The first daffodils of the season were spotted this week in the Bar’am and Biriya forests of Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael–Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) in the Upper Galilee. The vibrant yellow blooms, signaling the start of fall, appeared early this year and can be seen as a symbol of hope and renewal, celebrating the hostages’ return home.
The autumn daffodil is one of Israel’s most recognizable plants, belonging to the Amaryllidoideae family. Its bright-yellow blooms appear before the first rains across the mountainous areas of the Galilee, Golan and Jerusalem Hills, while its leaves emerge only later in winter.
“It is the hallmark of autumn in Israel,” says Arthur Yankelov, KKL-JNF forester at Biriya Forest. “Each year, we track the start of the bloom, and it has become a much-anticipated highlight for nature enthusiasts. This year’s early bloom marks the official beginning of the season.”
Biriya Forest spans tens of thousands of dunams between the Safed and Ramot Naftali region and is considered one of Israel’s prime sites for viewing autumn daffodil blooms.
While they are legally protected, Yankelov added: “We invite the public to come out, take photos and admire the flowers, but to leave them undisturbed in their natural habitat.”
