Olive trees of over 900 years

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After seeing the Garden of Gethsemane from outside its Franciscan walls in the previous post, some readers wished to see the inside.

Olive tree trunks' rings are difficult to count.
So recently carbon dating was used to determine the age of these venerable trees in the garden where (tradition says) Jesus prayed the night before his crucifixion.

Three of the trees were found to be from the years 1092, 1166, and 1198.
 The study was made by the National Research Council of Italy Trees and Timber Institute and by academics from five Italian universities.

See the pillar of stones supporting this leaning tree?
You can enlarge the photos to see better.
It was 7:45-8:00 in the evening when I was there.

The garden is next to the Church of Gethsemane, properly known as the Basilica of the Agony, popularly known as the Church of All Nations.

These olive trees are among the oldest known to science.
But to the pilgrims who pray there, a century more or less is not what moves them, sometimes to tears.
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Here is more about the recent study, and Wikipedia has more about Gethsemane.
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The softness of evening

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Last Sunday was I think my first time to be on the Mount of Olives after 8 pm.
It's quite beautiful with the Church of All Nations illuminated.
Inside the walls are the ancient olive trees of the Garden of Gethsemane.
The gold onion-shaped domes further up the hill are the Church of Mary Magdalene and the Russian Orthodox convent.

The deep blue sky over Jerusalem is for SkyWatch Friday.
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Wiki Loves Monuments (historical landmarks) photo contest

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Photographers, bloggers, natives, tourists--get your cameras ready!
Or your archives.
Wiki Loves Monuments 2012 is in progress!

Wikipedia needs photos, old or new, of your local cultural heritage and the best entries in their big photo contest will get prizes.

I read through the list of moreshet/heritage places in Israel and realized that my archive is already full of such pictures.
Maybe I should upload a bunch and try for the shekel prizes of

• First place: ILS 5000 (about $1,250)
• Second place: ILS 3000 (about $750)
• Third place: ILS 2000 (about $500)

Worldwide, 142,511 images have already been uploaded; and in Israel, 353.

Check the website to see if your country is participating and what the final date is.
In Israel, the contest (like everything else here) starts and ends (Oct. 15) later than in non-Jewish countries because of the chagim, the holidays.

About the contest for Israel
FAQs in Hebrew
Help Desk in English
Wiki Loves Monuments blog
2011 contest jury report (judging criteria, etc.)

I am new to this; does anyone have any advice? It sounds like a good thing to do, this contributing to Wiki and freely sharing pictures of my beloved country . . . . Is it?
It means anyone in the world can use our photographs, for any purpose, including commercial.
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UPDATE: See added information in the comments section, e.g. re the Wiki contest in the USA.
UPDATE #2:  The Jerusalem Post writes about the competition in Israel.
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(This post can be good for Our World Tuesday.)
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Mixed memes

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With all the holidays and special events to blog about of late, I've gotten behind in the memes.
This may not be kosher, but I'm going to group three in the same post--for Shadow Shot Sunday, Weekend Reflections, and Camera-Critters.
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At the Garden of Gethsemane, next to the old olive trees.
Doesn't it look like stick-figure people are joining hands and . . . and what?
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Another scene from St. George's Anglican Cathedral, the church we saw in yesterday's post.
The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, or the Knights Hospitaller, was founded during Crusader times and functions as a humanitarian organization till today.
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These birds feel at home in the (British) Jerusalem War Cemetery on Mt. Scopus.
Seen at the recent ANZAC Day commemoration.
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Wishing you all a good weekend.
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Update: Mayday, mayday! I just realized tomorrow is May 1 and we need a City Daily Photo Theme Day post too. About mailboxes.
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"Remain here and watch with me"

What intense days these must be for the Christians--the Triduum of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, leading into Easter.
 Tomorrow the drama of the Church will be acted out in the Holy City, in one way or another. 
Washing of the feet of the faithful performed by the superior of the monastery or the priest of the church. Eucharist as part of a seder-like meal. The stripping of the altar. And Tenebrae, ending in silence and near-darkness.
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