Traditional yellow apricot blossoms.
PRESERVING THE MAI QUY BREEZE
In Kinh 1B hamlet, An Bien commune, when people mention the thorny apricot blossom tree, they immediately think of Mr. Nguyen Van Banh (Tu Banh, 58 years old). In his small garden, he meticulously cares for each apricot tree as if it were his own life. One of his "treasures" is a 35-year-old apricot tree, bought from Mr. Tam Dung in 2008. Recalling the past, his eyes still sparkle with passion: "Back then, I paid him one tael of gold and Mr. Tam even gave me a liter of gasoline in return. I was so fascinated; I was the first in the neighborhood to cultivate apricot blossom trees."
Mr. Nguyen Van Banh is tending to his thorny apricot tree.
The variety of apricot blossom he cherishes most is the thorny apricot blossom, a type with thick leaves, serrated edges, and a darker leaf color than the common apricot blossom. When in bloom, the flowers have clusters of 9 to 12 petals, a vibrant yellow color, and last a long time, up to 10 days before falling. He obtained this variety from a nursery in An Minh commune. To maintain its purity, each season before the apricot blossoms bloom, he covers them with nets to collect clean seeds, preventing cross-pollination with other grafted apricot varieties in the surrounding area.
Over the years, Mr. Banh has not only cultivated but also bought, pruned, and sold apricot blossom trees. At one point, he owned up to 150 trees. One person followed him for two years just to buy a unique five-petaled apricot blossom tree with a pine-like canopy, nearly 5 meters tall. "If the customer liked it, they would have a truck ready to bring it in, and then they would keep pleading. Seeing how sincere they were, I sold it to them even though I felt reluctant to let them go," Mr. Banh recounted.
The hobby of cultivating apricot blossoms may seem easy, but ensuring they bloom at the right time for Tet (Lunar New Year) is a process of observation and judgment, much like farming. This year, the unusual weather, with lots of rain and fog, has caused many to worry that the apricot blossoms will bloom too early. But Mr. Banh remains calm: "Don't worry, there's a way to fix it."
For Mr. Banh, the most important thing is monitoring the buds, leaves, and weather. On rainy or foggy days, he uses a rubber sheet to cover the base of the tree to prevent water from seeping in and causing the buds to open prematurely. If the buds develop slowly, he uses bud-stimulating chemicals, but he does so sparingly. "If they open quickly, they also wither quickly and won't be as beautiful as naturally," Mr. Banh said. The leaves of the apricot tree must also be carefully observed. When the leaves are old and the tree no longer produces new shoots, it means it's entering the bud preparation cycle. Looking more closely at the leaf axils, if you see small, round particles that apricot tree enthusiasts call "fish eggs" or "pencil tips," then it's time to start removing the leaves.
Mr. Banh removes the leaves according to generations of experience. Small buds are removed about 20 days before Tet (Lunar New Year), medium buds 15 days, and large buds 7-10 days. After removing the leaves, watering must be stopped to prevent the buds from opening too early. If it rains, the base must be covered, and sometimes the trunk is even watered to maintain balance. He jokingly says, "Caring for apricot blossom trees is like caring for children; you have to pamper, protect, and worry about every little thing." Mr. Banh's experience in transplanting apricot blossom trees is as valuable as his profession. He has to wait until the rain stops and the leaves mature before transplanting. The roots must be loosened to remove some of the soil and trimmed neatly before being placed in a pot. After transplanting, they shouldn't be left in the sun immediately but moved to a shady place for a day, then covered with shade netting to prevent the tree from losing its sap. "If you rush with apricot blossom trees, you'll ruin everything," Mr. Banh says.
TAKE CARE OF THE MAI FLOWER TO NURTURE THE SPIRIT
In Tan Hoi commune, there is also a man so passionate about apricot blossom trees that he considers them his closest friends: Mr. Nguyen Van Thum (Bay Thum, 62 years old), residing in Dap Da hamlet. On his 600m² garden, he owns approximately 60 bonsai apricot trees worth billions of dong. The most outstanding is a cream-colored apricot blossom tree, a genetically mutated variety, with large flowers (6-8 petals), a milky yellow hue, and a gnarled trunk resembling a vase. He bought it when it was just a tiny sapling for 130 million dong, more than a year and a half ago.
Mr. Nguyen Van Thum with his collection of bonsai apricot trees.
Having started growing apricot blossom trees in 2011, his passion for bonsai has grown stronger with age. "There's an old saying, 'Raising fish nourishes the heart, raising birds nourishes the mind, and cultivating plants nourishes the spirit.' Being in the apricot blossom garden makes me feel happy, healthy, and relaxed. My wife even complains that I love plants more than she loves me," Mr. Thum said with a laugh. But it's this passion that makes him healthier and younger than his age. Whenever he's away for a few days, the first thing he does upon returning home is go to the garden, caressing each branch and leaf while reminiscing.
To ensure the apricot blossoms bloom in time for Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year), Mr. Thum closely monitors the trees from September and October of the lunar calendar. He fertilizes trees with small buds, while those with many buds only need watering. After Tet, in February of the lunar calendar, he fertilizes the trees to help them recover, much like women need to recuperate after childbirth. Two months later, he fertilizes the roots to strengthen the trees and prepare them for the next bud cycle. All of his apricot trees are traditional varieties; none are grafted. "Preserving the old apricot varieties, the gnarled ones, and the unique shapes is what makes them valuable, like a talent bestowed by heaven," Mr. Thum believes.
In the Mekong Delta, a Tet (Lunar New Year) without yellow apricot blossoms feels like it's missing sunshine. Whether it's the vibrant clusters of thorny apricot blossoms of Mr. Banh or the rare cream-colored apricot blossoms of Mr. Thum, each apricot tree carries its own story, but they all share one thing in common: they symbolize reunion, hope, and faith. For those who are captivated by that golden hue, apricot blossoms are not just a hobby, but also a way to preserve tradition, sow happiness, and express their feelings through each bud, each leaf-picking, and each passing Tet season.
Amidst the gardens along the small canals, tiny apricot blossom buds are growing day by day. They carry the silent promise of the growers and caretakers: this Tet, the South will still be ablaze with golden hues, as in countless springs past, reflecting the never-ending passion of those who love apricot blossoms.
DANG LINH
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/nhung-nguoi-canh-mua-mai-no-a476711.html
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