The Rogue Tulip

 We return once again to Commissioners Park at Dow's Lake for a last visit to the tulips. These were taken a couple of days after the Tulip Festival had finished in May, but they were looking good.

Note this bright red one, surrounded by tulips of other colours- the rogue tulip.

We'll carry on here tomorrow.

Upon The Hill

 The tulips continue along Wellington as I entered the Parliamentary precinct.

Crossing the street brings us to the Hill. There are six Parliamentary blocks in all, five of them on the Hill itself. The sixth is seen at right, and houses the offices of the Prime Minister and his staff. At centre is a statue honouring Henry Harper, a journalist and civil servant who died in December 1901 trying to save the life of a woman who fell through the ice on the Ottawa River.

I went onto the Hill, where there were more tulips in planters.

My path led me west of Centre Block, where there is a rise of land and two statues. The first is Queen Victoria, and at the time of this May visit, she was surrounded by tulips.

Beyond is a statue honouring Lester Pearson, who along with Mackenzie King was one of our greatest prime ministers.

Departing, I noticed the lilac blossoms overlooking the Ottawa River.

A Memorial

 Confederation Square is the very heart of the city, and at its heart is the National War Memorial. It is surrounded by landmarks like the Chambers and Parliament Hill to the west, and the National Arts Centre, Government Conference Centre, and Chateau Laurier to the east. On a hot day in May, I approached from the south, where this traffic island was occupied with tulips.

 There are tulips on the grounds of the Memorial, which was first built to honour the dead of the Great War, and then dedicated months before the outbreak of the Second World War. It has been rededicated to honour those who have died in wars and in military service for the country.

Heading off the grounds and to the west, I came across more tulips in planters.

Colonel By

There are a series of raised flowerbeds in Major's Hill Park where some tulips are to be found, along the railing overlooking the Ottawa River.

The path leads to this statue of Colonel John By, the British military engineer who led the building of the Rideau Canal, and who is therefore the founder of the city. This year marks the 200th anniversary of the start of that project, and the founding of Ottawa. 

The statue has tulips around it, and in a long row behind it.

He looks westward, to Parliament Hill. The Canal is in a low saddle between this park and the Hill.