Canadian Tulip Festival

My home town, Ottawa, hosts an annual tulip festival which is a must-see tourist attraction and also a draw for gardeners, photographers and flower lovers. In addition to striking mass plantings throughout the city, there are special events such as this year's World Flower Council Summit. I'm getting excited about it already!

To see some photos, here's the link to last year's gallery: http://www.tulipfestival.ca/en/PhotoGallery/index.php

During WWII, Canada provided safe haven for the Dutch Royal Family here in Ottawa. In fact, Queen Juliana's daughter, Princess Margriet, was born in the Ottawa Civic Hospital (where I was born). The birthing room was temporarily declared Dutch territory! (For Princess Margriet, that is.) Canadian troops also played a major role in liberating the Netherlands. Thus was born a strong tie between our two countries.

In 1945, Queen Juliana presented a gift of 100,000 tulip bulbs to Canada, and the striking floral display led to an annual festival, where now an estimated 3 million bulbs blanket the city in bloom during the month of May. We've had an early spring this year, and some are blooming already.

I'll be carrying my camera and I'll post photos when I can. I think there are a few events with specialized showings... I'll have to explore that.

This is NOT a commercial message! Just informing you of a significant garden event.

Wow! Those gallery photos are wonderful. It looks like quite a major horticultural event and lots of fun too.

When does it take place?

Hope you get loads of great pics and post them on DG!

Yes, Please post pics!
cynthia

The Festival has started, and thanks to an early spring the beds are a riot of colour! I have some time off here and there this week so I will try to get some photos.

The festival is winding down and I didn't manage to get out with my camera. Many did, however, and here are some interesting galleries to explore at one of the local photo club's wbsite: http://www.raphotoclub.ca/Urban/Urban/index.php?gallery=Ottawa+Summer+Festivals+2006%2FTulip+Festival+2006/