Who doesn’t love almond blossoms? One of the first flowers to appear after a long winter, the delicate white blossoms are a welcome sight after many months of cold and endless dreary days. Almond blossoms have inspired artists since the beginning of time and they continue to until today. From Van Gogh’s incredible almond blossom series of paintings to our photoshoot based off their dreamy wonder, the almond blossom is an inspiration for everyone.
Almond Blossoms – Symbol of Spring, Hope, and Beauty
There is hardly a culture in the world (that was graced with the almond blossom’s beauty) that did not revere its uniqueness and appreciate its wonder. Almond blossoms are symbolic of so many positive things; spring, new life, hope, and beauty. Usually, the very first flowers to appear after a long winter, they are always a welcome sight. Is there anyone who is not excited to catch a glimpse of the season’s first blossoms?
Almond trees, which originated in the Middle East and have since spread to similar climates around the world, have made their way and shown their importance in countless cultures and religions. In Greek mythology, they are considered a symbol of pure, eternal love. In Judaism, they represent hope and renewal and are usually used in the Tu Bishvat celebrations.
Van Gogh’s “Almond Blossoms”
One of the world’s most famous representations of the lovely almond blossom was painted by Vincent Van Gogh in the late 1880s. A stunning depiction of the beauty of spring, this painting has always inspired us with its simple beauty. Although Van Gogh had a whole series of almond blossom paintings (and blossoming trees in general) “Almond Blossoms” is his most famous. The pinkish-white blossoms against the blue sky provide a dreamy, impressionist image of the flowers that inspired us to recreate their delicate grace in a real-life photoshoot.
Handmade Almond Blossom Dresses
Israel’s rainy season was coming to an end. The spring was in sight. We were beyond excited. Wildflower season in Israel is something, unlike anything I have seen in the world. A partially desert climate, the country has a few months of “rainy season”. The more rain we get, the better the wildflowers will be. It’s incredible to watch the desert turn into a green, flowering oasis. But, there is a risk. The summer heat comes quickly (Israel hardly has spring), and with the heat, comes the dryness. The flowers have a life span of just a few weeks. Only a few short weeks to appreciate their beauty. The almond blossoms were the first to bloom. We were going to be ready. Pink beautiful dresses to compliment the delicate blossoms. It was time to create.
The Design
Deciding to use some of the fabrics from our collection, we rummaged through the piles of textures and prints until we found this stunning pink satin-like material. Given to us from an estate sale at least three years ago, it seemed like this fabric’s time would finally come. We had yards and yards of a dark pink satin and a few yards of a baby pink textured fabric. We decided to use both of the fabrics to exemplify the nuances of the pinks and white in the actual blossoms themselves.
The Creation
Satin always brings back memories of the stunning gowns of the 1930s. The evening dresses were simply unmatched in their graceful and flattering lines. Searching for some inspiration online, I finally found a few dresses that would make a good prototype or inspiration for the first dress- a combination of a slip dress and an evening gown. We designed it to be floor length, with unique, twisted straps that extend into trailing ribbons of material at the back.
Brooke’s dress proved to be a bit more of a challenge. We picked a pattern, cut it out, and sewed it all together only to find that it was a stiff and horrible choice. The fabric was not the best quality and far too rigid for the look we were aspiring to. We tried to come up with solutions to alter it somehow to make it wearable but to no avail. We realized the best thing to do was just to start over. Using the leftover fabric from my dress, we created a simple and chic slip dress to replace the original. Together, they were perfect.
The Photoshoot
Remember how I mentioned that there is only a very short time frame to catch the almond blossoms in their full glory? Well…we almost missed it. By the time we finished the dresses and found a day to go out to do a photoshoot, the season was almost over. Driving to multiple different areas, we were devastated to see that all the stunning locations had already shed most of their beautiful blossoms. Only after about an hour of driving around and searching did we come across this beautiful orchard that was still remarkably in bloom.
Where to Find the Best Almond Blossoms in Israel
1. Latrun – This is where we went! There were beautiful fields ad very lush and beautiful! The biggest downside is that it is also one of the most popular locations and it can get quite busy. Although we arrived early in the morning, there were so many people picnicking and taking photos by the time we left in the afternoon.
2. Midrach Oz – If you’re visiting the north of Israel, this place is remarkable! Seemingly endless beautiful fields and not usually that crowded!
3. Lachish – Specifically in Yaar Hamelachim there are many beautiful trees.
4. Park Canada – If you’re looking for more of a rustic, in the nature type scene, this is the place for you!
5. Tal Shahar -Another beautiful location to scout some beautiful blossoms
For more specifics on locations, check out this link (in Hebrew but can be translated to English).
Fun Facts About Almond Blossoms
- They are EDIBLE! Did you know that you can actually eat almond blossoms?? I can’t vouch for their taste, having only learned about this recently!
- Sweet, gentle scent. Not only are the blossoms themselves delicate and beautiful, but so is their smell. They are not overwhelming at all, you probably won’t even smell them if you’re just walking through the orchard. However, if you hold one close, you’ll smell a bit of heaven
- In Hebrew the word for Almond is shaked which is also a very common baby name in Israel
- The edible part of the almond that we all call a “nut” is actually a seed
Stay tuned for many more posts about the wildflowers in Israel!
Lots of Love,
Danielle and Brooke, Colorful Sisters