“Why are the flowers so colorful?” “On such a chilly day, how can these flowers display such gorgeous and bright colors?” On September 28th, the lowest temperature of Tailai county was close to zero degree, however, on the First NEFU Cultural Tourism Festival for the Appreciation of Open Field Chrysanthemum held in the National Wetland Park on Tai Lake, the outdoor chrysanthemum cultivated in cold region burst into blossoms against the wind, appealing to a multitude of tourists to linger for delightful view.
The open field chrysanthemum grown in cold region is the research attainment of NEFU team led by Prof. Li Yuhua, dean of the College of Life Sciences after 15 years of tackling grand challenges of cultivation. Those flowers bloom in sequence beginning from the early of August until November, bringing an amazing colorful scenery for the visitors during the time when withered and fallen views constitute the landscape. At present, there are 122 breeds of chrysanthemum characterized by 7 types of colors, including yellow, pink, purple and white etc.
In this May, as the designated department to offer support for impoverished areas, NEFU donated 11 breeds of open-field chrysanthemum suitable for the plantation in sand land in cold region and resistant to saline-alkali soil, composed of 3000 young plants such as categories of violet, golden and glowing colors to Tailai county. The farmers of the county and staff of forestry field came all the way to NEFU to learn how to plant and foster the flower species.
Since the commencement of the cultivation of the chrysanthemum in Tailai county, NEFU experts have traced the planting process and provided immediate technical guidance conscientiously. With the concerted and integrated efforts of both experts and farmers, the 3000 young plants found their way deeply rooted in Tailai county and turned out to burst into bloom as scheduled after several months of careful cultivation.
In view of the colorful blossoms of the chrysanthemum braving frost in the cold season, the county government of Tailai specially held the First NEFU Cultural Tourism Festival for the Appreciation of Open Field Chrysanthemum in the National Wetland Park on Tai Lake, inviting tourists from Jilin, Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang provinces as well as the managerial personnel of botanical gardens to enjoy the view. On the Tourist Festival, countless visitors were deeply attracted by the wealth ofthe exuberant and colorfulchrysanthemum who took pictures one after another. A multiple of management staff of botanical departments even consulted the personnel of Tailai county government about the purchase of the flowers.
The vice magistrate of Tailai county expressed that the successful experimental planting demonstrated that the open field chrysanthemum could be grown on the barren and infertile soil in his county, presenting the prospect of acquiring prosperity. He also added that the county planned to set up a base for the cultivation of the flower species with the aim of breeding 30000 to 50000 plants. Meanwhile, by that time, the cultivation should follow the pattern of order: allocating the flower seedlings to each individual impoverished household, while repurchasing them when florescence arrives then using them to colorize the city proper. “ This is a practice that can satisfy multiple purposes, not merely beatifying the urban environment, but increasing the benefits of the families in poverty.
According to the introduction of Zhang Ming, secretary of the CPC committee of the College of Life Sciences, NEFU has already authorized Tailai county as the sole base for the cultivation of open field chrysanthemum grown in cold region within the administration of Qiqihaer, offering free technical support for the breeding and useful assistance for the poverty relief of the county.
