Meanwhile, around Thimphu other flowers are beginning to appear; the bright yellow blooms of Piptanthus with their silvery leaves, the Pieris Formosa with its red leaves and sprays of little white flowers, and the extremely rare wild cherry, Prunus Carmesina with its deep pink blossoms. In May, it is time to head for the Chelela Pass, a mere 40 kilometres from Paro. Cascades of the wild climbing rose, Rosa Brunonii, festoon the trees during the earlier part of the drive. As one drives deeper into the forest, the lovely pink bush rose, Rosa Macrophylla, has begun to flower, as has the Spiraea Bella with its dense pink flowerheads. One beautiful flowering tree to look for on this route in May is the Enkianthus Deflexus, with its clusters orange bell-like blossoms.

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