During this season of summer, I’ve decided to suspend writing about music, and devote this column to writing about one of my other favorite subjects -- flowers. I’ve visited many beautiful cottage gardens as well as formal gardens, but none proved as interesting as a trip to the Biblical Botanical Garden in Pittsburgh’s Oakland area. There, tucked among the trees adjacent to the Rodef Shalom Synagogue on Fifth Avenue, is one of the most complete biblical botanical gardens I’ve ever seen.
Established in 1987, there are over 100 plants - all labeled with their biblical references as well as their botanical names. There are fig trees, olive trees, and cedar trees, as well as a cherished Frankinsence plant brought over from the Holy Land.
The Frankincense plant (Boswellia sacra) is quite rare here, and difficult to grow. Frankincense is obtained by cutting into the bark of the tree. The tree sap oozes out and hardens. It is that hardened resin that is the frankincense, famous for its healing properties. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh were among the gifts to Jesus by the Magi "from out of the East" (Matthew 2:10).
The Biblical Botanical Garden isopen to the public Sunday through Thursday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Tours are offered the first Wednesday of the month at 12:15 PM. No reservations are required.
