In 2017, Israel and Croatia mark 20 years of diplomatic relations. The goal is to strengthen friendly relations between the two countries. We have seen ups and downs in the past, but are now are going forward with very positive connections.
Croatia - a new member of the
European Union, that also has not an easy or short experience in her national
development, well understands now the needs and challenges of the State of
Israel and Israel is well aware of the challenges that Croatia faces as a
member of the European Union.
Over the past two decades, since the
establishment of relations, especially in recent years, the cooperation between
the two countries has intensified in the fields of agriculture, cyber,
technology and innovation. Cooperation in the matter of homeland defense also
has a fitting place in our bilateral relations.
Crown Anemone (Anemone coronaria)
From the moment the first Anemones
bloom, it is impossible to ignore them, even from a distance. Anemones face the
sun and follow it throughout the day. This flower acts like a concave mirror,
concentrating the sun's rays and warming the stamens and stigmata at its center
to as much as ten degrees above the temperature in the surrounding area. This
heat speeds up the germination of the pollen grains, thus reducing the chance
that they will be washed away by rain.
In many places the Crown Anemone
blooms in numerous different colors, mainly white, blue and purple, in addition
to red. All have the same fragrance.
Surprisingly, the wind takes care of
most of the pollination and all of Israel's Crown Anemones belong to a single
genetic population, with no significant differences. Only the red flowers grow
in the Southern part of the country, as they are more durable in the drier
climate.
Croatian Iris (Iris croatica Prodan)
The only place in the world in which
the Croatian Iris grows is on the forested limestone hills in western Croatia.
It was not defined scientifically until 1962 and by 2000 it was declared by the
Croatian Academy of Arts and Science as Croatia's national flower. This plant
is known as Perunika in honor of Perun, the highest god of the pantheon and god
of thunder and lightning in Slavic mythology. Legend has it that Perunika only
grows where lightning has struck the ground. A special folk dancing festival
named for the Iris is held in May, when the flowers bloom. The Croatian Iris is
used to create especially beautiful hybrids with other iris species and its
beauty and resistance make it a popular garden plant.
The rhizomes contain essential oils
and fragrant resins. Powder prepared from these oils and resins is used in folk
medicine, as well as in the preparation of perfumes and for other cosmetic
purposes.
