Ancient olive trees severely damaged in last year's wildfires at the Olive Tree Recreation Area in Ayalon Canada Park have survived and are now being rehabilitated into bonsai trees, according to an announcement this week by Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF).
Despite the extent of the damage, KKL-JNF experts believed some of the trees could survive after discovering that their root collars remained alive. The burned stumps were subsequently transferred to a nursery for rehabilitation.
"The trees were severely damaged, but we discovered that life still remained within the stumps," Rotem Attias, manager of KKL-JNF's Eshtaol Nursery, said.
KKL-JNF experts have used specialized bonsai-based techniques to rehabilitate the trees, including carefully selected growing media, controlled moisture and oxygen levels, climate-controlled conditions, and precise pruning.
"The precise treatment and the greenhouse conditions make it possible to develop a new root system and transform trees once considered lost into trees with a unique character and story," Attias said.
The stumps are being kept in a greenhouse under warm conditions and at 70% humidity to encourage and control root development. To reduce the risk of rot, they were placed in pumice, a growing medium that maintains appropriate moisture levels while allowing oxygen to reach the root zone.
Experts also removed most of the leaves to limit water loss and prevent the stumps from drying out before new root systems could develop.
Trees to be displayed at Jerusalem Botanical Gardens, KKL-JNF nursery
Once the rooting process is complete, the stumps will undergo specialized bonsai shaping. The rehabilitated trees will eventually be displayed to the public at the Jerusalem Botanical Gardens in Givat Ram and at KKL-JNF's Eshtaol Nursery.
Shai Cohen, a bonsai artist at the Givat Ram Jerusalem Botanical Gardens, collaborated with KKL-JNF's Central Region on the rehabilitation project.
"The renewed sprouting of these ancient olive stumps reminds us of the vitality, remarkable regenerative power, and resilience of trees, living beings that outlive us and produce far more offspring than we do," said Dr. Ori Fragman-Sapir, scientific director of the Givat Ram Jerusalem Botanical Gardens.