By Linda Erskine

There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Ottawa is THE Tulip Capital of North America. With millions of tulips in bloom at one time for two to three weeks in May, the beds and gardens gracing Ottawa’s parliamentary buildings, public parks and stops along the “tulip route,” contest to our capital’s moniker.

     The tulip has been epitomized in song, dance, literature and art as a symbol of spring, of renewal, and of friendship. The history goes way back, says Michel Gauthier, executive director of the Canadian Tulip Festival, reminding us that the festival itself will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2001. Established as a celebration of friendship after Holland had donated 100,000 tulips to Ottawa as a thank-you for offering support and sanctuary to the Netherlands’ royal family and for Canada’s role in the liberation of the Netherlands, the Canadian Tulip Festival has since evolved into two-week tribute in May, celebrating its many global ties.

     Today, Ottawa plays host to between three to five million tulips (the National Capital Commission alone plants approximately 500,000 each fall), stretching across the city of Ottawa, gracing the beautifully maintained gardens at Major’s Hill Park, behind the Chateau Laurier, on Parliament Hill, and in raised container beds outside of the Rideau Centre, as well as at the 20 stops on the “tulip route” throughout Ottawa. These tulip stops are chosen at planting time each fall, and can include both public gardens as well as beds created and maintained by Ottawa-area businesses. In 2000, the Canadian Tulip Festival tipped its hat to England, with an array of beautifully designed gardens, art exhibits and events that celebrated England’s contributions to the tulip culture. One of these contributions can be seen each year in an annual horticultural event, the Spalding Flower Parade sees the creation of beautiful horticultural floats, decorated expertly with individual tulips. Delegates from the Spalding organization and the businesses that supply the parade with the tulips (and the manpower to decorate the floats) were invited to Ottawa to join in the celebration and promote their parade. “It’s amazing the number of ties tulips have to our sister countries,” confirms Gauthier, noting that past festivals included tributes to Turkey, the birthplace of the tulip, and of course, Holland. Gauthier, described by some with the festival as the visionary behind its evolution, has many grand ideas and sees the festival evolving into an international horticultural event, one that transcends all boundaries. “We went from a simple festival celebrating friendship between Holland and Canada, to a more folksy arena in which local acts and talents took centre stage,” says Gauthier of the craft vendors, beer gardens and nightly entertainment that has been a mainstay of the festival for years. “It was time to look for another connection to the community, to Canada and the world, and it seemed to make sense to bring the festival up to a new level, and bring in the gardening element that is such a positive pastime now.” Gauthier continues: “With so many businesses in the Ottawa-Hull area in the horticulture and floriculture industries, and with the obvious tie-in to the tulip, it just seems natural to bill the festival as a major horticultural happening.”

     The die-hard fans of the outdoor concert can relax, however, as Gauthier sees an integration of sorts. “We will continue to have the outdoor concerts and other events. Our residents love this type of venue, and I can’t see us doing away with that, but as the tulip capital of North America, we can open up Ottawa as the stage for horticulture. We have to dress up the city, and I see that as a role for the professionals.”

     Linda Thorne, vice president of the Canadian Tulip Festival, chair of the Horticultural Committee and owner of a horticulturally related Ottawa business, is excited about this connection, and has seen firsthand the effects such a partnership can have. This year, with the tribute to England, it was Thorne’s responsibility to organize the gardens at Major Hill’s Park to recognize the contributions that have come out of England, in particular the world-renowned Chelsea Flower Show. The horticultural committee, led by Thorne, is responsible for overseeing the creation of the gardens, and in ensuring each meets the criteria set to establish the theme. “We approach the individual businesses with the ideas,” says Thorne, admitting that they have a stable of businesses they will approach, but says she looks forward to more participation from area businesses. As for the Chelsea Flower Show garden, “we had originally approached the organizers of the flower show to create the garden here. But, because of time constraints, we went with the next best idea — approaching a local designer, Eileen Chivers, and Turf’s Up Landscaping and Property Maintenance to create a Chelsea-inspired garden.”

     This year’s selection of gardens includes tributes from the Montreal Botanic Garden, the Casino de Hull and an Art in the Park exhibit, in which artists were invited to create floral sculptures inspired by a particular piece of art.

     In 2002, the Festival will depart from its “tribute” format and will instead celebrate the festival’s 50th birthday, running over the course of three weeks instead of two (May 3 to May 20, 2002). Its goal, says Gauthier, is to bring the tulip to the forefront, challenging all Ottawa residents and businesses to plant tulips on every street corner in Ottawa. “It’s a two million tulip challenge,” says Gauthier. As such, the festival will market a “50th Anniversary” tulip box, containing 50 bulbs that residents can plant in their garden, just in time for fall planting. “Residents will be asked to send back a registration form to say they planted tulips for the anniversary, so we can map out the streets on which these tulips are planted,” he explains. While firm details have yet to be ironed out, Gauthier is optimistic and looks forward to making lasting partnerships with local horti­cultural businesses and associations. Gauthier’s enthusiasm is catching, however, and it won’t be long before Ottawa sets the world stage for tulip mania.

Imitating Chelsea
What better way to pay tribute to England and horticulture than to recognize what is perhaps the most world-renowned flower and garden show, The Chelsea Flower Show? This is what Eileen Chivers set out to do with the design of a 15 ft. x 15 ft. garden in Major’s Hill Park.

     The project, led by Eileen Chivers, designer, and Richard Bown of Turf’s Up Landscaping, took the traditional feel of the show and created something reminiscent yet original, with the use of ornamental concrete and natural stone, beautiful white tulips, and a touch of pomp and circumstance with purple-centred pansies. Mirrored obelisks and gazing balls offered more drama and a unique second view of the garden, opening it up to appear larger and yet “mirroring” the shapes of the buildings surrounding the park.

     “The white tulips were quite by accident,” admits Chivers, who was shocked to discover upon planting that the anticipated purple tulips were indeed white. “It worked out for the best,” says Chivers. “The garden is more translucent and shimmering at night this way, and we could incorporate the purple elsewhere.”

     Mirrored tiles set inside the diamond-like design helps to refract the light and makes for many interesting angles from which to view the garden.

Stops on the Tulip Route

1. Dows Lake Pavilion
2. Commissioners Park
3. Lansdowne Park
4. Canadian Museum of Nature
5. Festival Plaza – Ottawa City Hall
6. National Arts Centre
7. Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography
8. Rideau Centre
9. Downtown Rideau
10. ByWard Market
11. Major’s Hill Park
12. National Gallery of Canada
13. Canadian War Museum
14. Royal Canadian Mint
15. Capital Infocentre
16. Victoria Island – Aboriginal Experiences
17. Canadian Museum of Civilization
18. Maison du Citoyen à Hull
19. Écomusée de Hull
20. Casino de Hull