The New Year of Trees... Tu B'Sh'vat

Today celebrates the "New Year of Trees"

in Israel called "Tu B'Sh'vat" which means the 15th of Sh'vat.

It is here in the fullness of the month, when blossoms of the almond tree

bloom forth bringing encouragement of life in the midst of winter.

The word "almond" in Hebrew means "to watch."

In fact, the almond tree is called the "watching tree."