Tu Bishvat this year falls on Sunday night/Monday the 20/21st January, but Israel is celebrating all month. In fact you can already buy lots of dried and fresh fruits in the shops to get ready for the custom to eat 15 different fruit on Tu Bishvat!
Pick Fruit and Vegetables!
Photo Credit: Ruach Shtut
This would be the perfect time to make the trip to our firm favorite, Shvil Hasalat in the South for a unique experience!
Strawberries are in season now so this is a great time of year to make it a fun couples date or take the whole family strawberry picking. There are now many places. We do recommend checking their Facebook pages or calling first as sometimes they change opening times or get too busy.  Click here for some of the great ones!Â
Neot Kedumim
Photo Credit: Eldad Mastro, Neot Kedumim
If you want to get excited about the secrets of nature, join a family orientated botanical tour of Neot Kedumim. Please note that the tour is in Hebrew. During the guided tour the hidden secrets of flora and its relationship with fauna will be revealed. Experience the seasonal flowers with all your senses. Learn about the roles of the different parts of plants and the unique relationship between plants and insects. Discover the tiny world of insects and the way they cooperate with flowers. At the end of the tour, prepare a natural, healthy and tasty tea from the herbs found along the way. The tours will take place on Friday January 18th 2019. ( 9th of Shevat 5769) Starts promptly at 12:30. Length of tour 2.5 hours.
Jerusalem Botanical Gardens
Photo Credit: Yehudit Markus
A variety of activities will be going on at Jerusalem’s Botanical Gardens (on Shabbat only) including: Flower planting, a creative workshop using all natural materials, new nursery rhymes, huge coloring pages on the lawn , writing blessings to the trees on a special wall and a host of other activities. Saturday, 19.01.2018 from 10: 00-15: 00 The activity is included in the entrance fee to the kindergarten, or free admission for members, or children who live in Jerusalem and are accompanied by a parent cost only 10 NIS
National Parks
National Parks throughout Israel will be running special Winter walks to see the opening flowers. Free if you hold a membership, and very reasonable prices if you don’t!
Keren Kayemet Leyisrael Events
Check out the  KKL events page for something fun on or around Tu Bishvat.
Plant a Tree!
Photo Credit: Yehudit Marcus. Jerusalem Botanical Gardens
As the tradition has it, planting trees is customary on Tu Bishvat – you need to book it, but plant a tree in Israel with KKL!Â
You can also plant trees at Neot Kedumim!
There is also flower-planting going on at Jerusalem’s Botanical Gardens (see above), and planting at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo (see below).
If you know of any other places offering this, please comment below!
Visit the Jerusalem Zoo!
Photo Credit: Chaggit Albag
Special planting event on Friday January 25, 11:30-14:30 at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo!
The planting participants will help plant green areas of trees and shrubs, and will also enjoy a variety of dried fruits, a special workshop using natural materials, and live music with Tu B’Shvat songs! The planting will take place along the route linking the Biblical Zoo to the Israel Aquarium, Jerusalem, and this year the planters will enjoy the vegetation in the area and will meet a new and interesting area between the zoo and the aquarium. On the same day there will be a host of guided feeds of the animals in the garden: chimpanzees, penguins, giraffes, lions, teachers, red panda, peccary and kangaroo. Price: Child (age 3-18) 44 NIS, adult 58 NIS
Darom Adom
The Darom Adom Festival– The stunning Anemone Festival is coming up soon in the Negev throughout February
Wineries
Photo Credit: Tishbi Winery
For the adults, what could be more appropriate than celebrating the grape vines that help produce Israel’s finest wines?! Okay – you could bring your children with (and they can enjoy the grape juice), but definitely recommended for adults, couples and friends!
Some great suggestions are Tishbi Winery, Tzuba, Barkan, Carmel, Flam to name a few!
Go out and Hike Somewhere!!
In the upcoming weeks you just MUST make the most of sunny days and get out and walk in nature – all over Israel you can find beautiful wild flowers. Check loveloveisrael.com and our Facebook group for ideas!
Blog Post Front Photo Credit: Jerusalem Botanical Gardens, Tzvia Adler