Boston Flora

Tag: Bhutan

  • Saturday, April 15 – Wednesday, April 26 – Discovering the Beauty of Bhutan: Land of the Thunder Dragon

    Saturday, April 15 – Wednesday, April 26 – Discovering the Beauty of Bhutan: Land of the Thunder Dragon

    The American Horticultural Society has rescheduled its exotic garden adventure hidden behind the peaks of the Himalayas from its original 2020 and 2021 dates to April 15 – 26, 2023. AHS host Tim Conlon and Tour Leader Susie Orso of Specialtours will lead the trip.

    Highlights:

    • Buddha Point, one of the largest Buddha statues in the world at 177 feet tall.
    • The Tashichho Dzong, the seat of the government since 1952.
    • The Royal Botanical Garden, Serbithang, a rescue center for rare and threatened native floral species.
    • The high mountain pass of Dochula, at 10,000 foot; on a clear day we will see the Himalayas.
    • The Lampelri Royal Botanical Park & Rhododendron Festival, pictured below. The park features 46 species of rhodies, many of which will be in bloom during our visit. During the festival we’ll enjoy traditional songs, dances, and cultural programs.
    • Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in the country.
    • Bhutan’s most celebrated examples of monastic architecture: Paro Takstang monastery, also known as the Tiger’s Nest.

    Top-rated Accommodations:

    • Novotel Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport hotel, for short stays both at the beginning and end of the tour.
    • Norkhil Boutique Hotel & Spa in Thimphu is known for holistic spa treatments and organic cuisine in an exceptionally beautiful natural setting.
    • The Dhensa Boutique Resort, set in the Punakha Valley. We’ll be immersed in the peace and beauty of nature at its most brilliant.
    • The Gangtey Lodge, a window into Bhutanese rural life. It respectfully blends into its environment and will enable us to connect with the spirituality of Bhutan.
    • Le Méridien Paro, Riverfront hotel. Located on the edge of the Paro River, it offers panoramic views of the Eastern Himalayas.
    • For more information and to make reservations, please contact 703-768-5700 ext 127, or email development@ahsgardening.org.

  • Saturday, April 14, 10:30 am and 1:00 pm – Two Talks by Julia Corden

    Ms. Julia Corden, garden specialist from Scotland, will present two programs on Saturday, April 14 at the Presbyterian Church in Sudbury, 330 Concord Road, Sudbury: The Explorer’s Garden and Bhutan in the Footsteps of George Sherriff.

    Julia trained at the Edinburgh Botanical Gardens, achieving her diploma in horticulture. Following work in the South Island New Zealand, plant hunting travels through Hawaii, Delhi and Bangkok and restoration work on an East Sussex estate, she returned to Scotland to take over management of Explorers, The Scottish Plant Hunters Garden.

    A hands-on manager, Julia leads a team of 42 volunteers. Together they make a formidable and dedicated force that both maintains and develops this special garden.

    Julia also devotes some of her spare time to volunteer with The Scottish Rock Garden Club and is on the board of the Diana Aitchison Fund which supports courses of study and helps finance projects or trips pertaining to rock garden plants.

    Her passion is the Blue Poppy of the Himalayas. Over the past decade she has worked tirelessly to collect and nurture, an impressive 32 cultivars giving Explorers 95% of the blue poppy cultivars list. This amazing achievement resulted in Explorers being awarded a National Collection Status from Plant Heritage and an RHS Partner status in 2016.

    Refreshments and conversation at 10:30 and the first talk at 11 am. Bring your lunch; 2nd talk at 1 pm. The lectures are free and are sponsored by the New England Chapter of North American Rock Garden Society.

    Take the next step in your gardening journey and try a NARGS (North American Rock Garden Society) meeting. We grow a lot more than rock garden plants! We welcome gardeners at all levels of experience. For more information call 781-769-7940.