Garden Bloggers Bloom Day for January 2009

By Fran Sorin – Posted in: Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day

What took my breath away this month are the cut flowers and fresh veggies (some organic) sold in markets, road side stalls and garden centers throughout Israel.  Here’s a glance of what I saw yesterday at a market. And just to make you salivate a bit, I’ll translate the prices for you into dollars!

israel-11409-garden-center-gerbera-daisies-resized

Gerbera daisies priced at 19 shekels for one dozen. Price exchange in U.S.: $4.75 per dozen. 

israel-11409-garden-center-narcissus-resized-12s-for-2-dozen

Narcissus: 12 shekels for 2 dozen. Price exchange in U.S.: $2.50

israel-11409-garden-center-lisianthus-resized-29s-for-2-dozen

Ranunculus: 2 dozen for 29 shekels. Price exchange in U.S.: $7.50

israel-11409-garden-center-nemessia-resized

Nemesia hybrids. Those antique muted, pastel colors take my breath away! 

israel-11409-garden-center-nemessia-with-signage-resized

Nemesias priced at 8 shekels per pot translates into about $2. per container. How does that stack up with the prices of annuals at your garden center?

purple-and-white-cauliflower-resized

Don’t know the price of these cauliflowers. And yes, they are not legitimately flowers but they sure did grab my attention! 

yams-and-purple-potatoes-at-market-resized

Yams and purple potatoes priced at 2 containers for 10 shekels. That translates into $2.50 per 2 containers. Not bad, eh?

pink-bouganvillea-resized

In Israel, bouganvilleas are not limited to rapidly growing vines but are also grown as shrubs. The landscape is filled with them in all colors. I never tire of them!

multi-colored-lantana-resized

A plethora of lantanas (in every color) and oleanders are grown throughout the country. When I see how they grow here compared to when I grow them in the summer back East, it makes me laugh!

To read all of the other posts for this month’s Garden Bloggers Bloom Day, go to MayDreamsGardens.

Fran Sorin

Fran Sorin

Fran is the author of the highly-acclaimed book, Digging Deep: Unearthing Your Creative Roots Through Gardening, which Andrew Weil, M.D., recommends as "a profound and inspiring book."  

A graduate of the University of Chicago with Honors in Psychology, she is also a gardening and creativity expert, coach, inspirational speaker, CBS radio news gardening correspondent, and Huffington Post Contributor.

Learn more about Fran and get free resources that will help you improve your life at www.fransorin.com.

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Gail January 15, 2009, 10:15 am

Market flowers and vegetables are beautiful. I love just looking at everything….it’s obviously time to go to the store and get fresh flowers! Have a good day! Gail

Gail-
It is especially during the Winter when I feel the need for cut flowers. Indoor plants just don’t give me the same ‘oomph’ that cut flowers do. And back East, at some of the grocery stores, I can find 12-18 roses for anywhere from $10-$13. which is pretty darn good in the suburb where I live! Fran

Susan Tomlinson January 15, 2009, 10:20 am

Wow, I’d buy those cauliflower just for a table centerpiece!

Susan-
I agree….who needs to eat them? I love making centerpieces with a mixture of flowers, fruits and veggies….especially for Thanksgiving. It is a blast to create! Fran

Nancy Bond January 15, 2009, 10:30 am

What beauties, Fran! The flowers in your first photo are my absolute favorite color combination. 🙂

I hear you Nancy….that photo feels like a wonderful tapestry to me. Thanks for your comment. Fran

Lisa at Greenbow January 15, 2009, 11:29 am

Wonderful show of blooms. Those prices…wow. I bet your apartment is full of lovely blooms in vases.

Lisa-
Thanks. Actually, my daughter and I ran over to the market late yesterday and bought ALOT of flowers. We have several containers full of them that look really terrific. Am enjoying them and their scent!! What could be better? Fran

Shady Gardener January 15, 2009, 11:41 am

I wanted to make sure these weren’t at the local WM or $store, as I just dropped over from Nan’s site at Hayefield! 😉

Hey Shady Gardener…no, not this time around!!

Candylei January 15, 2009, 6:43 pm

Just found your blog. Lovely. We are gardening away back East even if this month it is more in our minds and on paper and pencil than outside in the gardens.

Candylei-
Believe me, with all of the winters I’ve spent back east, I totally understand what you’re saying. It is a time to dream and plan….As a dear friend of mine told me: ‘Bloom where you are planted’. Fran

LINDA from EACH LITTLE WORLD January 15, 2009, 7:43 pm

Wow! Everything is lovely but the prices make one salivate. And nice to get a sense of what is available there.

Linda-
Yes, it is pretty incredible. Israel is a pretty significant flower exporter. And the fruits and veggies are grown in Israel. I must tell you that at the stall where we get our strawberries (it’s on a main road), they are grown right in the field behind the stall. I have never in my life tasted any strawberry so sweet. Fran

jodi January 15, 2009, 9:14 pm

Whoa! I stop reading blogs while I’m sick, and you’re in Israel??? Must go back and find out why, obviously. The market offerings are wonderful, although I’m not sure if I like the funky-coloured cauliflower. At least not to eat.

Jodi-
Yeh…I’m a lucky lady. I have two adult children who live her plus a slew of family. So rather than flying in for 6 days at a time, I took the plunge this year and am staying for 3 months during the winter before gardening season begins. Was at the market again this morning…what can I say? It’s divine!! Fran

Hilery - Desert Greenhouse Guide January 16, 2009, 6:20 pm

You should see the lantana and oleander that grow here in So. Nevada — they go absolutely crazy and laugh at the triple digit heat. They are definitely some of the easiest plants to grow here in the southwest.

Hilery-It makes perfect sense that they would with your temps. Aren’ they just the best?? Fran

Carol, May Dreams Gardens January 17, 2009, 10:46 pm

And I’m always drawn to those displays in the stores. Thanks for sharing those beautiful blooms for bloom day!

Carol-
With pleasure. And thanks for creating such a wonderful forum for all of us with Garden Bloggers Bloom Day! Fran

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