Turkey, 1465. It is the Sultan’s hand that tends the newly planted flowers in the beds of Topkapi Palace. The same hand hacks a gardener to pieces for simply stealing a cucumber. Leaving Istanbul, he heads North East for the tranquility of Anatolia to escape his responsibility. His journey offers the opportunity for reflection as he asks questions about power, love and belonging. Turkey, 2010. All the while a modern explorer sets out on a journey of his own. He is seeking out the first tulip to be cultivated for human pleasure, Tulipa Armena. Along the way local people help him with his quest. They talk about their own relationships with the flower and they describe a country desperate for change.