The Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa. Amazing!

It is hard to describe the beauty that unfolded in front of us as we walked. Where did all these tulips come from? It staggers your imagination to see only a tiny bit of the color of the display spread before us. We were at the Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa. Amazing!

In an expert from a book entitled “A Bloom of Friendship: The Story of the Canadian Tulip” Festival the words read…
The Canadian Tulip Festival, the largest in the world, is celebrated every year in Ottawa. Visitors come from around the globe to see more than three million tulips paint a kaleidoscope of colour on the Capital’s grounds. The beauty of the floral gift that began in 1945 is a reminder of the safe haven we provided so long ago and a tribute to the thousands of Canadians who fought and died during the dreadful months of conflict that gave way to the liberation of Holland.

This magnificent display originated with a horrible time to confusion and terror – when many people lost their lives so that the country of Holland could be free.

Further to the story I offer the following words…
It all had its origin 60 years ago. Throughout World War II, Canada sheltered the displaced Dutch royal family in Ottawa. (One of the royal princesses was even born in a hospital room that was officially made part of Holland for the occasion). The ties between the two countries were strengthened when the Canadian Army liberated Holland. In appreciation the Dutch royal family presented Ottawa with 100,000 tulips, and have added thousands more annually ever since.

I come from Saskatchewan originally. My earliest recollection of anything that might look like a Tulip was a Prairie Crocus… that was always the first flower to appear after the snow left us(sometimes even before)… and then didn’t bloom again until the next spring. Tulips might have arrived in my home area during my boyhood days – but I cannot remember.

So the display that we walked through is simply awesome taking my breath away.

Today I offer you a small glimpse of what we witnessed yesterday. I hope you enjoy the visuals. This is a small taste of Creation at its best!!!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Source:
http://www.umanitoba.ca/cm/vol12/no10/abloomoffriendship.html

http://books.google.ca/books?id=mlnfrk__w5sC&dq=the+story+behind+the+Canadian+Tulip+Festival&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=y2GXzZNll7&sig=2nMxy6B0KZ9wRy_7nGl5l--MRLI&hl=en#PPT7,M1