Saturday, October 27, 2018

Autumn At The Hall

This is one of the approaches onto the property at Rideau Hall. The house you see here is the visitor centre for the property. Rideau Hall is the official residence for Canada's Governor-General (today a largely ceremonial position), and there are nearly eighty acres of land here, much of it open to the public to walk about. Many of the trees here were planted by visiting dignitaries- foreign leaders or royalty- going back over a century now.


This view of grass includes a cricket pitch, the only such one that I know of over here. While the sport is popular in Britain, and thus this would be a legacy of the days when the governor-general was always British, it has never really caught on here. I have seen games being played here during previous visits.


A lovely rose garden is found nearby. Most of the roses were at the end of their season during this visit.


Here we have the manor. What started as a family home for Thomas McKay and his family became the residence of the Governor-General upon Confederation in 1867, expanding over time, and has remained so ever since, a working official residence that is open for tours. The hours vary during the year.


I started on my way back down the driveway, photographing as I went, looking at the small markers at the bases of numerous trees to see who'd planted them.


Along the way is an inukshuk, or inuksuk. These stone markers have been used from time immemorial by the Inuit in the far north. This one was placed here in 1997. 

32 comments:

  1. I enjoy this virtual walk with you. Love the colourful trees and the peaceful walk.

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  2. That's a nice place for a walk !

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  3. ...a grand place with some beautiful trees.

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  4. I love the curved road in photo #2. Someone should paint it!

    Janis
    GDP

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  5. I enjoy long driveways of trees - soon, I suspect, it will be a mass of golds, reds, and ambers. The newly fallen leaves look like confetti following a wedding.

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  6. It's a grand spot and ages since I've been there.

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  7. Must be a wonderful place for a colourful fall walk.
    I love that last rose.

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  8. Hello, beautiful Autumn trees and colors. That is some fancy family home. Happy Saturday, enjoy your day and weekend.

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  9. A perfect spot for a fall walk!

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  10. Beautiful shots William, autumn really is a special time of the year ✨

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  11. Rideau Hall and property is always a great place to visit. At this colorful time of year it's better than ever for a visit.

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  12. @Nancy: I enjoyed showing it.

    @Gattina: it certainly is.

    @Tom: definitely!

    @Janis: it's a good spot.

    @Rosemary: they do!

    @Anvilcloud: I try to get up this way a few times in a year.

    @DJan: I think so!

    @Jan: so do I.

    @Eileen: thanks!

    @RedPat: I think so!

    @Grace: it is indeed.

    @Red: quite true!

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  13. A beautiful manor, and great start for an Autumn walk!

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  14. A beautiful place to visit, especially now with all those colours.

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  15. Such a beautiful area with incredible history!

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  16. Wonderful photos, the autumn colours add their beauty to the area.

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  17. Thanks for sharing this great photos. It is a marvelous place! So large, so green, so colorful, so historic. Hope all goes well with you!

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  18. I'm envious! Our fall colors are pretty lame this year.

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  19. vast and nice to walk around.nice fall colours .

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  20. @Marleen: thanks!

    @Karl: definitely.

    @Marie: true!

    @Bill: they do!

    @Lowell: you're welcome.

    @Cloudia: a pleasure to do so.

    @Norma: ours have been good.

    @Klara: it is indeed.

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  21. Looks like great walking around there. Beautiful fall color.

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  22. Another beautiful place and lovely autumn colors ~ love the single rose macro shot!

    Happy Day to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  23. Ottawa is getting into its fall colors!

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  24. What a lovely place to enjoy an Autumn walk, and I did through your photographs.
    Thank you.

    All the best Jan

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  25. What a beautiful place. Your colors are looking very good. Our winds are picking up today and I suspect we're losing many of our fall leaves this evening.

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  26. I don't recall visiting! I didn't know about the trees, either. Good job!

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  27. i think that the blooms around here are confused ... the weather is cold. well not that cold. but cooler. ( ;

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  28. @Happyone: it's quite a place to see.

    @Carol: thank you!

    @Sharon: we get good ones.

    @Jan: thanks!

    @Kay: I think I'm nearly done taking photos of fall colours.

    @Francisco: thank you.

    @Jennifer: thanks!

    @Beth: here it gets colder by late October.

    @Klara: that they are.

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