Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1339768
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 FEBRUARY 2021 9 ALMANAC Nature Notebook 749. Branched Asphodel THE branched asphodel is a common wild plant that grows in – and sometimes dominates – various habitats, including garrigue, steppe, abandoned fields and country roadsides. It can eke a living from the poorest soil but as long as there is unshaded space, the asphodel is a happy bunny. The plant grow to 150cm or more from a base of long, narrow, grey-green leaves, and the flowers open in tapering clusters (spikes, in botanyspeak) around a few tall, branching stalks. The flowers are white with a brown stripe on each of their six petals. Like most plants in our part of the world, the asphodel (M. berwieq) flowers in spring, after which it seeds and withers away, leaves and all. Well not quite all, as this is one of those plants that spend part of the year underground, as a tuber. Then the rainy season comes and they sprout again, to wow us again. Victor Falzon www.birdlifemalta.org Green idea of the week 642 Order our Foraging Guide, and go for a walk in nature to collect edible wild plants Foraging Guide plant of the month February: Nettle THE importance of wild plants is regrettably often overlooked with a diverse array of plant life frequently dismissed as just weeds, or ħaxix ħażin. In line with our commitment to food sovereignty and ensuring that the food that we eat is healthy and ecologically sound we have prepared this foraging guide to help you on your adventures in finding nutritious new ingredients close to home. In February, you can find nettles in Malta. Many know the nettle plant more for its painful stinging sensation than for culinary or medicinal rea- sons. Although it may be difficult to come across nettle tea or net- tle soup in local menus, traditionally nettle was used commonly in Malta as a remedy for chillblains. VISIT Friends of the Earth's website for more information about our work, as well as information about how to join us. You can also support us by sending us a donation – www.foe- malta.org/donate https://foemalta.org/foraging-guide Appster Smartphone fun and smarter work Pi Network Free Apple, Andriod Pi is a new digital currency. This app allows you to access and grow your Pi holdings and serves as wallet to host your digital assets. Pi is fairly distributed, eco-friendly and consumes minimal battery power. TECH RETAILERS contact afarrugia@ mediatoday.com.mt A GOOD WEEK FOR Good Week/Bad Week Don't miss this A BAD WEEK FOR Le Pauvre Matelot in Strada Stretta Date: 26 February 8pm Location: The Splendid, in Strada Stretta, Valletta As part of the Valletta Cultural Agency, the Strada Stretta Concept is set to collaborate with the French National Theatre troupe Arcal Lyrique, for a live performance of the opera Le Pauvre Matelot. The event, forms part of the Strada Stretta programme under the artistic direction of Giuseppe Schembri Bonaci Eurovision fans. The event will definitely take place on 18, 20, and 22 May. With just over three months to go, the organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 have agreed upon a determined, yet realistic approach in the final phase of preparations. Fans of Jazz. The jazz pioneer Chick Corea died at the age of 79. According to a post on his Facebook page, the musician died from "a rare form of cancer which was only discovered very recently". Corea won 23 Grammys and was the fourth most- nominated artist in Grammys history. Last year's contest was cancelled due to the pandemic Corea was a multi-faceted musician, working as a composer, keyboardist, and bandleader Give nature a voice. Become a BirdLife member