There are jacaranda trees blooming all over Tripoli. I've always loved their purple flowers and have one planted in our garden. I grew it from a seed that I picked up from the parking lot of the Physical Therapy hospital in Janzour nearly 7 years ago. The tree now reaches almost to the top of the second floor of our building.
It's graceful branches lean out over the garden wall and offer a bit of shade. As beautiful as the blooms are, unfortunately they have no perfume. I take the flowers and dry them and mix them in with potporri.
As usual you stun us with the powerful images. Spring in Libya is so natural and wild and beautiful, but shame people don't appreciate it a lot although it is very short. I like how you enjoy the scenery in Libya despite all the ignorance.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone in Libya enjoys the spring - even the ignorant.
ReplyDeleteLibyans as a rule, seem to be very in-tune with nature. For instance, when it rains you can hear people all around you praising the goodness of God.
The weather is always a big topic of discussion - even becoming a part of normal discourse 'Shin Jowik?' literally means 'How's your weather?' and is used as a way to say 'How are you?'
Every season is looked forward to and is connected with by such things as seasonal fruits and vegetables or other foods.
Spring goes with flowers and greeness.
Summer - melons and the idea of the beach and grilled meats.
Autumn - brings the season for dates.
Winter - citrus and the warm coziness of a charcoal fire in a tradition kanoun.
No... there is no ignorance in Libya when it comes to seasons.
Dear Ghazi as Khadija said and I totaly agree, what we have is not ignorance but public awareness that is missing.You believe they're ignorant ? Then do something about it !
ReplyDeleteDear friends, I agree that the 'Libyan culture' in general is built around a special relation with nature and the seasonal changes, but what I was trying to say is, that there is lack of awareness among a majority of the general public about the importance of crucial environmental issues. To give an example, the sand storms or Ghibli that is a normal natural event each year, its impact is felt much more than before because of the logging of the green belt of trees around the southern parts of Tripoli, these trees were planted ages ago, and due to the forming of new farm lands in the south of the city, deforestation led to losing that natural barrier against the sands. Another example I used as part of my voluntary work as a leader of boy scouts to aware the organization each year on the dangers facing (Judaime) forest, which I can say I grow up breathing its beauty, we held seminars, workshops, and plenty of other things, but nothing happened, and the result is, that the forest is dying and one day it will never exist. What I am trying to say is we might enjoy the weather, the seasons and plants but we lack the initiative to care for it, to preserve its presence for future generations. Sorry for talking a lot, I have a big mouth... Ghazi
ReplyDeleteIn the days before the discovery of oil in Libya there was a desperate need for a replenishing supply of firewood. This is one of the reasons why the Italians who had colonized Libya planted so many of the fast growing eucalyptis trees that can be seen in outlaying areas of Tripoli.
ReplyDeleteThese trees were planted with the idea that they would be trimmed back for use as firewood. But oil and gas were discovered and the need for firewood diminished. The trees were not maintained and grew all out of control.
While these trees are beautiful, contain entire eco-systems and help prevent errosion, they have the downside of sucking moisture out of the surrounding soil and causing the soils near them to be drained of many of the necessary nutrients that are needed to grow healthy crops. This is one of the main reasons that farmers often remove these massive over grown trees.
It's sad, but maybe it's part of the evolution of the countryside. The city is also growing at an amazingly fast rate and is absorbing more and more of the greenbelt every year. Proper city planning is really important for the future.
Empty talk !
ReplyDeleteI do not like to follow ya 7mada
ReplyDeleteDear anonymous
ReplyDeleteNot like to follow ??? What exactly????Where's the spirit ? Speak up and say what you really think instead if behahaving cowardly by disguising yourself !
Well ...It is either you are stupid or has got empty mind too ... I said I do not want to follow .. means the empty talk ..I do not like to repeat and I hope you know why ... You are as Anonymous as I am or even more. At least I do not use name cover ... I just use what is provided by the comupter ... no need for me to try hard to cover my self and talk empty talk ... ok .. I hope you understood by now.
ReplyDeleteMohamed in Tripoi ! = Omar in Tajora .... How many Mohamed and Omar do we have in Tripoli and Tajora >>> Any way I am not asking you broadcast you name and adress..I was just replying to your aunt ! ..... the reason i am saying empty talk because of the same reason you are carrying that photo ... You or we or all of us can change no thing in this way ...It is simply just talk and will produce no thing ...Empty talk ! Ahmad from Libya
ReplyDeleteWhy are we fighting and what are we fighting over?
ReplyDeleteSis Khadija started the thread by talking about spring and we end it up by taunting each other over names.
Sometimes I think gthe future of Libya has nothing to do with nature - it will take care of itself as it always has - but it is we humans who manage to create disasters by wanting to much. For instance by wanting to let other people behave like we want them to.
Having any name is our own business and we should not quarrel because we don´t like it.
I totally agree with you Safia in what you said .. Ahmad
ReplyDelete7mada ..Good luck then .. I think it is better for you to concentrate on your studies rather than this useless arguement ! Ahmad
ReplyDeleteWOW, greetings from Florida! It is my opinion that Ghazi and Khadija have alot of useful insight to the beauty of Libya. Nature is beautiful.........and is meant to be appreciated and preserved. Thank you all for sharing. Sandi
ReplyDelete