Saturday, October 13, 2018

History And Legend

Picking up where I left off yesterday, across the path from The Bird Tree was another new topiary. This one is Red Crowned Cranes, and depicts a trio of cranes native to Japan, China, the Korean peninsula, and parts of Siberia.


The next topiary along the path was one that was here last year as well. Jos Montferrand: A Giant From Gatineau pays tribute to a voyageur and lumberman of the 19th century whose life in the Ottawa Valley became that of legend, with tall tales building on his story. Joseph Montferrand was a French speaking strongman known to stand up for the little guy in working class neighbourhoods, carrying a reputation for feats of strength, most infamously routing a gang of 150 men on the bridge between what was then Hull and Ottawa. His story lives on in story and song. The topiary is appropriately much larger than life.


From this point along the path we get a different perspective of the CPR 374 topiary, where we began this series.


Along the topiary is another sculpture from last year, moved here from a different spot along the pathway. Odyssey And Hope is the work of British sculptor Heather Jansch, a sculpture of driftwood in the shape of a mare, Odyssey, and her colt, Hope. They are placed in a field of flowers.


The Voyageur is the next one. From the 17th century into the 19th century, the French speaking voyageurs travelled deep into the continent for the fur trade, which was dominated from the hub in Montreal. Voyageurs interacted with First Nations peoples and pushed into what for white people were unknown spaces. It was a hard life filled with perils, but one that left a huge legacy- explored landscapes and trading posts that would give rise to cities.


And up the path is this topiary. The Winning Goal, Summit of '72 shows the iconic moment in Canadian sports history in which the Summit Series between the Soviet and Canadian hockey teams, deemed the best two teams in the world, was decided by a winning goal in the eighth and final game of the series, a goal made by Paul Henderson of the Canadian squad. A photograph of that victorious moment forms the basis of this topiary.

34 comments:

  1. This park must be huge ! It takes certainly more than a day to see it all ! I certainly could spend a few days in there !

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  2. A great park with so many beautiful topiaries.

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  3. ...it's hard to decide, but the canoe is perhaps my favorite.

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  4. The day that goal was scored, my brother jumped so high, he broke the light fixture in the ceiling of our house.

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  5. Strange, I have the feeling this serie is getting better and more beautiful each day.
    I can't make a choice of today's topiaries, they are alle great.

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  6. The winning goal is fun to see. Great photos

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  7. @Gattina: I did it in a couple of hours.

    @Nancy: they are wonderful.

    @Tom: it is a good one.

    @Sandi: they are!

    @Marie: I can see that!

    @Jan: I think so too.

    @Maywyn: thank you.

    @Francisco: thanks!

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  8. I'm hoping there are still more to come William. They are a delight to see each day 💚👀

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  9. We have a driftwood horse here. Now I'm wondering if it is by the same artist.

    Janis
    GDP

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  10. Every day is a treat when you show these beauties to us, William!

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  11. Just when I think you can top these photos you go out and find something more spectacular. They were smart enough to make different statues this year.

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  12. Amazing that there are so many of these fabulous works of art. It sure would be wonderful to see them all in person.

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  13. These are amazing, indeed. My husband would love the train/horses, as he adores both!

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  14. @Grace: yes, still a few more days of this to come.

    @Janis: you'll have to find out! She apparently does a lot of this.

    @RedPat: I enjoy showing them.

    @Red: the additions are quite a sight to see.

    @Happyone: I enjoyed my visit.

    @Jennifer: they were quite something to see.

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  15. It is so hard to believe all these topiaries and yet here they are. Amazing! I have seen driftwood horses before and they are truly a work of art.
    MB

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  16. I've really enjoyed the topiaries, the cranes are wonderful:)

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  17. Wow! Love seeing all these beautiful and creative topiaries ~ neat photos! ^_^

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

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  18. Love these! We have some in our botanical gardens. I love cats too, but sadly my son is allergi to them.

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  19. @MB: they certainly are a wonder to see.

    @Rosie: I've enjoyed showing them.

    @Sharon: the event covers several acres, but probably only a quarter of the park.

    @Carol: thank you!

    @Kelleyn: this was quite a fun event to take in.

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  20. They are some amazing looking sculptures

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  21. So amazing to see these incredible and beautiful sculptures. I love them all and the Voyageur is my favorite today.

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  22. I love the movement in the birds but all are beautiful works of living art.

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  23. They are all amazing, but my favourites are the Voyager and the Hockey players!

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  24. Very impressive and you have done a great job capturing it all.

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  25. Just simply amazing William.
    I would just love to see it in real life, but I am very happy, and pleased, to see your photographs.

    All the best Jan

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  26. How well done! The hockey players are awesome!

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  27. More and more beautiful stuff here...

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  28. @Bill: they are!

    @Jenny: definitely.

    @Revrunner: thanks!

    @Bill: thank you.

    @Kay: that they are.

    @Sami: thanks!

    @Denise: thank you.

    @Jan: I was pleased to see it again.

    @Italiafinlandia: thank you.

    @Klara: thanks!

    @Beth: so do I.

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