A Fitting Legacy For The Photographer

I got over to the Gatineau side of the Ottawa River during the festival (and completely forgot about the tulip beds in Jacques Cartier Park, which can be seen in my header image). Here on the grounds of the Museum of History (I'll still think of it as the Museum of Civilization, despite the rebranding by the Dark Lord in the Prime Minister's Office), overlooking the river, the Chateau Laurier, and Parliament Hill is the bed of tulips dedicated to Malak Karsh.

Malak is the esteemed landscape photographer, while his brother Yousuf was the esteemed portrait photographer. He was one of the instrumental voices in creating the Tulip Festival, a great legacy for a great man and artist. He photographed from here often, as some of you might recall my mentioning before. It's a great place to photograph from, with views of the National Gallery, Nepean Point, and Alexandria Bridge also in store.

The darker tulips here were slightly past their best point when I visited, but the white blooms looked pretty, and the view is worth it. The plaque before these tulips pays homage to Malak. 

The National Gallery And The Basilica

A short walk away in Major's Hill Park are two more tulip beds. This first one I love photographing with the glass tower of the National Gallery in the background. 

From a different angle, this gives a look at that rock wall in the background, as well as a glimpse of the small house structure in the grounds. These days that building tends to offer exhibition space to artists.

The other large section of tulip beds are a double row across the lawn from the first, with Notre Dame Basilica as its backdrop, while from another angle, these tulips have the Gallery as a backdrop.

The Colonel Among His Flower Beds

Major's Hill Park downtown is a big site for tulips as well during the festival. Here some of them surround the statue of Colonel John By. The Connaught Building is behind him, and the Chateau Laurier is to the right.

The Colonel has a fine view of Parliament Hill, as well as the overlook of the Rideau Canal down below that was his design and achievement.

The tulips stretch out in quite a row behind the statue, and this year they were lovely.

This view from the far end gives you a sense of the length of the row. I have more from this park tomorrow.

Ducks And Tulips Along The Water

Further east along the Rideau Canal, tulip beds can be found in sight of the Bank Street Bridge, by the pond that is linked to the Canal. You've seen the pond from time to time in shots I've taken from there. Here's the view of the bridge.

The tulips in these beds are not as densely organized as those at Dow's Lake, but they are pretty. When I photographed them, blossoms from spring trees had fallen around them and into the water.

Here at the west end of the pond we have the other set.

Two ducks were resting nearby in the grass.

Glorious Colours Along The Canal

On the Glebe side of the Rideau Canal, just east of where it widens into Dow's Lake, a tulip bed can be found along the parkway. Red dominated this bed, but it was not the only colour planted there this year. Pink and even some orange can be found here.

Red, Yellow, White, And Orange

And some pink, as well. Beds of tulips can be found on the Old Ottawa South side of the Rideau Canal, a short walk from my house. In this first shot, a dog is walking his humans (as opposed to the reverse) in the background, crossing Colonel By Drive over to the bike path that overlooks the Canal, behind where I was standing. 

I liked the contrast in homes in the background of this shot.

Tomorrow I'll show you a tulip bed over on the Glebe side of the Canal.

Yellow Pomponette In The Park

Some red, yellow, and white tulips today. I have more from the area around Dow's Lake to come, but we'll be looking at other tulip bed locations first.

Tulip Beds For Queen Juliana

A tulip bed at the west edge of Commissioner's Park is dedicated specifically to Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, who as a crown princess spent the World War Two years in the safety of Ottawa with her daughters while her mother Queen Wilhelmina maintained a defiant post against the occupation from England. One of her daughters, Margriet, was born here. This plaque is by the bed, and I've photographed it twice to ensure it should be readable. 

The Flowers And The Hound

I took shots of these tulip beds in the park. I could see two people with their dog, who was sitting on a bench, posing for photographs. I doubted they'd still be there when I got there.

And yet the dog was still there, patiently sitting while his or her humans took pictures. I couldn't pass up the chance to take a couple of shots myself.

Flowers On A Bigger Scale

These sculptural tulips are found in Commissioner's Park, mostly arranged around the food area and the entertainment section, where musical performances were being held. They are painted in a variety of styles, some Canadian, some Dutch, and some with other themes. I do like seeing them around, and they are big- around four feet tall.

 

A reminder to City Daily Photo bloggers: the theme for the first day of June is Stylish.

Buskers On Victoria Day

While out at Commissioner's Park on Victoria Day taking more tulip photos, I happened across these two aerial buskers. The women were certainly drawing attention.

A Salute To The Queen

I am stepping away from the Tulip Festival for one day. On Victoria Day, a 21 gun salute to Queen Victoria is fired off on the east side of Centre Block on Parliament Hill. It is very loud, hearing these field guns go off, but it brings out the crowds beforehand. This year with the work being done on various buildings, the scaffolding makes for a different backdrop.

A few minutes before noon, the crowds are sent back a short distance to watch, and advised that the sound will be loud. Note the Union Jack flying on the flagpole at the right- another Victoria Day tradition on the Hill.

And at noon, the guns start firing. The statues of the Famous Five just have to put up with the noise.