Part 91 - 1–3 July: Camp notes, plant collecting near Chachu La and Tolegang, and mail received

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SUMMARY:
The diarist records plant collections and observations, noting poor weather but good flowers, and a promising valley toward the Chachu La with yak shelters and a large lake. While halted in camp, they receive mail from Betty via Wangmo’s servant to Bumthang and send replies; they also collect the first seeds of the year. On 3rd July they make a long day trip to Tolegang, pressing 18 specimens including Primula waddellii.

CONTENT:
1st July: Saxifraga brunoniana 19270.
Rhod. calderianum 19277.
Streptopus simplex 19280.
Cardiocrinum giganteum 19284.

...for a few nice things, the best being what I think is a Buddleia, but if so, it's a much bigger flower than B. colvilei (19272) which it somewhat resembles. Lil. giganteum is also common down the valley, and Briggsia (B. muscicola 19266), on a tree, is rather nice. A miserable day for weather, but a good day for flowers.

2nd July. Halt. In camp, and fine in the morning after a night of very heavy rain indeed. From what I saw of the valley towards the Chachu La, it is good. But one would have to spend a night or two up there. There are two yak herds' shelters, one at 13500, and one above 14500 just near the biggest lake I have seen in Bhutan. That would be a good place. There are magnificent cliffs all around, and I did get two nice saxs from the only cliffs I visited. But primulas, other than calderiana and umbratilis were scarce. P. umbratilis is common at 14500 and rather paler. I saw one white one, and hope it may mean that real white ones are close. If we can't get good places in Haubung, we must return there. A mail from Betty came in on 30th night, very surprisingly, sent by Wangmo's servant to Bumthang. So I have written letters to Betty and Wangmo, to go off today if possible — or at any rate tomorrow. We collected the first of this year's seed — P. atrodentata. This is always the first to seed, and unless one takes it soon, it is likely to be eaten by yaks.

3rd July. Halt. Went to Tolegang, and had a day with hardly any rain, but a long one. Left at 6.0 am and back at 5.0 pm rather tired, but with 18 flowers (19330) in the press, some good ones amongst them, including Primula waddellii, which I had forgotten was so very pink and different in colour from P. tenuiloba. There can be no mistaking the two. After reaching the lake, we turned up right...