from his sling - but did you know that sling bullets were still in use a thousand years later? This summer, the 8th lead sling bullet was uncovered & identified by the Temple Mount Sifting Project. Known in Latin as glandes plumbeae (“lead acorns”), such bullets were used by Greek & Roman armies from the fifth century BCE onward. Unlike stones, they were smaller, denser & had greater range & penetration. Their almond-like or football-shaped design made them hard to spot in flight, while many carried inscriptions or symbols - turning them into instruments of psychological as well as physical warfare. Some sling bullets bear faint designs, though corrosion often blurs them. Most sling bullets unearthed in Israel belong to the Hellenistic period, when the Seleucid-Hasmonean conflicts of the second century BCE brought fortified cities & guer...