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The Valley of the Black Cranes – Gangtey and the Phobjikha valley
I once read that your preference for different kinds of landscape stems from a deep seated evolutionary instinct related to the race you’ve descended from. Whether or not there is any truth in this I...
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Flowers of Bhutan – Clematis montana
I have finally solved the curious case of the flowering evergreen oak. All along our travels in Bhutan I kept spotting what appeared to be oaks covered in sparkling white blossoms. Had I discovered a...
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Tulips from Kashmir
Every year, Srinagar’s Indira Gandhi Tulip Garden on the banks of the Dal Lake are planted with over 1.5 million tulips, creating the largest public display in Asia. One hundred varieties are imported...
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Bumthang in Bloom
You’d be forgiven for thinking we’d transported ourselves to Switzerland but, no, this is Bhutan’s cultural heartland, Bumthang. Four bucolic pine-clad valleys make up this area of the country where...
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Flowers of Bhutan – Arisaema nepenthoides
Bhutan’s forests may bear a passing similarity to the great gardens of Cornwall, but you know you’re somewhere exotic when the forest floor is covered with these stunning cobra lilies, Arisaema...
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Prunus serrula var. tibetica
As shaggy and appealing as an Irish Setter, this is the trunk of a magnificent, mature Tibetan cherry, Prunus serrula var. tibetica, which we spotted near Nobding, Bhutan. Introduced to Europe by...
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Paradise Found – Bumthang to Punakha
First off, meet these cheeky grey langurs we met steeling bags of salt near the pass at Pele La. They’re not rare, but they were very amusing to watch and better equipped for the chilly climate than...
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Ten Thousand Flowers
Today I am celebrating the ten thousandth visit to The Frustrated Gardener. I can’t quite believe we’ve made it this far. Thank you for dropping by, ten thousand times! In honour of this milestone, I...
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1 Year Old Today!
Being a capricorn, and therefore a winter baby, I’ve always wished I had a birthday I could celebrate in the summer. And now I do, for today is The Frustrated Gardener’s first birthday. It all started...
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A Mughal Moment
This peaceful shot was taken during my last visit to Delhi in the gardens surrounding Humayun’s tomb. It was early in the morning as the groundsmen cleared leaves from the narrow rills and square...
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Sleepless in Saigon
One week in and I’m at the stage when I can count the number of hours sleep I get each night on one hand. Tomorrow will offer no respite as I head onwards to India. The upside of being in Vietnam is...
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The Tranquil Taj
The Taj Mahal is thought to be the most photographed monument in the world. Anyone fortunate enough to pay a visit should resist the temptation to pick up their camera immediately and instead go at...
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The Trident, Gurgaon, India
The sharp eyed among you will have noticed that I travel a lot. Whilst it’s not always as glamorous as it sounds, it takes me to all sorts of interesting places and into some astonishingly beautiful...
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Pure and Simple
Arranged in a simple grey marble cube, what could be prettier than this arrangement of lightly perfumed rose buds? Pictured this morning at The Trident, Gurgaon, India.
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Plant Portraits: Osmanthus fragrans (Guìhuā (桂花) or Sweet Olive)
It is customary in Hong Kong for 5 star hotels to have a house fragrance, pumped into lobbies in heady clouds and sold at great expense in the gift shop. However, it’s not often one steps out of a car...
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Daily Flower Candy: Melinis repens
Chinese factories are not renowned for their landscaping – a few scrubby trees and sickly pot plants are likely to be the most natural greenery on offer. But once in a while one finds something...
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A Walk Around The Peak
Spending time in Hong Kong is no great hardship. But after a week in showrooms so crammed with Christmas sparkle that you can almost feel the glitter in your lungs, it is good to get some fresh air....
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Burmese Days
Young Boy, Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival, Inle Lake It was exactly one year ago that we were in Burma, enjoying a magical holiday in this beautiful, friendly country. Twelve months later my memories...
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Plants in Detail – Bismarkia nobilis
Bismarkia nobilis (Bismark palm) is, without question, one of the most photogenic plants in the world. This mighty palm with its architectural, pleated leaves hails from Madagascar, where I first saw...
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Good Enough to Eat
No trip to New York is complete without a browse around one of the world’s most appetising shops, Dean & DeLuca on Broadway. Here one can find the finest foods from all around the world in...
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