Shimmering Flowerbeds

 I continued on with my walk, photographing more tulips.

Note the two tulips at the edge- the work of squirrel gardeners, or bulbs left in the ground from the previous year?

Rise Of The Tulip Paparazzi

 I returned to Dow's Lake during the week during the Tulip Festival, as generally speaking it's easier to photograph without the crowds around. I started again at the northwest entrance to Commissioners Park with this beautiful bed.

The Tulip Paparazzi, of whom I am a ranking member, was out and about.

I always look for opportunities to photograph the tulips from ground level, and this bed, with its accompanying muscari, is good for that.

The Bonds Between Countries

 Continuing on where I left off yesterday, the friendship between Canada and the Netherlands, forged in the crucible of war, is as strong as ever.

It includes a history of immigration and tourism between both countries.

It includes the birth of a Dutch princess on Canadian soil during the War; Princess Margriet continues to make visits to the country to this day.

This large scale photo is ideal for photo ops.

There's a Dutch store in Nepean that I go to on a regular basis; they were one of the vendors in the park this year. I popped in, and bought these. I haven't had these cookies in years.

And I bought a biography of Malak Karsh, the landscape photographer who is deemed the father of the festival. It includes many of his photos.

Dawn Of An Enduring Friendship

 On Victoria Day, I went into Commissioners Park at Dow's Lake for a visit to the tulips, with the photos meant specifically for a theme day later in the year. This meant facing the crowds, but also meant just enough shots for a single post. I decided to also photograph some interpretive plaques set up in the park at the same time, of the long friendship between the Netherlands and Canada, which finds its origins in the Second World War.

Canadian forces swept into the Netherlands starting in 1944 to free the country from Nazi Germany. Portions of the country were liberated by Christmas.

But much of it was still behind enemy lines, and a period called the Hunger Winter was the hardest point for many of the Dutch. Canadian soldiers took part in humanitarian efforts for the starving people.

As the spring of 1945 broke out, the great advance began, the ending of the war in Europe. Canadian soldiers made their way deeper into the Netherlands. It would end with the surrender of all German forces occupying the country.

The liberation of the country created the foundation of a lasting friendship between our countries that continues today.

Another panel series looks at those common bonds and shared experiences.