Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/584253
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 11 OCTOBER 2015 44 This Week Thorns are not usually the sort of plants to inspire poetry. But forget for a bit their prickly nature – which is after all their trick to deter goats and rabbits from eating them – and you will discover a group of plants as elegant as they are diverse. One of the odder members of this group is the Ground Thistle (M: Xewk tal-Mixta), which flowers at this time of the year. Take a walk on the garrigue today, look down at the ground and you should soon spot the flowers, singly or in small clumps, sitting on a mesh of grey foliage, looking for all the world like they forgot to grow a stalk in their haste to flower. But the wise Ground Thistle has dispensed with stalks and instead put its resources in a deep root to tap precious water from the ground. And that mesh of withered leaves are the remains of the plant's food factory that over spring and early summer harnessed the sun's energy that now enables the plant to flower, and seed another generation. Wise plant. 475. GROUND THISTLE GREEN IDEA OF THE WEEK 378: BOOK NOW FOR THE FAIRTRADE AFTERNOON TEA BEING ORGANIZED TOGETHER WITH POP-UP CAFÉ' AS PART OF THE FRUIT WEEK – HTTP://WWW.FOEMALTA.ORG/LINKS/CAFE 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 Text and photo Victor Falzon Open day at St Publius Church in Floriana THE church of St. Publius will be organising an open day on October 17 and 18 to coincide with the an- nual activity organised by the Flo- riana Local Council entitled 'Flori- ana – A heaven of gardens'. There is little doubt that the church is an architectural master- piece. Its sheer size and the struc- tural lineaments that it makes it one of the most outstanding build- ings in our country –an exception- al piece of heritage left to us by our forefathers. One of the highlights of this open day is the opportunity for all those interested to visit the north steeple of the church from where one can admire the church's architecture from above but also a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity to see breath- taking panoramic views of a great and important parts of Malta. It is also a-not-to-be-missed occasion to capture those scenes photo- graphically. Visitors will also be able to see from close range the set of bells thin church possesses –particu- larly the largest one. To make the visit to St Publius church truly memorable, visitors will also be given access onto the working platform at the site in the transept on the right hand side of the high altar dedicated to Our Lady of Rosaries were works con- nected with the decoration, which later on will also include the affix- ing of paintings to the barrel vault- ed ceiling, are in progress. During the two-day festival, St Publius church will be adorned with a vast number of natural plants and special lighting. A very special attraction will be an exhibition of various items of artificial flowers worked out in gold, silver and coloured threads in the art we refer to as 'ganutell'. Professionals in this specialised field of the arts will be also par- ticipation. Amongst the exhibits, the impressive ganutell collection pertaining to this church, items that are normally displayed on the altars and elsewhere in the church during the annual feast days of St Publius. To complement all these features inside the church proper, the large adjacent parvis on the north side of the church (running parallel to Sarria Street), by means of a large number of natural plants, will be transformed into a garden. In this area, on October 18 at noon, a lunch will be served during which popular singer Ludwig Galea, will perform live accompanied on a keyboard by Conrad Briffa. Entrance to any part of the church will be free but those who will at- tend the lunch are being asked for a donation of €18 for adults and €10 for children. For booking or further information one can contact the parrish office (tel. 2124 7106) or Stephen Tonna (mob. 70330649)