"It is a truth universally acknowledged that after a long winter, Canadians shall be in want of seeing flower beds." ~ Jane Austen, Pride & Prejudice & Polar Vortexes
It is time to get things started with the Canadian Tulip Festival, which kicks off officially tomorrow here in Ottawa and Gatineau. The festival has its origins in the aftermath of the Second World War, with gifts of tulips from the Netherlands and the Dutch royal family as thanks for liberation. In the 1950s, a formal festival was organized by landscape photographer Malak Karsh, among others. Each year, a million bulbs are planted at various locations throughout the capital.
This is the flower bed in Commissioners Park that I showed you for the theme day.
Another bed of tulips further on in the park is less densely planted. I photographed these two tulips, and noticed afterwards that there was a third tulip, its petals gone. No doubt thanks to a devious squirrel; they tend to have habits of doing that.
The rest of these shots are from Little Italy, including this bed along the street.
Aside from the many public locations, many people plant tulips in their gardens. These were in a front garden.
And this bed of tulips is from another day, outside an office building.
I love all the colours!
ReplyDeleteTulips are very beautiful. Our weather too hot for tulips.
ReplyDeleteI love tulips and when them are a lot in the same place, it's more beautiful,
ReplyDeleteYour photos are very nice.
Beautiful tulips!.
ReplyDeleteTomás.
Very nice tulips and the odd daff
ReplyDeleteNice variation of different colours.
ReplyDeleteIndividually, they are beautiful. But together, they make quite a display. A carpet of color!
ReplyDeleteJanis
GDP
gorgeous blooms. so colorful and happy. ( ;
ReplyDeleteSuch delightful pictures! I love tulip!
ReplyDeleteSounds like squirrels are enjoying tulips, too, in a very different way...!
@Linda: thanks!
ReplyDelete@Nancy: here it is fine.
@Orvokki: thanks!
@Tomas: they are.
@Bill: indeed.
@Marianne: and more to come.
@Janis: they make for such a lovely display.
@Beth: they are cheerful.
@Tamago: they would, the little rascals!
Been looking forward to the tulip festival William.. I love the Jane Austen quote and can see how it applies.
ReplyDeleteWow! That must be spectacular!
ReplyDeleteI love all the varieties...what a huge splash of color!
ReplyDeleteFantastic! I've been waiting to see these beauties.
ReplyDeleteI keep promising myself that one of these days, I'll get to actually see the Tulip Festival. It's on my bucket list.
ReplyDeleteTulips make for a very colorful Ottawa. thanks for showing them.
ReplyDelete@Grace: I wonder what Jane would have thought of it.
ReplyDelete@Furry Gnome: it is!
@Lowell: a lot of colour to come.
@Sharon: they're late this year, but coming along nicely.
@Norma: it's a great time to visit.
@Red: you're welcome.
That is a lot of tulips.
ReplyDeleteTulips are just so lovely and they say SPRING like no other flower. Tulip Festival here is the month of April but due to a mild winter and warm Spring they were very early.
ReplyDeleteThose shown are beauties.
MB
Out came the camera, when I saw some tulips a few days back. But it is nothing compared to what you have found:)
ReplyDeleteI love it when they're planted en masse.
ReplyDeleteTulips everywhere, such beautiful colours! Must be lots of people taking photos out there.
ReplyDeleteThey are just peaking here so yours should be at their prime this weekend if it isn't too cold.
ReplyDeleteThe orange ones are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteAll of them are distinctly beautiful, William. Thanks so much for the photos.
ReplyDelete@Stefan: it's a festival with a lot of history, and it really brings out the crowds.
ReplyDelete@MB: I've seen previous years where the tulips were already blooming at the end of April. This year, it looks like this weekend and next weekend are going to be particularly brilliant and blooming.
@Gunn: I have found myself photographing them in small groups and like this. Either way, they are such a lovely sight to behold each year.
@Revrunner: they become a carpet of colour.
@Bill: yes, particularly on the weekends. Quite often you see tour buses parked near the main sights, just so out of towners can circulate about without worrying about parking.
@RedPat: I think this weekend and next weekend will be very good. In some years by the Victoria Day weekend they're all done.
@Marleen: they certainly are!
@Linda: you're most welcome.
Beautiful tulips. I did grow them in Washington until the moles pulled down everyone. Now I just look at beautiful pictures like yours.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty! I had no idea that squirrels would go after tulips like that.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like they're off and running! Glorious!
ReplyDeleteNice combination of colours in the larger flower beds.
ReplyDeleteOh so beautiful. The colors are gorgeous. I hope you find the red and white one.
ReplyDeleteMB
@Mari: I guess lots of animals will do that.
ReplyDelete@Lois: I sometimes think they transplant tulips while they're at it- one occasionally sees a tulip where there shouldn't be one. My former landlady would find it annoying to see what the squirrels had been up to with her tulips.
@Kay: they are looking good.
@Jan: thank you!
@MB: I will- the tulips in the video for the next post, I know pretty much where in the park they are. I might well have already photographed them- I have to check a scheduled post.
Must be an incredible sight and your header is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful display of tulips!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant colors and magnificent displays with your camera.
ReplyDeleteWow! I am jealous. Tulips don't grow in Florida and I get back to New England too late to see them up there.
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful but why blame a sweet little squirrel?
ReplyDelete@Denise: it is a pleasure to see.
ReplyDelete@Cheryl: definitely!
@Carolann: thank you.
@Jack: I love seeing them.
@Linda: squirrels will do that!