Wednesday, May 28, 2014

The Sanctuary In A Peculiar Place

Downtown in Ottawa, the Rideau Centre is a major retail mall with links to the Ottawa Convention Centre. While it's busy inside, up on the roof we find flowerbeds and quiet paths. It's an oasis of tranquility. Tulips blossom in the flowerbeds during the festival.


The colours are varied and bright.


The tulips in this bed were shaded by trees that were finally seeing their spring blossoms.


And we return again to the tulip beds at Dow's Lake.


Surrounded by violet muscari ameniacum, the tulips in this bed are called Princess Irene.


And this bed of tulips go by the name Leen van der Mark.


Tomorrow I'm stepping away from the tulips for a specific occasion, but I have more of these colours yet to come. Also a reminder to fellow CDP photobloggers: the first of the month is a theme day, and the theme is Zest. If you're stuck on the theme, bear in mind some of the definition of the word: enthusiasm or excitement. That's something open to wide interpretation.


38 comments:

  1. Thanks for the tip regarding Theme Day, I thought of that but am still stuck with a very literal interpretation. Not happy about it.

    The canopy of blossoms is delightful above the tulips!

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  2. Lovely tulip photos! I am still trying to think of a decent theme day subject, but having a hard time with it.

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  3. I will name you "Doctor honoris causa" of tulips. What
    you agree ...? .

    Tomás.

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  4. Lovely flowers and thanks for the theme day tip. I'm having trouble illustrating excitement or enthusiasm with out currently disappointing weather in Blois.

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  5. So beautiful! Hope you have a nice weekend. Tomorrow is a holiday in Berlin. :)

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  6. The tulips in that first photo are brilliant!

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  7. A rooftop oasis for sure. We need more of those in our malls. I can't get over all the tulips!

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  8. On the roof? How fantastic.. especially if not too many people know about it :) These last tulip posts have been wonderful William.. When they use all the same colour en masse, excellent but when they do mix it up a bit, the colour combinations have been sublime..

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  9. Ciel: my interpretation will be a little unusual.

    Tamera: I thought at first of the idea of photographing two dogs playing or the reaction of people to tulips.

    Tomas: I do agree!

    Blois: think outside the box!

    Halcyon: enjoy the holiday!

    Revrunner: thanks!

    Lowell: it is a place where you're aware of the city around you but it is still calm.

    Grace: thank you!

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  10. A Leen van der Mark tulip ... I have never heard of him or of his tulip.
    Sometimes it looks like every Dutchman has his own tulip, but it seems they forgot me ... ;-)

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  11. Pink tulips are my favourite!
    Jane x

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  12. I love those pretty pink tulips!

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  13. A garden on top of a mall! What a great idea!

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  14. Ottawa is a lot closer than Holland. I can see that this is the place to go to see this riot of tulip colors.

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  15. @Luis: thanks!

    @Jan: I knew it had to be a name.

    @Jane and Chris: there are so many of them too.

    @Lois: they seem popular!

    @Tex: I like seeing them each year.

    @Jennifer: thanks!

    @Cheryl: I'll have to photograph it later in the summer.

    @Sharon: it's a wonderful place to check out for tulips. One day I have to see them in Holland.

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  16. Unusual (for me) and almost evanescent colors for some wonderful flowers...

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  17. I really love the tulips from the first 2 photo's, don't think I have ever seen them here.

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  18. Your series on tulips have been very enjoyable, thank you William :)

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  19. Love that the tulips are even on the roof!
    Zest is going to be a challenge - I chose it and even I am struggling to get my image!!

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  20. Is there a place without tulips?
    Great shots, William!

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  21. I've never seen tulips like these before!

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  22. I just can't get over how many there are. So beautiful.

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  23. @VP: thanks!

    @Judy: they are.

    @Marleen: I could be wrong, but those pink ones might be a type called Eve Arden

    @Linda: I think so!

    @Denise: you're welcome!

    @RedPat: my choices are a bit unusual.

    @Karl: they are everywhere!

    @Norma: I've seen them in tulip beds in previous years.

    @Tanya: thank you!

    @Krisztina: they are!

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  24. I'm beginning to wonder if there is any spot in Ottawa that isn't covered with tulips at this time of year. It's beyond splendid!

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  25. This fine tulip photos add ZEST to our lives!

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  26. Looks like a neat spot! The more pictures I see, the more I need to put this festival on my travel list!

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  27. love the pathways ... if only you could walk with them without hurting the blooms. just gorgeous!! ( :

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  28. Love the pink ones!
    I needed that theme day reminder. Thanks.

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  29. I'm getting the feeling you couldn't escape the tulips even if you wanted to. (and, really, why would you?)

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  30. Hard to imagine such a beautiful garden on a mall rooftop! All the tulips you've been showing are absolutely gorgeous. You've got to want spring to never end!

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  31. @Kay: we have many.

    @Janis: certainly for me.

    @Meradeth: it's a great festival.

    @Beth: that they are.

    @Linda: you're welcome.

    @Hamilton: I wouldn't!

    @Elaine: thank you!

    @Jose: I agree.

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