Blooming Bougainvillea Trees Near Lodhi Garden Duck Pond Draw Summer Visitors

On a sweltering June afternoon, two giant bougainvillea trees near the duck pond in Lodhi Garden, Delhi, burst into full pink bloom, drawing visitors to gather and seek shelter under their canopy. The picturesque trees are serving as a natural refuge from the summer heat and a backdrop for photography ahead of the upcoming monsoon.

Only a few weeks prior, the trees were completely flowerless. However, their branches have now returned to a rich pink, with blossoms drifting down to carpet the ground with papery petals.

Despite the intense heat, the benches beneath the trees attracted a steady stream of visitors throughout the day. Among those gathering under the pink canopy were a couple sitting quietly, a family of five, and another young couple posing for a professional photographer.

The blooming trees also acted as an impromptu meeting spot for strangers. Three young men carrying small books stopped to take selfies under the spectacle. Later in the afternoon, a group of four friends—Ginni, Priyanka, Aditya, and Ullas—lingered under the branches to talk.

A park gardener previously explained that while these trees flower through much of the year, their most spectacular display occurs during the summer and lasts until the first substantial monsoon rain. While Delhi residents await the rains for relief from the heat, the wet weather will also mark the end of this season's blossoms.

The two resilient trees have weathered many seasons in the park, including the COVID-19 lockdown years when they continued to bloom while the rest of the city was shut down.

In addition to human visitors, the trees provided shade for local wildlife. An earthen pitcher nearby remained filled with pieces of roti for birds and squirrels, while two dogs slept in shallow hollows they dug in the cool soil beneath the canopy.