Dreaming of Tulips

Outdoors spring-like temperatures have come early with day time highs over freezing. The landscape is dirty. As snow melts the residue of winter filth is concentrated leaving a black coating over what is left of the snow. Sidewalks still have the gravel and sand that was spread to prevent falls on ice. I dream of tulips.

On my last trip to the market, I picked up a bunch. Indoors, at least, I enjoy hints of spring. I do like winter - when there is actual winter weather - cold, fresh snow, and a blazing blue sky. But grey is just that - grey skies, grey on the snow, a leaching of brightness from everything around.

These flowers make me slow down, to stop and take in each detail, to enjoy their transience. This year, I have vowed, there will be a succession of tulips to chase away the greys and enjoy the coming of spring.

Ottawa's Tulip Festival

Photos: May 22, 2016 - One Rogue Tulip

The tulip display stems from the World War II. It was Canadian troops that liberated the Netherlands. In addition, Queen Juliana and her daughters spent part of the war in Canada. In fact, her youngest daughter was bort at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. The maternity ward was temporarily made part of international territory so that her baby would not be born as a Canadian, but would only get its citizenship from its mother - thus be born solely Dutch. In gratitude for their Canadian stay, the queen sent the first of an annual shipment of tulips to Ottawa.

It is impressive to see the big swathes of tulips in large beds.

You can see every variety of tulip from this hairy looking one...



to these double tulips that looks almost like roses.

The tulips, combined with the lilacs and many flowering trees makes for quite a spectacle.

Spring in Ottawa

Photos: May 21, 2016

Each year Ottawa plants over a million tulips. Large beds can be seen in many parts of the city. These red and white tulips were bred for Canada's 150th birthday which will take place next year (July 1, 2017).



Last weekends colder than average temperatures have been followed by this weekend's above average temperatures. Spring is in overdrive with everything that can bloom racing to open.



I had to add a photo of the Peace Tower - to prove that these really are photos from Ottawa. Slightly camouflaged by the trees is a crane. Every building on Parliament Hill seems to be undergoing repairs and renovatiosn - cranes and scaffolding are ubiquitous.

Tulips

Photos: April 2, 2016

As far as I'm concerned you can never have too many flowers or take too many photographs of flowers. I picked up a large bunch of tulips on Tuesday and they are lasting nicely. Half are in my living room and half in my office. As spring slowly creeps in outdoors, (a polar vortex is bringing back a few days of winter temperatures), I can enjoy an indoor spring.

Enticing Insects

Enticing Insects, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

I'm always fascinated by the inside of flowers, their incredible intricacy. This landing pad for insects sure gives clear directions. Spring has slowed down here.

Most days these tulips have stayed closed, holding in the warmth against the cooler temperatures. It is amazing how flowers adapt.

City Tulips

City Tulips, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Photo: May 24, 2011
Our previous mayor had been head of our Botanical Gardens. While he had other shortcomings, he did help beautify the city. There are many flower beds on the medians of roads sporting tulips. In other places, large tubs of flowers are deposited in late spring so that flowers become part of a more concrete landscape.

I managed to snap this photo while stopped at a red light. With our cold, rainy May, the tulips are hanging around.

May 21/10: Time's Up

May 22/10: Time's Up, originally uploaded by susanvg.

There is beauty even in the end of a flower's time to bloom. These tulips, ready to shed their petals, have created interesting sculptures. Our society worships the beauty of youth, but an older person's face carries the beauty of a life well-lived - the story is etched on the skin. I do not understand those who have plastic surgery to erase these tales - the years of laughter and of sorrow. Some faces become almost expressionless. I have earned whatever tracks and sags my age has wrought. I plan to age with a flourish come what may just as these tulips have.

May 4/10: Thieves

May 4/10: Thieves, originally uploaded by susanvg.

This photograph looks like it's about tulips but actually it is about the tulips that are not there. You may notice that two have been decapitated. There are thieves in the neighbourhood. I saw one from my bedroom window. It cut off the bloom and went off with it.

I used to puzzle over this. I knew these thieves were squirrels and was always angry that the petals of the flower would be strewn around as if the squirrel vandalized my garden, decided it wasn't to its liking and left the evidence to taunt me. Today I saw that it ate the heart of the flower (usually only the red tulips), leaving the petals. I am a little more forgiving as I see the damage, knowing some of it went to nourishment.

May 1/10: Welcome Home

May 1/10: Welcome Home, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Much to learn about photography. I am trying to understand how to use my camera on manual - I set the f stop and shutter speed for this (and many others) in an attempt to see what the different settings provide for me. I'm going to have to keep a notebook and mark everything down, so I really understand what is happening. Right now I'm working with my Canon PowerShot, but am working towards growing my knowledge, so when I buy my DSLR camera I won't by completely stymied.

The path this photography has led me down .....

Apr 27/10: April Snow

Apr 27/10: April Snow, originally uploaded by susanvg.

It came
heavy wet snow
blanketing
weighing down the flowers
It coated the trees
with their newly opened leaves
Then trees
dropped the snow
on what was below
in plops of wet snowballs
Spring storm
a damp reminder
that weather too
has its mood swings

Apr 12/10 Coming Soon

Apr 12/10 Coming Soon, originally uploaded by susanvg.

In this all too early spring, the tulips are poking their heads through the leaves. And my garden has a northern exposure with growth slower than the sunnier side. I have seen tulips that are open wide. Our temperatures are back down to about seasonal which means possibilities of frost. The hardy tulips will survive, but the delicate blossoms that are emerging too soon may not. Climate change has its challenges.

March 21/10: Spring

March 21/10: Spring, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Tulips are incredibly hardy. I moved into my home almost 25 years ago. I never planted tulips in the back but a few come up year after year. Our unseasonal March weather has left and snow is falling today. It won't last, but it will slow the growth of these flowers. When the weather changes, they bide their time until they feel warmth again.

Day 112: Spring Forth

Day 112: Spring Forth, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Two days of rain have really greened up the city. The grass has taken on its verdant hue. Bushes show signs of leaves. Each day brings new discoveries. My tulips seem to grow before my eyes. In Montreal, spring, once primed, goes into fast forward.

Now I watch the squirrels carefully. So often, just as these tulips are about to open, I find headless stems and petals scattered around. Moth balls in the garden, cayenne pepper, I've tried it all to no avail. It makes each tulip that manages to open, despite the squirrels' midnight raids, that much more precious.

Day 98: An Indoor Garden

Day 98: An Indoor Garden, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Nature is a tease this time of year. On warmer sunny days, the brave crocuses open up. As soon as the temperature goes down they fold their petals and huddle to stay warm. We have had a few of those cold days, so, though there are many signs of growth, with shoots coming out of the ground, there is little colour. In some places the grass is showing signs of green, but mostly there is a monochrome look to the landscape.

My trip to the market yielded a garden of tulips for inside my house. I need that burst of colour. It puts a smile on my face each time I stop and look.