Looks like a hardneck garlic to me. The bud you refer to is called a scape. They are very tasty grilled or sauteed. When about half of the leaves have browned you can dig it up and see what lies beneath the soil.

With a three to four inch white bloom that would be an elephant garlic. Hardneck garlic would be producing bulbils. Agree with Lonejack though about when to harvest. Also agree about cutting the scape and eating it (if it is still tender).

Rodney

Thanks so much! Yay! I’m excited. A giant stand of heirloom elephant garlic. Woo hoo!

IIRC there are quite a few feral leeks that fit into the "elephant garlic" group, especially in your part of the country. Normally nurseries don't differentiate between types of elephant garlic that they offer, but there is quite a bit of variation between some of the survivors. Feral alliums exist all over the country; virtually all of them are edible to one degree or another. The leeks tend to be mild. Abandoned gardens are often a treasure trove of both perennial and self-sown edibles and all kinds of easy care ornamentals.