Donovan's December 1967 album, the double-disc box set A Gift from a Flower to a Garden had charted in the top 20 in both the US and UK upon its release, following a highly successful North American tour in the fall of 1967.

[1] Donovan stayed a month before returning to England in mid-March to resume his career, including a prestige gig at The Royal Albert Hall on March 21 where he premiered many of the new songs, followed by recording sessions for a new album.

[2] "Jennifer Juniper" was recorded with string and woodwind arrangements once again undertaken by John Cameron, including distinctive parts for shaker, harp and Cor anglais.

When the sessions resumed in April 1968, Donovan proceeded to record the title track, which had been written in Rishikesh and would see release as a single on May 24, where it hit the top 5 in both the UK and US.

[3] George Harrison wrote a verse for "Hurdy Gurdy Man" when they were in India, but it was cut from the studio version in order to ensure that the song was not overly long for a single.

[2] McNair also played flute on three carefree acoustic numbers in the flower-power fashion, "A Sunny Day", "The Entertaining of a Shy Girl" and "The Sun Is A Very Magic Fellow", the latter co-written with Beatles roadie Mal Evans in India.

[4] "Superlungs" (a song first attempted during sessions for both Sunshine Superman and Mellow Yellow), "Where Is She" and "Happiness Runs" (originally titled "Pebble and the Man" when it first appeared on 1968's Donovan in Concert) would find their way onto 1969's Barabajagal.

[2] The original sleeve of the album featured a painting by David Richards of a singular red bird flying over a group of reeds floating in water.