Flowing Blooms

 I stepped into the Museum of History briefly, and took this shot of the Grand Hall, a beautiful space of totem poles and Pacific Northwest culture.

Departing by the curatorial wing, I looked back at the exhibition wing entrance.

Over on the east side of the curatorial wing is a flowing bed of tulips.

Among the bushes are tulips that have moved over here. The hard work of squirrel gardeners once again.

One last look. From here, I continued a short walk to the east, to go into Jacques Cartier Park.

The Museum

 My path led me on to the grounds of the Canadian Museum of History, which is along the shore of the Ottawa River here in Gatineau.

Heading down the slope in the direction of the river, I passed by a blossoming tree in the museum grounds.

Down here, just up slope from the river, is a flowerbed that was filled with tulips. On the far shore, Parliament Hill dominates the surroundings.

This bed is dedicated to Malak Karsh, the founder of the festival, and world renowned landscape photographer, who called Ottawa home.

A wonderful place for such a dedication. The Alexandra Bridge spans the river just downstream.

Malak took a famous photograph a few meters upstream- a sign on the other side of the trees at right notes it. It was on this shoreline many years ago that he took a photograph of the river during a log drive, with the Parliament Buildings overlooking everything, and a boat working along the river. That photograph spent many years on the Canadian one dollar bill. A portrait photograph of the Queen was on the other side- taken by his brother, Yousuf Karsh. Many Canadians will remember that bill.

I headed up the slope in the direction of the Museum. The very boat that Malak photographed is now up here, at left.

There is a reflecting pool alongside the exhibition wing of the Museum. Here we find 'namaxsala (To Travel In A Boat Together) by the First Nations artist Mary Anne Barkhouse. This sculpture is based on a story her grandfather told, of giving a wolf a lift through dangerous waters.

The patio for the Museum restaurant has blooming trees at the same time as the tulips. I had planned to take advantage of my membership and have lunch, but was too early.

I turned and took this shot, looking at the central stairs between the exhibition wing and the curatorial wing.

The Colours

 After leaving where I was yesterday, I continued along Laurier Street in Gatineau; it runs parallel to the Ottawa River. There are a series of raised flowerbeds here, with tulips contrasting nicely with the bushes they share the space with.

Some of Parliament Hill can be glimpsed in the background, on the Ottawa side of the river.

In Gatineau

 I went into Gatineau, over on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River, one day in May to take in tulips. Here at the Portage Bridge, which crosses the river, there is a bed of tulips in a parkland setting I always stop by.

A bike path heads down to the river. Across the path are a number of tulips growing in the grass. I assume squirrel gardeners are responsible for the migration.

One last look at this pretty bed.