Greedy for Garlic

20 Sunday Apr 2025

Posted by sconzani in insects, spring, wildflowers

Tags

Allium ursinum, British wildflowers, Dark-edged bee-fly, Honey bee, Ramsons, solitary bee, Speckled wood, spring flowers, Wild garlic

The first two days of the Easter break were very wet so I’m glad I took these images last Sunday. One of our local parks has the perfect environment for Wild garlic – Ramsons, if you prefer, Allium ursinum. A shallow ravine runs through the park, with a small stream meandering along its base, and, at this time of year, the steep sides of the gulley are carpeted with the lush green leaves and bright white umbels of garlic flowers. Elsewhere in the park, under tall old trees, the path is also lined with Wild garlic, so anywhere you walk, whenever you breathe, your nostrils are almost assaulted by garlic’s strong smell.

Though I know some people can’t tolerate this odour, it doesn’t seem to affect the insects, neither attracts nor repels them; a flower’s a flower, with the pollen and nectar that nurtures them. Last Sunday’s walk wasn’t particularly sunny but I still found a few creatures feeding greedily: a Speckled wood, a teeny solitary bee and a Honey bee, and a Dark-edged bee-fly.

See it, smell it, record it!

12 Tuesday Apr 2016

Posted by sconzani in nature, plants

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Allium ursinum, biological recording, Ramsons, SEWBReC, Wild garlic

Perhaps, my title for this post should read smell it, see it, record it, as you usually smell Wild garlic (Allium ursinum) before you see it – that’s how pungent its aroma can be! This cousin to the chive, which grows in many parts of Europe and Asia, is also known as Ramsons, and can be found in parks and woodlands throughout Wales – or can it?

160412 wild garlic (1)

The database for the South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre (SEWBReC) was only showing 1400 records at the start of this month but they’re certain there must be many many more areas where this prolific plant is growing. So, SEWBReC have nominated Wild garlic as their plant of the month and they’re asking as many people as possible to record their sightings.

So, come on Citizen Scientists of Wales. This is a very easily recognisable plant – no detailed analysis needed, no microscope required – just a good nose (more info here, if you’re not entirely sure). And entering your findings into the SEWBReC database is also easy peasy (instructions here). I expect there’ll be so many records by the end of April that the Welsh national emblem will change from leek to Wild garlic!

160412 wild garlic (4)