Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1290275
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 20 SEPTEMBER 2020 11 The sea squill (M. għansar) is now in full bloom. After a dry summer that withers its mass of large fleshy leaves to a crisp, you'd think the plant had died. But suddenly and right out of the bare earth, this weird vertical stalk appears, thin and pale and leafless, grows a metre tall and then opens a plume of exquisite flowers. That's the magic trick of bulb plants. Like a medieval castle, the sea squill grows its food in times of plenty (= winter and spring), but with impending hardship (= summer) it draws all produce into the bunker fortress (= the underground bulb), shuts all exits (= withers leaves) and survives on its stored goodness. Its other trick is to flower at just the time when there are few other competing flowers, and so gets all the insects' attention. Neat! No wonder it survives on poor soils. You come across it all over the country, even inland despite the sea in its name. Mind you, how far from the sea can you really get on this rock? Text & Photo: Victor Falzon 728. SEA SQUILL 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 621 Reduce your energy footprint and therefore your environmental impact by applying our Facebook page or via this link https://bit.ly/33vTkQV Green Solar Roof – Expression of interest The Friends of the Earth Malta team is excited to launch a call for homeowners to be considered for a free installation of a Green Solar Roof. This is an opportunity for residents to opt into having a free installation of a rooftop garden in combination with solar panels on the roof, as part of an EU funded project. This installation can provide several benefits, both for the planet and for your comfort: better insulation, meaning noise reduction and less need to heat or cool your house, generation of renewable energy, and a beautiful garden with local flora to enjoy. The residents will be able to benefit from a reduction of their electricity bill through renewable energy generated following a specific period of time that will be calculated (which could be approximated from 8 – 12 years) and will be discussed with interested beneficiaries prior to any agreements. This projects includes the installation and the maintenance of the green roof. Periodic maintenance of the installation will also continue after the 5 year project period has ended. The infrastructure of the Green Solar Roof will remain in the ownership of the NGO to able to fund the continuous maintenance of the Green Solar Roofs. If you are interested in being considered for this installation, please fill in the expression form of interest. The deadline to apply is 20th September. HERITAGE Malta is inviting the public to enjoy the sunrise of the first days of the new season, known to manifest a curious relationship be- tween the Mnajdra Temples in Qrendi and the celestial bodies. Although it is not clear whether these orien- tations were intentional, they are so systematic that this is very probable. In prehistoric agricultural societies, observa- tion of the motion of the stars, the moon and sun were closely related to the changing seasons and times of planting and harvesting crops. This Wednesday, 23 September, from 7am, Heritage Malta is inviting the public to witness this unique spectacle by joining the free lives- tream on its Facebook Page. Witness the first autumn sunrays illuminate the Mnajdra Temples this week