Although many years have passed, I still cherish happy memories of when my late father used to take me and my brother (both born and bred in Floriana) to the Argotti botanic gardens. We used to enjoy ourselves running around (as children always do), but also availing ourselves of some valuable knowledge about rare cactus plants found in this magnificent garden in Floriana by the then curator Carmelo Penza.

Recently, having some time to spare before going for an appointment in the vicinity, I decided to go for a short stroll to the Argotti. Since it had just rained, the entrance passage way was nearly inaccessible. It was like one whole pool of water.

Further into the garden, roots of very old trees could be seen finding their way and breaking into the pathways in the garden, adding to the bad state of the passages.

The Argotti Gardens in Floriana is one of the leading botanic gardens on the island and is visited regularly by locals and foreigners besides being the venue of some cultural activities such as the Festival tal-Għana. At the Argotti Gardens, there is the herbarium which falls under the responsibility of the University of Malta; thus it attracts foreigners with particular interest in the subject.

When I asked who is responsible for the maintenance of this garden, I was told that its administrator is the Environment Landscape Consortium. Urgent attention is required.