Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1264355
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 JUNE 2020 9 CULTURE NATURE The oleander is a familiar shrub as it's widely used as an ornamental plant to add life and colour to our roads. Most people involved with landscaping seem to have an eternal love affair with alien plants, but for the oleander – a Mediterranean species – they make a happy exception, no doubt because of the masses of flowers that it opens in high summer. As with most plants of these regions, the oleander (M. oljandru) has evolved to survive in our dry Mediterranean summers, and may have formerly grown wild in Malta, although probably down on the damper valleys. An old name for this species is siġra tal-wirdien (cockroach tree) and some people think that the oleander attracts cockroaches. The truth is actually the exact opposite – the plant was so called because its toxic leaves were used to poison the pests! Text: Victor Falzon Photo: Desirée Falzon 717. OLEANDER Visit Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as for information about how to join us. You can also support us by sending us a donation - www.foemalta.org/donate GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 612 Find out more: www.foemalta.org/goodfood Spazji Miftuha: A coalition of groups has been formed in response to a lobby's sustained pressure on the open spaces of l-Ahrax and Mizieb. Spazji Miftuha ('Open Spaces') is made up of NGOs and local groups dedicated to the preservation of public spaces in Malta, also tackling issues related to the conservation of ecological features, the management of such sites and transparency. Our petition has now over 16,000 signatures. Help us keep Malta's green spaces open for the enjoyment by the general public - sign the petition now and share it with your friends! LOCAL winery Ta' Betta Wine Estates were in- vited to feature their wine selection in an exclu- sive Reader Event, organised by House & Garden UK earlier this year. The event was set up at its headquarters in London and readers were invited to taste the rich flavours of Malta and learn more about the attractions of our islands. Ta' Betta Wine Estates were approached by House & Garden editor Laura Normanton for an exclusive wine tasting for Ta' Betta wines at Vogue House, Hanover Square, London, follow- ing a personal visit from Ms Normanton to the winery last summer. More than 40 wine enthusiasts and somme- liers enjoyed a guided wine tasting by Ta' Bet- ta's co-founder Juanito Camilleri and Head of Sales and Marketing, Josef Bonello. Attendees sampled and learnt about the ethos and wine making process of Ta' Betta's Jean Parisot 2017, Jean Parisot 2018, Antonio Manoel 2017 and the Philippe Villiers 2017. In keeping with the Malta theme, Mediterra- nean canapes and local flavours were served to accompany the wines. Commenting about the event, co-founder Astrid Camilleri said that they were immediate- ly thrilled at the first mention of the opportu- nity and extremely humbled by the invitation from such a prestigious publication. Feedback received was gratifying and rewarding, and Ta' Betta Wine Estates have built further on many of the relationships made possible through the event. House & Garden is a prestigious UK publica- tion that focuses on international design, travel and lifestyle. The publication forms part of the Condé Nast Group which is home to magazines such as Vogue and The New Yorker. Ta' Betta Wine Estates is a four-hectare estate in Girgenti, limits of Siggiewi, Malta. The estate produces fine wines and hosts exclusive wine events within its private grounds for its Club Members and discerning clients. Ta' Betta wines are distributed locally to a selected list of wine retailers and restaurants and can also be bought online at tabetta.com. In addition, Ta' Betta wine is also exported to Germany and Switzer- land and is currently working on new potential markets for its wine portfolio. For more information, visit tabetta.com Ta' Betta Wines makes its mark at London event