GLADDENING THE HEART

Sadly, the palm trees that used to grace the courtyard of the Sacro Cuore Church fell victim to the attentions of the punteruolo rosso three years ago and the yard looks a little forlorn without them.  Someone, however, has had the idea of planting these stelle di Natale where they used to be, a sight to gladden the heart, if only for a little while.  I was especially cheered by them on a cold, rainy Saturday.

A SORRY SIGHT

A couple of weeks ago I mentioned the fact that the two palm trees in front of the Sacro Cuore Church here in Modica have been infected by the red palm weevil and have to be cut down. This is how the entrance to the Church now looks.

SOME UNWELCOME VISITORS

Sicily has had some unwelcome visitors in the form of the punteruolo rosso, or red palm weevil, for two years now. This insect is destroying many of the island's lovely date palms and last night I was very sorry to learn that the two palm trees in front of the Sacro Cuore Church, under which I have so often sheltered from the sun, are affected. A student of mine who is an agronomist says that the weevil arrived from Egypt and that the only treatment is to cut affected palms down so that is the fate in store for the Church trees.

Image: Wikimedia

In Italy the red palm weevil has also reached Campania, Lazio, Puglia, Sardinia and Tuscany.