Current Stage

Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city;
for there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean. (Isa 52:1)

Current Stage

late January/early February 2018

The Season of Nitzan (Blossom) Is Come!
The branches of the almond trees are awakening and blossoming (abib). The season of nitzan (blossom-H5339) is come!!! The almond tree ripens her green almond fruit and the almond blossoms produce a sweet smell!

August 2017

courtesy of www.coolgarden.me

Harvest Time... Tis the Season for Gathering In the Seed!
During this time of year in Mediterranean regions, there is a whole lotta shakin' goin' on! By the seventh month after blossoming (abib), the flesh of the almond fruit has withered through the summer heat exposing the seed within... and the seed of the almond tree is ready to be gathered in. To harvest the seed, harvesters labor in the fields (orchards) shaking and beating the branches casuing the seed to fall to the ground. (In the US, mature trees are shaken with machines while younger trees are still harvested by hand.) The seed is then gathered in and brought into the storeroom where the hull is removed from the shell. At this point, the almond seed may be stored or separated from the shell. Once the shell is removed, the almond seed may be eaten whole or crushed to yield a choice meal ("fine" flour) and golden oil.

Late January/Early February 2017

"wild" almond tree in central valley, California

in Israel (courtesy of Nechama Yehoshafat)

The Season of Nitzan Is Come!
The branches of the almond trees are awakening and blossoming (abib). The season of nitzan (blossom-H5339) is come!!! The almond tree ripens her green almond fruit and the almond blossoms produce a sweet smell!

August 2016

branches with seed ready to be gathered, courtesy of RighteousBranch.org

almond tree shaker, courtesy of CVAA

almond seed gathered in, courtesy of RighteousBranch.org

harvester laboring in the field, courtesy of RighteousBranch.org

The Season to "Wave" the Branches and Gather in the Seed!
In the seventh month after blossoming (abib), branches of the almond tree are ready to be shaken (waved) to harvest the seed. The flesh has withered in the summer heat and the seed of the almond branches are ready to be gathered in. Harvesters are laboring in the fields (orchards), shaking and beating the branches so the seed will fall to the ground. (In the US, mature trees are shaken with machines while younger trees are still harvested by hand.) The seed is then gathered and brought into the storeroom. The almond seed may be stored, eaten whole or crushed to yield a choice meal (fine flour) and golden oil.

May-June 2016

almond tree in the orchard (CA), courtesy of Jereme Fromm

The inner core of the almond has grown firm but the summer heat has not reached the intensity when the flesh splits and withers. The almond branches are starting to bow under the weight of the fruit on the branches.

April-May 2016

almond tree in the orchard (CA), courtesy of J Fromm, KC Stone

courtesy of A. Butler

As the heat increases, the fruits that remain on the branches continue to mature. Outwardly, the fruit has reached its maximum size. Inwardly is where the changes are occurring. The inner core that we know as the almond seed continues to mature and grow firm.

March 21, 2016

almond tree in the orchard (CA), courtesy of J Fromm, KC Stone, M Machado

The Season to Harvest the Firstfruits
Over the past several weeks since pollination by the bees ("debar-ah" in Hebrew), the firstfruits of the almond tree have been hastily growing and are now approaching their maximum size. At this stage, a few may be harvested and hand-picked... the first harvest for this tree... a type of "harvest of firstfruits". Most will remain on the branches so that the inner core may mature through the summer heat.

Early Weeks of March 2016

almond tree in orchard - CA courtesy of Dennis Meinberg, Ryan Christy

These are the weeks of hasty growth for the fruit on the almond branches. In California, the firstfruits of the almond tree continue to rapidly grow. Within the next several weeks, the almond firstfruits will reach their maximum size on the exterior. At that point, a few may be handpicked and sold as delicacies while the others remain on the branches to mature through the summer heat.

Early weeks of February 2016

almond tree (CA) - courtesy of RighteousBranch.org

almond orchard in bloom, courtesy of R. Lockerby

almond tree (CA) - courtesy of RighteousBranch.org

blossoming almond tree, courtesy of RighteousBranch.org

The Season of Blossoming (Abib) Has Come!
In California, the branches of the almond tree are awakening and flourishing (abib). In some of the almond trees that are growing outside of the orchards (from seed dropped by birds and squirrels), the firstfruits are emerging from the calyx resembling flames of fire.

January 24, 2016

almond orchard (CA) - courtesy of G. Anderson

The branches of the almond tree are beginning to awaken from their slumber.

December 2015

almond orchard (CA) - courtesy of L Parker

The branches of the almond tree appear to be sleeping. During dormancy or sleep, the almond tree and its branches build up resources for the next season's fruit and remain watchful and alert to the changes in the seasons.

late July/early August 2015

almond tree in orchard - CA
courtesy of Mel Machado, Jereme Fromm
August 2015

almond tree in orchard - CA
courtesy of Dennis Meinberg, Ryan Christy
August 2015

The flesh of the fruit has withered in the summer heat and the seed is ready for harvest. (This is the seventh month from blossoming or abib.) The trees are shaken and the branches are beaten, causing the seeds to fall to the ground. Then the seeds are gathered in and brought into storehouses.

mid-June 2015

almond tree in orchard - CA
courtesy of KC Stone, Jereme Fromm
June 2015

The increasing intensity of the summer heat is causing the hulls to split. Over the next few weeks leading up to harvest, the outer flesh will continue to wither in the heat thus exposing the shell which houses the single seed within.

March 17, 2015

almond tree in orchard - CA
courtesy of KC Stone, Jereme Fromm
March 2015

The fruitfruits of the almond trees are hastily growing. During this stage, the hull and shell develop reaching the potential size of the fruit while the interior kernel begins to form.

February 19, 2015

almond trees in orchard - CA
courtesy of Dennis Meinberg
February 2015

wild almond tree - CA
courtesy of G Anderson
February 2015

IN THE ORCHARDS
The majority of the almond trees in the orchards have passed the peak bloom and the petals are falling to the ground. (NOTE: As explained in the previous post, the almond trees growing in the orchards are a mixture of two different kinds of trees. The trees planted in the California orchards are almond branches that have been grafted onto peach rootstocks.) To monitor the cycle of the almond trees in the California orchards, visit Blue Diamond Growers website.

IN THE WILD
The fruitfruits of the almond trees growing outside of the orchards proper are beginning to emerge from the calyx and hastily grow. These "wild" almond trees are less adulterated than the trees growing in the orchards. As a result, they seem to awaken and blossom earlier and thus are further along in the cycle.

February 4 - 5, 2015

in the land of Israel - week of Jan 18th

in California - week of Feb 1st

IN THE ORCHARDS
As we drive through the central valley of California on the first day of the full moon, we see orchards of almond trees that appear to be sleeping; however, as we take a closer look, we find that the branches are beginning to awaken from their winter slumber. Most of the buds on the branches have green tips. Occasionally there is a pink bud; and in a few orchards, we see a blossom or two that have fully opened.

Boxes of bees have been brought in from across the United States and placed in the almond orchards in anticipation of the awakening and blossoming of the branches.

almond trees with peach rootstocks planted in the orchards

a wild almond tree flourishing across the street from an almond orchard (02/05/2015)

IN THE WILD
Interestingly, the "wild" almond trees growing outside of the orchards proper are fully awake and flourishing as shown in the picture to the right. These are trees that have sprung up from seed scattered by wind or birds. They are less adulterated than the trees growing in the orchards as their rootstocks are naturally almond. In contrast, the almond trees that are planted in the orchards are almond branches which have been grafted onto peach rootstocks; so technically the trees growing in the orchards are a mixed tree of two different kinds of trees - almonds and peaches. This practice began many years ago to prevent a nematode problem; however, the practice continues today even though the nematode problem is no longer an issue. Although a cousin to the almond tree, peach trees typically blossom later than almond trees.

We find it interesting that the wild almond trees which are less adulterated seem to awaken and blossom earlier than the almond trees planted in the orchards which are a mixture of two different kinds of trees.

The blossoms produce a delightfully sweet-smelling fragrance that we find difficult to compare or describe. Surrounding the blossoming trees are bees busily at work carrying pollen from blossom to blossom. As we watch the bees, we think of the parable of Moses and Aaron delivering the Word of the LORD to the children of Israel.