A Walk in the Park

We're just now seeing the end of a bitterly cold Winter and the welcome first signs of Spring. Progress on site is accelerating, the workers are remarkably compliant, and the sweet perfume of blossoms is all around. 

While everybody's spirits have lifted and the pace of work has increased noticeably, it's still frustrating from a landscaping viewpoint.

We're only a week or so away from the final landscaping and actual installation/planting, but it doesn't look like it...

In the almost 18 months I've been here now on this project, I've been able to observe the full cycle of seasons and weather, and more closely study and understand the soil, as well as meet local experts and exchange ideas. And that's a great thing, because many of my original plans, especially in choice of plants, have changed.

Hardy trees and shrubs that may struggle through a less severe winter than Bhutan's, don't have a hope here. They curl up their toes and die. And this landscape, when completed, needs to be low maintenance.

So today I decided to mix business with pleasure, and took a stroll up the hill to the Royal Botanical Gardens, to see what was happening in their displays. 

Remember, this is no lush, tropical rainforest here...it's survival of the fittest!

A typically quaint greeting...

But don't be fooled. This is FAR more than just a garden display...

The entrance provides a reassuring welcome...

 Hedges are really popular here....

...but these paths were leading somewhere, so I followed....

Past the chhorten with its water-driven prayer wheel. We're building a similar one in the IT Park marsh-garden next week...

 
...and a lovely waterfall. We're creating one of those at our site, too!

...over the traditional cantilevered bridge... (no plans for one of these, but it's got me thinking)...

..and yet ANOTHER sign...

Then, just around the corner, a traditional Bhutanese picnic. And just like everywhere else, men grouped on the left talking football, women on the right under a tree talking about...I never could work that out!

Continued past some lovely blossoming cherries and magnolias...

..and was suddenly struck with a wonderful wave of nostalgia. Something I could smell and instantly  recognise before I even saw it...Australia's national flower, the Wattle.
High in the Himalayas!
Actually felt a little choked up at this...must have got some pollen in my throat...

By now, the path was leading up towards a lookout point I remembered from a previous visit...

And there's a reason it's called a "lookout"...

 After a brief hour or so of quietly taking in the view and contemplating life, it was time to get back to work, refreshed, recharged and with a few new ideas.

So back along the path...

...out the gate...

past a man in a funny hat...

and took a new  shortcut where I was rewarded with a view of our work-site I'd never seen before...a nice ending to a day of new perspectives.