Friday, May 20, 2022

Nature Friday - The History of a Tulip Festival

Thanks to Rosy for organizing this hop. 

During World War Two,  the future Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, fled to Canada. While here, she gave birth to Princess Margriet. To make sure the princess was fully Dutch, the Canadian Government  temporarily made the maternity ward at the Ottawa Civic Hospital Dutch territory. 

In 1945 to thank Canada, Queen Juliana sent 100 000 tulip bulbs, the next year she sent 20 500. Holland has been sending us 10 000 tulip bulbs ever since.

In 1953 Ottawa created the Tulip Festival and people come from far away to see the tulips. To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the war, 2 years late, Princess Margriet was in Ottawa this weekend. 

While Lady's tulips are not the beautiful beds at the festival, they have started to bloom and she is pleased with how pretty they are. As her choice to plant them was inspired by a story of friendship and thanks, this seems the perfect place to share them.




13 comments:

  1. that is such a wonderful story... we love it and we love that the tulips came to catnada... if we see tulips now we have this story in our minds...

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  2. Hari OM
    Oh my, what a wonderful piece of history (and one I don't recall ever having learned before)... Tulips cannot fail to make one smile! Hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx

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  3. I have not heard this story before, Lady's tulips are beautiful and I can imagine how beautiful the gardens must be for the festival.

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  4. A lovely story and lovely photos!

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  5. Love the story and the tulips are just beautiful!

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  6. That is truly amazing!! Wow!!
    I had no idea
    Hugs Cecilia

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  7. What an interesting.We had no idea that a maternity ward could be designated foreign territory, just like that. It opens up all sorts of interesting possibilities,don't you think?
    Oh, and Lady's tulips are very pretty too!

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  8. Wow! What a wonderful story, and the tulips are beautiful!!
    xoxo,
    Rosy, Sunny & Jakey

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  9. What an interesting story. We love your beautiful pink tulips.

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  10. How cool is that story? I had no idea about the festival's origins. Thanks for sharing that and special thanks for sharing that absolutely gorgeous pink tulip. It's exquisite!

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  11. Tulip looks so soft
    Coffee is on and stay safe

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