News
High Springs Herald, Thursday, June 4, 2009
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PRESS RELEASE
Dr Ed Bez, director of the Biblical Botanical Garden Society, High Springs, Florida gave a fascinating presentation to the local Garden Club chapter on Thursday, May 28th at the home of retired Baptist minister, Rev. and Mrs. Furman Lewis His wife, Janette, served as hostess for the Garden Club’s meeting.
The title of his presentation was “Ruins cure, Redemptions cure: Thorns and Thistles in the Bible.” The presentation was well received according to Mary Mack, current president of the Garden Club.
The presentation was informative, enlightening, and delivered in a warm, passionate, way. Dr. Bez advocated the planting of some thistles or thorns as part of the gardening experience in
Their general usefulness for food, medicine, weapons, tools, building materials, and fuels in the ancient Near East were highlighted during the talk. Several facts about thorns and thistles in the Bible held the attention and interest of the whole group, such as, generally speaking the color of the flowers of thistles is purple, royal purple and that if a plant has thorns it is likely edible. These and other insights made for a wonderful club meeting.
Approximately 35-40 people were in attendance.
This was the second year for Dr. Bez to give a presentation. “The club was blessed to have Dr. Bez with us again. He is a joy to listen to and to learn from”, said Mary Mack.
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Some of the ladies from the Cartersville Garden Club that attended the presentation by Dr. Bez entitled "Ruins Curse, Redmeptions Cure: Thorns and Thistles of the Bible." Photo taken Thursday, May 28, 2009 | From left to right, Rev. Virginia Ruhlman (Club Chaplan), Dr. Ed Bez, Mary Mack, ( President, Cartersville Garden Club). |
Free Seed program to continue May 16, 2009 BBGS receives hundreds of thousands of seeds from BiblicalGardens.org founder Shirley Pinchev Sidell. These seeds will be part of a "Free Seeds" program first launched by Shirley a few years ago and to be continued by BBGS. If you are interested in a packet of "free Seeds" for your gardens just send us an e-mail requesting them. |  |
April 10, 2009 (Good Friday)*- Newspaper article submitted to the High Springs Herald, High Springs, Florida for publication. Ed Bez, Director Biblical Botanical Gardens Every holiday has its own cherished traditions that are lovingly passed down from generation to generation. At Easter, these joyous traditions often include egg decorating, gift baskets, chocolate bunnies, local church services, family gatherings, parades, and, of course, the Easter Lily. For many, its beautiful trumpet-shaped blossoms symbolize purity, hope, and resurrection life -- the spiritual essence of Easter -- and all the promises of spring. But are the lilies that line the chancels or altars on Easter Sunday the same as the lilies mentioned in the Bible? Well, Probably not. The Bible mentions more than 120 species of plants, flowers, herbs, trees, grains and fruits in both Old and New Testaments. The problem for biblical scholars and botanists is that many of the plants are not specifically identified but are rather generic references to broad categories of flowers. The Hebrew name translated lily is shushan or shoshan, i.e., "whiteness", and was used as the general name of several plants common to the holy land, such as the tulip, iris, anemone, gladiolus, etc. Some interpret it, with much probability, as denoting in the Old Testament the water-lily or lotus. Its flowers are large, and they are of a white color, with streaks of pink. They supplied models for the ornaments of the decorative pillars of Solomon’s great temple and the large bronze laver marking the entrance (1 Kings 7:19, 22, 26; 2 Chronicles 4:5). The lilies (Gr. krinia) spoken of in the New Testament (Matthew 6:28; Luke 12:27) may have been the scarlet martagon or "red Turk's-cap lily", which comes into flower at the season of the year when our Lord's sermon on the mount is supposed to have been delivered. It is abundant in the district of Galilee; and its fine scarlet flowers render it a very conspicuous and showy object, which would naturally attract the attention of the hearers. In the wondrous richness of the spring bloom which characterizes the So if the Lily on the altar is not the same as the “lily” mentioned in the Bible where did the tradition originate?
The tradition dates back around the 1800s. It came in with the rise in the Easter observances by the Protestants in We can also thank Louis Houghton, a WW I soldier, for the modern surge of popularity of the Bermuda lily – better known as the Easter Lily – in this country. In 1919 he brought a suitcase full of hybrid lily bulbs to the southern coast of The climate there was ideal for growing this lily, a native of the Now you know what Blessed Good Friday and Happy Easter. * Orthodox Christians use a different calendar and will celebrate Good Friday on April 17th. |  May 21, 2009 - Press Release ABC Founder/President, Chappie McChesney, appointed Dr. Ed Bez and his son, Mark E. Bez to two important posts in the newly formed beekeepers club. Dr. Bez assume the role as Director of Public Relations and Club Programming while Mark assumes the position of Director of Youth and Community Education. More specific details of their duties and function will be outlined to the club membership at the next monthly meeting. Both Dr. Bez and Mark expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve ABC. For more information : http://alachua-beekeepers.ning.com/
  May 15, 2009 High Springs Herald Article - Group forming to discuss plants, flowers mentioned in the Bible http://www.highspringsherald.com/articles/2009/05/15/religion/religion03.txt
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April 8, 2009
Today was an historic day in the life of "Glimpses of Eden Biblical Botanical Gardens", High Springs, Florida. We picked up three species of plants that will be the first plantings in the young garden. We took delivery of several Ficus carica (Brown Turkey Figs), six Aristea macrocarpa (African Iris), and six Elettaria cardamomum (Green ginger, common ginger); their connection to the Bible and ancient times will appear below.
We want to thank Kate Boulos and Greg Brannan, Archer, Florida ( for supplying the fig trees), Diane Goodrich, Orange Lake, Florida.(for supplying African Iris and Cardamom).
 Above: Dr. Ed Bez, BBGSUSA Director (L) and grower, Kate Boulos. Photo by Mark Bez (April 8, 2009)
Right: Fig tree with immature fruit, Nazareth Village, Nazareth, Upper Galilee, Israel. Photo by Ed Bez (2005) |  |
April 2, 2009
BBGS-USA advisor Dr. Lytton John Musselman writes to us..." I am in eastern Iraq researching Bible plants for my Cambridge book and internet access is not always easy. I was glad to locate native populations of contenders for Lily of the Valley and Rose of Sharon.
Dr. Musselman has given us permission to post these beautiful contenters for two of the more romantic, symbolic, methaphorical flowers of the Bible. Thank you Dr. Musselman.
 Possible contender for the "Lily of the Valley" |  Possible contender for the "Rose of Sharon" |
March 31, 2009
PRESS RELEASE
"Glimpses of Eden Biblical Botanical Gardens" to be established in High Springs, Florida.
There is a growing (pun intended) movement across the USA and around the world of establishing bible-themed gardens a.k.a., Biblical Botanical Gardens. Whether it be individuals fascinated with the 120 plus plants mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament or churches and synagogues looking to beautify their campuses...there is great interest in the flora of the lands of the Bible.
It isn't as starnge as it may first sound. Think about it. How many American's use or enjoy olive oil, promogrates, garlic. mellons, pistachios, aloe vera, dill, chic peas, poppy, onion, saffron, hyacinth, wheat and barley every day? The list could go on and on, it is by no means comprehensive. Few of us relaize that these plants, flowers, fruits, nuts, and herbs are in fact native to the lands of the Bible.
Many of these same plants become involved in the story of God and God's people.
Who hasn't heard of the mustard seed; smallest among seeds? Or the flax plant from which ancient linen was woven? Nearly everyone has some knowledge of Bible plants and if they don't then what better way to connect moderns to the ancient world than through a living environment of both beauty and utility; by plant a biblical garden.
Ed Bez (seen below studying ancent Near Eastern gardening, particularly the style used by Israelites) recently moved from the hustle and bustle of Greater Atlanta to the more placid environment of Northcentral Florida. He has been interested in biblical plants for many years and hopes to find kindred interests here in Alachua County. He hopes to soon begin creating a model of a biblical garden right here in High Springs. The garden will be called "Glimspes of Eden Biblical Botanical Garden.
He loves wrting about biblical plants, flowers, herbs and trees. So many of the plants mentioned in the Bible can actually be grown here in Northcentral Florida with great success. Pershaps 80% of all plants of the Bible can be cultivated here. In fact, many folks already have some of these biblical flowers blooming in their gardens and don't realize their connection to stories in the Bible.
He is convinced of the intrinsic value of studying and enjoying biblical fauna. He hopes to encourage many churches in the region to consider beautifying their campuses with such a garden; to illicit the help of children and "green-thumbed" seniors to volunteer their time and skills in the creation of a "little bit of Eden" at their churches, synagogues, schools and homes. It is such a rewarding experience for everyone that becomes involved.
He is available as a consultant. Check out his website at http://bbgsusa.synthasite.com or call him at
Ed Bez studying ancient New Eastern gardening techniques, especially those employed by Israelites
in the Late Bronze and Iron Ages (1550 BC-586 BC).
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