Strolling Through the 2016 Canadian Tulip Festival

Hey Readers!

I had another magical time at this year’s Canadian Tulip Festival! Every year, I am amazed at the variety of shapes and colours this type of flower can take on. I took a sneak peek at the rows upon rows of flower beds displaying tulips and other flowers the day before the festival officially kicked off on May 12, 2016. My little guy was along for the ride, and he had a bit of a crush on these blooms as well. I know I shared my last visit with you a few years ago, but I had to share some of the gorgeous tulips in a gallery post for you as well!

 

 

First, there were the tulips that had the cup-like shape most people are accustom to seeing. Each shade I saw was beautiful. It was hard just picking a few for this post!

 

 

Then there were the multilayered tulips that I was surprised about! If I did not go to this year’s festival, I would never have known that these flowers were tulips!

 

 

Oh, these various pointed leaf tulips were so jaw-droppingly nice! They captivated all who viewed them.

 

 

My little guy was having a great time while visiting the flowers! I was smart enough to bring our wagon so he could ride in it when he grew too tired of walking through Commissioner’s Park or if he wanted to entertain visitors to the festival with his shenanigans.

 

 

There were some awesome seas of tulips! I could get lost in them if I were by myself.

 

 

Overall, I really enjoy kicking off the spring season in Ottawa by visiting the Canadian Tulip Festival at Commissioner’s Park. There are always new varieties of tulips and other flowers to see, it is a great way to get outside and enjoy the warmer spring weather and it is always a great time spend with loved ones.

 

 

The festival wraps up on Victoria Day (or Memorial Day for those of you in the US), so there is still time to pop over to the locations where this festival is being held and take in the beauty of these awesome flowers! I know I will be making another visit this weekend with my family!

 

Until my next post, Readers!

Reese

My Blooming Visits to The Canadian Tulip Festival

Hey Readers!

I have to apologize for taking so long in getting this post out to you.  It has been about a month in the making, but I felt that I should still share this experience with you.

A few weeks ago, my boyfriend/partner person and I took my kids to The Canadian Tulip Festival.  It is one of the festivals that kicks off the festival season in Ottawa, and is an celebration to the arrival of spring.  This annual festival is put together by the National Capital Commission (NCC).  I had to make two trips to this festival because some of the blooms had not opened up.  For me, it is also one of the most beautiful festivals to behold in Canada’s nation’s capital.

Why is this festival so important to Ottawa?  It is the annual celebration of the gift of tulips from the Netherlands to Canada for assisting then Princess Juliana (who later became Queen Juliana) and her family while in exile from their homeland during World War II.  Not only did Ottawa become home to this royal family while in exile, but Canada also designated the maternity ward of the Civic Hospital temporarily as extraterritorial (international territory) by the Canadian government in order for Princess Juliana  to give birth to her daughter, Princess Margriet in 1943. It was necessary for the baby to take on her mother’s Dutch nationality so that she would retain her place in the succession for the Dutch throne.

The festival began in 1953, and has since become internationally known.  People from all over the world travel to the Canada’s capital to take in the beauty and the history of this festival.

Luckily for us, The Canadian Tulip Festival is just steps away from my home.  We loaded our younger children in the wagon, and we set off each time for Commissioner’s Park by Dow’s Lake, the main area of this festival.  From when we entered the park, we were greeted by two things: bed upon bed of tulips, and tourists anxiously taking pictures of these tulips.

It took a few tries to get the pictures I wanted, but it was so much fun hopping from tulip bed to tulip bed to see all of the different types displayed at the festival.  There were 70 different types for visitors to oh and ah over.  Here are some of my favourite tulip beds on display.

 

 

Along with the tulip beds, I also took pictures of some of my favourite flowers within some of the beds.  Each year I am wowed by just how many varieties of tulips exist, and how beautiful they can be.

 

 

There was also plenty of signage at the festival.  Out of all of the signs displayed, this one had to be my favourite!  I thought it was so cute.

 

 

Besides the stars of the show, there were also statues, like the one below, dedicated to this annual event.

 

 

 

There were also exhibits, a stage tent for live music, an international tent and plenty of concession stands and trucks for visitors to the festival to visit and enjoy!

 

 

Local businesses and schools were also asked to decorate tulip statues to display at the festival.  Here are just a few of them.

 

 

There were even a few sun showers the day I went  which our visit even more memorable! I hope you can make out the raindrops in this picture.

 

 

Whether you are a local of the city or a tourist to Canada’s  nation’s capital, The Canadian Tulip Festival is a must-visit.  There is something for everyone in the family to enjoy, and the tulips displayed are enough to keep you coming back year after year.  I hope you try to stop by and see this festival some time!

Until my next post, Readers!

Reese.

<// >