Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1369939
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 MAY 2021 11 ALMANAC Nature Notebook 761. Cardoon AS our green countryside turns to summer brown, the cardoon comes into its own. Out of its jungle of prickly leaves, it now opens these large electric-blue flowerheads, which look suspiciously like those of the artichoke, which also open up at this time. Well that's because the cardoon (M. qaqocc tax-xewk) is actually the artichoke's wild cousin. And apparently its attractions do not stop at looks, as the plant's myriad nectar-crazed insect visitors attest, some even falling asleep on the flower like drunks in a pub – one outstand- ing fan is the mammoth wasp (pictured), a rather fearsome-looking creature which, however, is not aggressive. Once the insects have vis- ited and pollinated the flowers, the flowers wither and produce seed over summer, which by autumn are just ripe for visiting goldfinches to gobble them up. Victor Falzon, Desirée Falzon www.birdlifemalta.org Green idea of the week 652: Try exciting vegetarian and vegan recipes by joining the Cooking Class Ask questions to your elected representative! ACROSS Europe people's lives are blighted by the same problems; inequality, precarious work, weakened public services, discrimina- tion, powerlessness over decisions that affect our lives, and environ- mental destruction and pollution. Throughout the month of May as part of our celebrations of Europe day, we are inviting you to ask us questions related to environmental, social and solidarity issues using the form below. These questions will be directed to a selection of Maltese MEPs during an online session that we plan to organise – based on the input we receive during an online Q&A session. We will also offer the space for citizens to be able to ask their question directly to the MEPs via an online speed date session. 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 Appster Smartphone fun and smarter work Few Free Apple, Android Few helps connect health and fitness professionals to their customers has received. Few provides guidance to practitioners on how to grow their business and serve their clients better. This is achieved by providing integrated support services such as scheduling software, payments, and a supportive practitioner community, along with many other aspects of running a business. TECH RETAILERS contact afarrugia@ mediatoday.com.mt A GOOD WEEK FOR Good Week/Bad Week Don't miss this A BAD WEEK FOR Valletta Green Festival Date: 7-11 May Location: City Gate and St George's Square The festival will this year be taking place across the city, starting at City Gate and spanning towards St George's Square, where the main activities will be taking place. This year's infiorata is designed by local artist Zack Ritchie on the theme of 'Zero Pollution' and features a colourful turtle inspired by this year's European Green Week theme, 'Zero Pollution'. Good week for Broadway fans. Tickets for Broadway will go on sale this week, although shows will not restart until 14 September. Theatres will then be allowed to fill 100% of capacity, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced. Bad week for Steel Magnolias fans. US actress Olympia Dukakis, who won an Oscar for her role in the 1987 romantic comedy Moonstruck, has died aged 89. Dukakis had a long and distinguished career in theatre, both as a performer and as a director. Thousands lost work when Broadway theatres closed in March 2020 due to the pandemic Olympia Dukakis starred alongside Julia Roberts and Daryl Hannah in Steel Magnolias Give nature a voice. Become a BirdLife member