Written by/Photographed by Helen Lin
This summer's temperature is milder, and the number of high temperature days is significantly lower than usual. So what has changed in the flowering of wild garlic in Ningbo this year? To this end, I followed up the growth points of garlic that I had observed in previous years, and found that most of the flowering periods of various garlic did not change much, but the amount of flowers seemed to decrease a lot.
Perhaps because the amount of garlic blooming also varies from year to year, last year in the valley of Zhanqi Town, there were abnormally many flowers in China, but this year it has hardly seen its flowering. I went five times from August to September this year, and I only photographed a small number of flowering on August 13, and I have not found any flowering Chinese stone garlic since then. The flowers peaked on September 12 last year, and at this time this year there are no inflorescences at all. It is really elusive, perhaps the flowering behavior of plants is controlled by many factors, which is still a mystery.
On August 23, the safflower garlic in Dongqian Lake just entered the blooming period
On August 23, the safflower garlic in Dongqian Lake just entered the blooming period
On August 27, I saw at the pink garlic growing site in Zhangshui Town that only 2 inflorescences were in full bloom this year, and no buds appeared at the base. Last year, 13 plump inflorescences bloomed at the same time, and the sight was quite spectacular. This year's flowers are also lighter in color, with a distinctly whitish caste. Since rhodonite garlic grows nearby, I guess this pink garlic should be a variant type of rhodonite garlic. On the same day, I saw in the fields of Yinjiang Town that the flowering of rose garlic had ended, and the safflower garlic there bloomed early.
On August 27, the pink garlic in Zhangshui Town has only 2 inflorescences, and the flowers are lighter and obviously white
On August 27, the pink garlic in Zhangshui Town has only 2 inflorescences, and the flowers are lighter and obviously white
August 27 A close-up of a inflorescence of pink garlic in Zhangshui Town, which is supposed to be a variant type of rose garlic
On August 27, the safflower garlic in Yinjiang Town, taking over the baton of rose garlic, bloomed early, about half a month earlier than Longguan Township
On August 27, the safflower garlic in Yinjiang Town, taking over the baton of rose garlic, bloomed early, about half a month earlier than Longguan Township
On September 2nd, in the growth area of red and blue garlic in Beilun Chunxiao, I saw that ripe fruits had appeared, and red and blue garlic had just entered the full blooming period, but this year's flowers were significantly less than last year.
The growth site of red and blue garlic in Daxu Town, Xiangshan, bloomed very little last year, and there are not many plants that bloom this year, but fortunately, I arrived at its peak bloom, otherwise it is difficult to judge the change in its flowering amount. This year, the red and blue garlic flowers in Xiangshan are obviously pale and turn a rare pink, which may be related to the relatively arid local growing environment.
The red and blue garlic in Beilun Spring on September 2 is in full bloom at this time
The red and blue garlic in Beilun Spring on September 2 is in full bloom at this time
Red and blue garlic in Beilun spring dawn on September 2
Red and blue garlic in Beilun spring dawn on September 2
On September 2, the exchange of brocade flowers in Beilun Chunxiao has come to fruition
On September 2, the spring dawn of Beilun was already in full bloom, about 10 days earlier than last year
On September 2, the spring dawn of Beilun was already in full bloom, about 10 days earlier than last year
Spring dawn garlic in Beilun on September 2
Spring dawn garlic in Beilun on September 2
Spring dawn garlic in Beilun on September 2
On September 2, the red and blue garlic in Daxu Town, Xiangshan, this year's flower color is obviously pale and has become a rare pink flower
On September 2, the red and blue garlic in Daxu Town, Xiangshan, this year's flower color is obviously pale and has become a rare pink flower
On September 2, the red and blue garlic in Daxu Town, Xiangshan, this year's flower color is obviously pale and has become a rare pink flower
On September 2, the amount of red and blue garlic in Daxu Town, Xiangshan, decreased much less than in previous years
Red and blue garlic in Daxu Town, Xiangshan on September 2
On September 2, the red and blue stone garlic and straw stone garlic and spring Xiao stone garlic in Daxu Town, Xiangshan were combined
The spring stone garlic that grows by the ditch of the Chunxiao field in Beilun has the same flowering period as last year, but the amount of flowers has also decreased significantly, which may be caused by artificial mining, and it is also related to the annual changes in its size and year, and the abnormal type of orange yellow stone garlic seen last year has not appeared. It is said that this spring stone garlic is a triploid variety, and the plant is obviously tall and tall compared to the common safflower garlic.
Beilun Chunxiao is one of the areas with the richest garlic resources in Ningbo. In the newly discovered straw garlic growth site last year, it was in full bloom at that time, and the flowers were rich and pure. September 16 this year is also its peak bloom, but the habitat has changed a bit, and a large flowering point is covered with vines and weeds, and there is no shadow of flowers at all. At another growing point obscured by ramie, they can be seen blooming just right, with 12 flowers blooming on one of the inflorescences, which is amazing. The flower color of this straw stone garlic variety is close to the golden yellow of Chinese stone garlic, and the filigree and flower column are red, which is significantly different from the straw stone garlic elsewhere, and it is particularly noble and beautiful.
September 16 Beilun spring dawn straw garlic (flower bud)
The straw garlic at the spring dawn of Beilun on September 16, the flowers are golden yellow, and the filigree and stigma are red
The straw garlic at the spring dawn of Beilun on September 16, the flowers are golden yellow, and the filigree and stigma are red
The straw garlic at the spring dawn of Beilun on September 16, the flowers are golden yellow, and the filigree and stigma are red
On September 16, the straw stone garlic of Beilun Spring dawn, a total of 12 flowers bloomed in one inflorescence, which is very rare
On September 17, the safflower garlic in Longguan Township bloomed during the same period as last year
On September 17, the safflower garlic in Longguan Township bloomed during the same period as last year
On September 17, the safflower garlic in Longguan Township bloomed along the roadside of the farmland
On September 17, the safflower garlic in Longguan Township bloomed in the grass of the peach orchard
On September 17, the safflower garlic in Longguan Township bloomed in pieces in the pile of rocks
On September 17, the safflower garlic in Longguan Township bloomed in pieces in the pile of rocks
On September 17, the safflower garlic in Longguan Township bloomed in pieces in the pile of rocks
On September 17, the safflower garlic in Longguan Township was particularly colorful
On September 17, the safflower garlic in Longguan Township changed its flower color after being affected by herbicides
On September 17, the safflower garlic in Longguan Township changed its flower color after being affected by herbicides
The annual flowering period of safflower garlic in Longguan Township is relatively stable, and they are the latest population type in the genus Ningbo. The peak of this safflower garlic on September 18 last year, and almost in full bloom on September 17 this year, is now nearing the end of the flowering period, announcing that the Ningbo garlic season has come to a successful end. From the perspective of the number of flowers, the amount of safflower garlic in Longguan Township also has a downward trend compared with last year.
In summary, there are all indications that this year is a small year for garlic flowers. We look forward to next year's garlic season to have another big year.
Helen Lin September 21, 2023