Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1376560
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 23 MAY 2021 9 ALMANAC Nature Notebook 763. Leopard snake SNAKES have the worst publicity. Yes, some species can kill you in minutes but most are harmless. But humans by default generalise in topics unfamiliar, so snakes always come across as the baddies. Four species occur in Malta and they're all harmless to humans: indeed they are protected by law and considered beneficial as they eat plenty of mice. The most handsome is the leopard snake, so called because of the lovely amber patches all over its otherwise pale body. The Mal- tese name is lifgha, a rather silly name for a species, since the word simply means snake (so technically the other three can also be called lifgha). But the word stuck and every time you utter it, every Maltese brain invokes the story of a certain snake's unlucky encounter with the saintly Paul of Tarsus, whereupon the topic of venom is broached all over again and – as always – the poor snake gets the blame. Victor Falzon, Ray Vella www.birdlifemalta.org Green idea of the week 652: Try exciting vegetarian and vegan recipes by joining the Cooking Class Flower of the month – May: Yellow Flowers AS if to remind us of the upcoming sunny days, the month of May sees several shrubs dress up in bright yellow – the colour of warmth and joy and a great favourite amongst pollinators. These small shrubs are typical of garigue areas and some go as far as living on the edge of cliffs. These include the Maltese Shrubby Kidney Vetch (MT: Ħatba s-Sewda) Anthyllis hermanniae subsp. Melitensis Re- cently added to our local endemic list this dense shrub with very tiny leaves is a typical garigue plant and a magnet for insects around this time of year. 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 Peak - Brain Training Free Apple Push your cognitive skills, train harder and use your time better with fun, stimulating games and workouts. TECH RETAILERS contact afarrugia@ mediatoday.com.mt A GOOD WEEK FOR Good Week/Bad Week Don't miss this A BAD WEEK FOR The International Spring Orchestra Festival Date: 15 and 19 June Location: Valletta The 15th edition of the International Spring Orchestra Festival will unfold next month. Inspired by music from Germany labelled 'Degenerate' and banned by the Nazi authorities between 1933 and 1945, the ISOF will host seven concerts over five days in various locations, mainly in Valletta. International guest artists – including some familiar faces on the local classical music scene – are flying in from all over Europe to join their Maltese counterparts in making music of the highest calibre. For fans of Ariana Grande. The pop star married her fiance Dalton Gomez in a "tiny and intimate" wedding. For fans of Seamus Deane's work. The author and poet died aged 81. Deane, an original member of the Field Day Theatre Company from Londonderry, died in hospital on 12 May. The 27-year-old American singer tied the knot in front of fewer than 20 people over the weekend, the PA news agency reported His debut novel Reading in the Dark was shortlisted for the Booker Prize Give nature a voice. Become a BirdLife member