Two years ago we were fortunate enough to go to Amsterdam. The one thing we missed - that I really
wanted to see was the tulips (the troll convention was a higher priority). Ever since then I
have had a huge hankerin' to see massive quantities of tulips in one place. When I discovered that
Ottawa has an annual Tulip Festival - I knew we were going to check it out. So, last weekend we took
Gibby and drove over there. We were told that it’s about a two hour drive. Apparently it is longer when you drive the speed limit.
The tulips did not disappoint!
We saw so many different colours. Purple ones with white stripes, white
ones with purple stripes, red ones with white tips, and on and on and on. They were absolutely stunning. I highly recommend it. We wandered around the outside of the Parliament building, saw the Rideau Canal and the locks, the Royal Alexandra Interprovincial Bridge that connects Quebec, and browsed the shops in the Byward Market.
Interesting history of the Tulip Festival
In 1945, the Dutch royal family sent 100,000 tulip bulbs to Ottawa in gratitude for Canadians having sheltered the future Queen Juliana and her family for the preceding three years during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in the Second World War.
The most noteworthy event during their time in Canada was the birth in 1943 of Princess Margriet at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. The maternity ward was temporarily declared to be extraterritorial by the Canadian government, thereby allowing Princess Margriet's citizenship to be solely influenced by her mother's Dutch citizenship. In 1946, Juliana sent another 20,500 bulbs requesting that a display be created for the hospital, and promised to send 10,000 more bulbs each year.
We saw paintings by the festival’s featured artist Monique Martin
and we went to the National Gallery and saw a wonderful Impressionist exhibit and a First Nation's Inuit exhibit.
Another free festival is called the Monkland Porchfest (or Balcon Fete). All around the neighbourhood, at least 20 different locations, musicians set up their instruments and play on their front porches. Every hour is a new group of musicians, (112 in all) playing for free - or accepting donations that are distributed to various charitable organizations. We rode our bikes to several different locations - and even ran into some friends we know. That really makes it start to feel even more like home when we randomly see people we know on the street! My favorite band was called Les Flaneurs - (loosely translated as The Idlers). They were anything but idle, IMHO. They were a lively cajun music band, with all the lyrics sung in French, of course. I didn't understand a word of it but I had a blast!
Free flowers? Yes! For real! Flowers are provided to people in the neighborhood once a year, at the beginning of spring. I walked 3 blocks over to the closest parc and was treated to 12 begonias and 12 viola cornutas (a type of violet). A slight drizzling rain, off and on, did not deter many folks (myself included) from standing on line for something free. They also gave out mulch and compost, but I passed on those. Now I just need some pots to plant them all in.
Another interesting side note... I met a woman in line who used to work at the Ottawa hospital mentioned above . She said that when there were big royal events in Amsterdam they would hand out biscuits to the staff and take a moment to celebrate. I think that is really cool!
Free flowers are good for me since I do not have much of a green thumb when it comes to potted plants (as David and Ami can attest to). I am hoping that with the spare time I now have - I can keep these little gems alive and thriving. Wish me luck!
Garden update: Here is the first bounty from my collective garden. From left to right - mint (that David can use in his tea), rhubarb (not sure what to do with 2 pieces), oregano, chives, and lettuce. The lettuce and chives went into last night's salad. And oregano... I guess I'll have to make something Italian.
I hope you are all enjoying Spring time as much as we are!
wanted to see was the tulips (the troll convention was a higher priority). Ever since then I
have had a huge hankerin' to see massive quantities of tulips in one place. When I discovered that
Ottawa has an annual Tulip Festival - I knew we were going to check it out. So, last weekend we took
Gibby and drove over there. We were told that it’s about a two hour drive. Apparently it is longer when you drive the speed limit.
The tulips did not disappoint!
ones with purple stripes, red ones with white tips, and on and on and on. They were absolutely stunning. I highly recommend it. We wandered around the outside of the Parliament building, saw the Rideau Canal and the locks, the Royal Alexandra Interprovincial Bridge that connects Quebec, and browsed the shops in the Byward Market.
In 1945, the Dutch royal family sent 100,000 tulip bulbs to Ottawa in gratitude for Canadians having sheltered the future Queen Juliana and her family for the preceding three years during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in the Second World War.
The most noteworthy event during their time in Canada was the birth in 1943 of Princess Margriet at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. The maternity ward was temporarily declared to be extraterritorial by the Canadian government, thereby allowing Princess Margriet's citizenship to be solely influenced by her mother's Dutch citizenship. In 1946, Juliana sent another 20,500 bulbs requesting that a display be created for the hospital, and promised to send 10,000 more bulbs each year.
We saw paintings by the festival’s featured artist Monique Martin
Free flowers? Yes! For real! Flowers are provided to people in the neighborhood once a year, at the beginning of spring. I walked 3 blocks over to the closest parc and was treated to 12 begonias and 12 viola cornutas (a type of violet). A slight drizzling rain, off and on, did not deter many folks (myself included) from standing on line for something free. They also gave out mulch and compost, but I passed on those. Now I just need some pots to plant them all in.
Another interesting side note... I met a woman in line who used to work at the Ottawa hospital mentioned above . She said that when there were big royal events in Amsterdam they would hand out biscuits to the staff and take a moment to celebrate. I think that is really cool!
Free flowers are good for me since I do not have much of a green thumb when it comes to potted plants (as David and Ami can attest to). I am hoping that with the spare time I now have - I can keep these little gems alive and thriving. Wish me luck!
Garden update: Here is the first bounty from my collective garden. From left to right - mint (that David can use in his tea), rhubarb (not sure what to do with 2 pieces), oregano, chives, and lettuce. The lettuce and chives went into last night's salad. And oregano... I guess I'll have to make something Italian.
I hope you are all enjoying Spring time as much as we are!
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