Monday, May 21, 2018

The Hill

Today is Victoria Day, a holiday here in Canada named for Queen Victoria, our monarch when Canada was organized under Confederation, and I will be largely offline photographing, as it's the final day of the Tulip Festival (lots more to come here, however). I thought it appropriate to feature Parliament Hill today, since its placement results from a decision Victoria made when she designated this place as the capital. And during the Tulip Festival, the flowers can be found around the Hill, such as in planters leading into the gateways. I always get in one post from here during this festival.


There are also beds of tulips out at the north sides of the lawns, with bushes as their backdrop.


They are popular with photographers- this view takes in the East Block as well.


I seem to like taking one stretch of these tulips and photographing them two ways- normal settings and black and white. Colour works better, obviously, as the red tulips become much less noticeable in black and white.


Crossing over to the west lawn, I photographed the tulip beds as they continue.


Another angle I like to take at least once during the festival- a view from the ground up incorporating the Peace Tower.


Aside from the main tulip beds at the north end of the lawns, there are two tulip beds that flank the sides of the Peace Tower. This is the west one.


While this is the east bed.


Leaving Parliament Hill, I crossed Wellington Street to the south side, passing the Parliamentary block housing the Prime Minister's offices, which stands to the left here. There are planters set up down this sidewalk, and the view incorporating the Parliamentary blocks beyond made the shot a fitting one.

34 comments:

  1. Lots of fun things going on in Canada yesterday! Hope you got out...well, you did get out and got a bunch of beautiful tulip photos!

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  2. Beautiful pictures ! we have a long weekend because it's pentecoste ! Nearly in whole Europe it's a holiday.

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  3. ...and gorgeous hill it is! You captured it well.

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  4. Happy Victoria, Tulip Festival Day. Love that first photo!

    Janis
    GDP

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  5. How old is that building? It looks like a castle, but it can only be so old since it is Canada. :) I have a sister-in-law in Europe and buildings she calls old were built 1,000 years ago. I am American and our old building are from the 1700 or 1800's. Similar to Canada, probably!

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  6. Great photos, William. I hope to get there this week.

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  7. @Lowell: today is probably the last day I photograph them. I have three spots in mind.

    @Gattina: thank you!

    @Tom: it is quite a spot.

    @Francisco: thanks!

    @Janis: so do I.

    @Sandi: the East and West Blocks date to the mid nineteenth century, as did the original Centre Block. That one was destroyed by fire in 1916 and rebuilt in the similar Gothic style.

    @Deb: it'll be crowded at Dow's Lake today, but if you come.in a day or two it should be okay.

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  8. Happy Victoria Day! Another lovely batch of tulip pictures, too. Thank you, William. :-)

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  9. Such lovely photos. The tulips are so pretty. Happy Victoria Day.

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  10. It looks wonderful around the parliament buildings!

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  11. Love the photos showing the Parliament building especially.

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  12. You packed a lot in the last photo.

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  13. That red and white together is gorgeous.

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  14. The tulips provide a very beautiful frame for that stately buildings. Wonderful architecture.

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  15. Happy Victoria Day! What a great Queen! Enjoying 'Young Victoria' much and anticipating more episodes ahead

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  16. Beautiful, beautiful tulips!

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  17. Best wishes on Victoria Day, William, and such lovely blooms to set off such grand architecture. It seems you are finally enjoying lovely springtime weather and flowers as well. Thanks for your recent comments on our blog, we have been on some family and fun road trips and I am a bit behind in my comments.

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  18. Lovely views of the tulips against the blue sky.

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  19. Fabulous photographs in this post William.
    Happy Victoria Day

    All the best Jan

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  20. @DJan: more to come, though I believe I have taken my last tulip shots this year.

    @Mildred: thank you!

    @RedPat: Parliamentary tulips always come out well.

    @Marie: as do I.

    @Red: I did!

    @Sharon: they blend well.

    @Michelle: it is quite a location.

    @Cloudia: they had a gun salute to her earlier today.

    @Norma: that they are.

    @Beatrice: good to hear from you!

    @Marleen: I thought so!

    @Jan: thanks!

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  21. I love the red and white tulips with the Peace Tower in the background, it's my favorite. Beautiful photos, William!

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  22. Wonderful serie again with the 8th photo as absolute favorite.

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  23. I can see why you love the angle with the tulips in the foreground and the Peace Tower behind. It's a wonderful image, beautifully composed. It looks as though it should be in an elegant coffee table book!

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  24. Gorgeous, gorgeous and even more gorgeous! Beautiful images William, love the low angle with the Peace Tower in the background!

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  25. Beautiful shots! Those red and white tulips are perfect!

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  26. @Bill: thank you!

    @Jan: thanks!

    @Jeanie: I've thought of it!

    @Grace: fortunately I can get down and take that shot!

    @Karl: thank you.

    @Jenn: they are indeed.

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  27. Happy Belated Victoria Day and lovely post and lovely photos too!

    Happy Day to you,
    C & z

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  28. Fantastic architect, fantastic tulips, and fantastic shots. Thanks for Posting.

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  29. We went to the cemetery on Victoria Day. I'm glad you took these. After that, we had lunch in Long Sault. So much fun!

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  30. so pretty. i do love spring. what fun colors. ( :

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  31. @Carol: thank you!

    @Mari: you're welcome.

    @Jennifer: thank you.

    @Beth: thanks!

    @Klara: indeed.

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