Hamsin

Olive flowers

A heatwave hit us today. It was significantly warmer the past 2 days but today was a typical hamsin - the south desert winds that blow during this time before Pentecost. Hamsin in arabic and Hebrew means 50 (pentecost). When I came out of the library from work, it was like entering an oven. Hot, dry heat was suffocating me. Inside the library it was a lot cooler as the thick stone walls keep the heat out. The hams brings in fine desert sand, making the sky look yellow. And the fine sand gets into your mouth and eyes and ears. Walking home became difficult from the oppressive heat.

Iris

However the autumn fruit trees need this hams to pollinate their flowers. Dates and olive trees are flowering profusely. Soon the pomegranates and other fruit trees like apples, apricots, pears, peaches will also flower. I guess for the sake of good harvest we'll have to put up with this hams for the next month. 

The municipality has reworked the gardens around the Old City. Lots of grass and lavender and irises. Right now is the season for iris to flower so there are beautiful white and purple flowers lining the tramways. Unfortunately they last for only a day. The delicate flowers wilt in the heat. How different the reaction to the hear among the flowers. I guess it's the same with humans. It reminds us we're all different and react differently to the same things. A little respect, a little understanding goes a long way.