Flower Heaven At The War Memorial

 Flowerbeds line around the bushes that in turn line around portions of the National War Memorial, which stands in the heart of Confederation Square. Tulips were found in those beds.

The Memorial was dedicated in the months leading up to the Second World War to commemorate the fallen of the First World War. It has since been reconsecrated to commemorate those of all conflicts and military service in Canada.

At its base is the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier. A Canadian soldier who fell at the Battle of Vimy Ridge in the Great War, his name may be unknown, but he rests in the most sacred ground of the nation.

The day before I was here, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall had been in the city, and had placed a wreath and flowers at the tomb.

Tulip Blooms In A Variety Of Locales

 After leaving the Rideau Centre in yesterday's post, I passed by Confederation Park, where tulips, many of them of the Canada 150 variety, grow among other plants in the flowerbeds.

On another day I was passing by the Civic campus of the Ottawa Hospital, and these caught my eye.

When I was finished taking the formal shots for my theme day post, I took more shots along the south side of Wellington Street, focusing on the planters with their colourful tulips, and featuring Parliament in the background.

The roadway led me to take a right, and framed this shot looking back at Parliament Hill.

Across the street is the National War Memorial. I leave off with this shot, with more from here tomorrow.

Spring Colours Upon A Retail Rooftop

One afternoon I ascended to the rooftop of the Rideau Centre mall, where a number of terraces are laid out and tulips can be found during the festival. This first view, looking east towards the University of Ottawa campus, includes structures like the imposing former courthouse at centre, now home to Arts Court, as well as the former Carleton County Gaol, now a hostel. The modern white structure behind it is the Ottawa Art Gallery.

The paths wind around skylights looking down into the mall below.

Some trees were in full blossom as I was up here. Tulips up here appear to generally be left as they are, at least in some of the beds.

These two were having lunch.

City Daily Photo Theme Day: The Road

The first day of each day is a theme day for members of City Daily Photo, and for June that theme is The Road. Take a look at how others are interpreting the theme right here.

I had pondered using Sparks Street, a pedestrian mall one block south of this street, but decided that Wellington Street as it passes through the Parliamentary district would be a better fit for the theme. I start down at the west end, at the headquarters of Library and Archives Canada, where a few days ago I walked through. This bench with two statues stands outside. The organization is the Canadian equivalent of the Library of Congress, for my American readers. In the background: tulips, in keeping with my current series on the Tulip Festival.

Tulips can also be found in large planters along the street. Coming off the Library property and looking east, the view of the street includes two of the Parliament blocks- Justice and Confederation- on the left, and St. Andrew's and the East Memorial Building on the right.

Between Library and Archives and Parliament is the Supreme Court, seen in the background here, with a bed of tulips in the foreground.

Continuing eastward: St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, which stands across from the Court.

And the Court itself.

This view across the street takes in the original Bank of Canada building, partially submerged in the modern Bank of Canada headquarters. Beyond it in the background to left is the Wellington Building, a government office building. And the pyramid structure between them is part of the rooftop terrace of the Bank of Canada Museum. Some of you may remember my taking you on a tour there before. 

Carrying on past the aforementioned Justice and Confederation Blocks takes us to an entry point for the three main Parliament Blocks. The West Block dominates this shot.

Turning across the street from this point gives us the north facade of the Wellington Building.

Close by that is the Sir John A. Macdonald Building, a government reception centre that makes use of the grandeur of the former main branch of the Bank of Montreal, along with a modern annex.

A little further east along Wellington. The building in the distance at left is the only Parliamentary block on the south side of the street, housing the offices of the Prime Minister. The building at centre is the former American embassy, now a work in progress. It is the future home of a national indigenous centre, with flags on top including First Nations, Inuit, and Metis colours.

Directly across from it: Centre Block, currently under rehabilitation work.

And my last shot, from the south side of the street, includes East Block and the Chateau Laurier hotel in the distance, with tulips in the foreground.