Return To Commissioners Park

 I mentioned that I would return to Commissioners Park to close out this series on the Tulip Festival. And so today we begin that. On Victoria Day in May, I returned, starting this visit across from the park at the grounds of the naval reserve station HMCS Carleton, glimpsed through the trees. Tulips in the foreground were present, though a bit past their prime, days after my previous visit.

I headed over to the park.

The Blossoms Of An Ottawa Spring

 Another take with where I left off yesterday. Centre Block is directly ahead in the distance, with the bulk of East Block at right. At left on this side of the street is another Parliamentary block, but one that has the distinction of being the only such block not on Parliament Hill itself, as that is deemed to start on the far side of the street. This block houses offices for the prime minister and his staff.

A different perspective includes East Block and the Chateau Laurier.

I moved along, with West Block now part of the picture.

The work on Centre Block is continuing for several years. I stopped in during Doors Open.

The highest ground on the Hill is home to two of the monuments. This first one is dedicated to Queen Victoria, and features tulips at its base.

The other is one of our greatest prime ministers, Lester Pearson, sitting down and approachable. Notice the gleam on his shoe- lots of people touch that.

Very close by, this view out over the Ottawa River. The Supreme Court, in the distance at left, is out beyond the Confederation and Justice Blocks of the Hill.

Departing, I found tulips in planters on Sparks Street.

And my last stop, Confederation Park, where beneath tree blossoms, some tulips were found in the shade.

Landmarks Of Confederation Square

 Back into my series on the Tulip Festival. After leaving Major's Hill Park, I passed by the Chateau Laurier, where tulips and lilacs were showing off.

This portion of the building frames a view of the Parliament Buildings.

I went into Confederation Square, the very heart of the city, and in many ways the country. Its central point is the National War Memorial, dedicated in memory of those who fought and died in Canadian wars and in other military duties. The Memorial is surrounded by landmarks like the Chateau Laurier, Parliament Hill, The Chambers, the National Arts Centre, and the Government Conference Center. In May, tulips are to be found surrounding it.

After the winter, military sentries are positioned in front of it in daytime, overlooking the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

I crossed the street. My next destination was Parliament Hill itself.

City Daily Photo Theme Day: Bubbles

The first day of each month is a theme day for members of City Daily Photo, and for July, that theme is Bubbles. Check out how others are interpreting the theme right here.

 

My first shots were taken in early May. By chance I was at Lansdowne Park, where the children's festival was taking place. There was someone using these two long prongs to send bubbles into the air. Many, many bubbles.

I try not to photograph kids, but sometimes it can't be helped. Besides, most of them were looking away, and the only one looking in my general direction had his face obscured by a bubble or two.

The bubbles were even floating in the direction of the North Stands, and surprisingly still visible on camera.

A related term for bubbles is froth or foam, and it is in this that waterfalls apply. These shots were taken in the first half of May at the Chaudiere Falls on the Ottawa River. These falls are upstream of Parliament Hill, and contain a lot of power as they drop fifteen metres along the full length.

Taken later in May, this is also the Ottawa River, seen from Parliament Hill, where the river still runs swiftly downstream from the Chaudiere Falls before calming down in the wide section below the Hill. The line of white water is an island that gets covered over by water during spring run off before receding.

I took these in the first half of June. I paid a visit to the Rideau Falls, where the Rideau River drops into the Ottawa River in two channels. This is the east branch. 

Passing over the falls on the bridge, I noticed bubbles in the water. The water is very shallow here, but you wouldn't want to walk in it. It's an eleven metre drop. I'll have more from here down the line.

On another matter, this was taken before the weekend in an office building downtown. Happy Canada Day!