Ottawa is home to The Canadian Tulip festival, a major cultural event held annually. In 1945, the Dutch royal family sent 100,000 tulip bulbs to Ottawa as thanks for having housed their princess Juliana and her daughters for the past three years during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands during the Second World War. In fact in 1943, Princess Margriet was born to Princess Juliana at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. The maternity ward was declared to officially be a temporary part of the Netherlands, so that the birth
could claim to have been on Dutch territory. In 1946, Juliana sent another 20,500 bulbs requesting that a display be created for the hospital, and promised to send 10,000 more bulbs each year.
In 1953, the display of tulips was formalized into the "Canadian Tulip Festival". Queen Juliana returned to celebrate the festival in 1967, and Princess Margriet returned in 1995 to participate in the festival on the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Holland. Although tulips are displayed throughout the city, the most prominent display is in Dow's Lake, at the foot of the Rideau Canal. In addition to the tulip displays, the festival hosts music concerts as well as painting and craft exhibits. The 1972 festival saw Liberace give an opening concert, and at the 1987 festival, singer Alanis Morissette made her first appearance at the age of 12.
Flower Delivery in Ottawa
There’s no doubt that Tulips are the flowers of choice amongst residents of Ottawa. However, other flowers like Roses, Carnations, Lilies and Orchids too are used for different occasions. Some of the popular local florists and flower shops in Ottawa are-:
Ottawa Blooms-: Nestled in the heart of downtown Ottawa; they are a family owned and operated flower shop. Flowers have been in the family for over 20 years. They offer the finest floral arrangements and gifts with careful attention to service and details. Their mission is simple: to supply the best floral quality and service throughout the Ottawa area. They are located at Fairmont Avenue.
Alta Vista Flowers-: Alta Vista Flowers has been serving brides and grooms for over 40 years. The family owned business and their designs and special attention to their clients have made them an award-winning florist. They have been serving the Ottawa are for over 40 years now and have garnered a solid reputation for themselves. They are located on Bank Street, Ottawa.