Hi,
We decided on short Saturday hike to see the Coastal Iris, and specific – the Purple Iris, although it is more black than purple (in English it called the Coastal Iris). On the way we went through a settlement called on the name of the flower – Irus (In Hebrew the flower also called Irus, although it is named after the personification of rainbow in Greek mythology).
The place is a reserve for this Iris for the specie in danger of examination. Like of species of Iris. Those species are endemic for Israel and Lebanon (meaning they only exists here). There for it is important to preserve them: it is forbidden to uproot them, and when they flower not to hurt them or even touch them.
SPNI (Society for the protection of Nature in Israel) lead the campaign (that lead to a law) to protect wild flowers back in the 1970’s. It even changed its logo to the Iris (specificly the Iris haynei) for it is a wild flower in examination danger and for each part of Israel has it specie of Iris unique for it.
Jannaeus and Xuxa had fun. Xuxa could run and eat grass. Jannaeus could pick up flowers and play in the sand.
Take Care
Gad
The logo of SPNI since the 1970’s
The purple Iris
Bunch of Iris with warning tapes to prevent people from stepping on and around the flowers
– A pole marking the border of the reserve
Mound to prevent Jeeps entering the reserve, and you can see they try
When it flowers -It is a festival for the whole family
On the Kurkar hills of the reserve
A single tree on the lawn
The holes in the cliff houses the Bee-eater bird, Ironic isn’t it? 
in Hebrew it is called after the whistles he makes.
Looking East from the hills
The houses of Irus, sits on the edge of the reserve
Some of the houses are dug into the hills…
Some of the houses in Irus, a playground of architects.
Link to the hike route
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