Today is the opening of the Canadian Tulip Festival. As many Canadians know, the festival is a legacy celebration of the Canadian contributions to World War II, including providing refuge for Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, and her family. Princess Margriet was born in Ottawa in 1943. The tulips are a symbol of the ties we have to the Netherlands. This year 300,000 tulips are growing in gardens from Majors Hill Park to Dow's Lake, along the canal.
If you live in Ottawa, you are encouraged to plant tulips. So here are some of mine.
The Canada 150 tulips from 2017 did not come up the same colour after 2017. This is one group I have (not white and red, but yellow).
This is a second group, where you can see the maple leaves at the bottom, but the white part is yellow.
These are a rose pink, and planted more recently.
A different breed of yellow and red.
Under the tulips are some low flowers in purple and blue.
Last week, I joined some friends in a walk in Gillies Grove. It is an old growth forest near the Madawaska River. It was a lovely day for a walk.
Look at the colour of the sky! After a week of rain it was so good to be out in the sun under such blue skies.
The quilter in me was fascinated by the bark on this tree. The tree is huge, towering over me. Don't ask me what it is, it didn't have leaves yet.
When not outside in the sun, I've been knitting.
I found this bright yarn, in my stash, and I knew it would be the next yarn to be used. The first sock is finished now. Because it is two matching skeins, I am knitting a pair of baby socks and I started the first one from the end of this ball, before I get out the second ball.
Happy Mother's Day!
Your tulips are lovely, even if they aren't quite what you wanted! Are those low blue flowers violets? They have a lovely scent. Love your big trees - I recognised many of your garden flowers, but your trees don't grow here because of the difference in climate.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely tradition. It is amazing how many different varieties there are. Enjoy your lovely sunshine. xx
ReplyDeleteYour tulips are beautiful and they are so welcoming to see. The ones in Ottawa is amazing to experience and explore. Love the funky colours for the socks!
ReplyDeleteHappy Mother's Day to you too! I love tulips, but live "where the deer and the antelope play" so have trouble keeping them from being deer breakfast! I have one tiny red one up now, protected by a mesh enclosure!
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