Latest news with #JoRiding
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
3 tips to achieve tulip bliss — without the stress — this long weekend
Tulip admirers, assemble! But maybe not all at the same time, OK? This long weekend caps off the annual Canadian Tulip Festival at Commissioners Park in Ottawa. It's a beautiful space, resplendent in the bloom of variously coloured tulips — and a symbol of the enduring friendship between Canada and the Netherlands. The 2025 edition has some cool new features like the Big Bug Boardwalk along Dows Lake. Over 2,000 tulips are lit up with UV lights and surrounded by giant bugs. "You feel like you're shrunk down and you can see the pollen glow the way bees and butterflies see them," said the festival's executive director Jo Riding. But the festival area can get crowded, and this weekend is a holiday. To make the most of the occasion, without the stress, go to the park early if you can. If that's not possible, consider the following three tips. Take the O-Train Parking near Commissioners Park is "very limited," according to the festival's website. While Carleton University's P7 lot offers spots at a daily flat rate of $12 and is only an eight-minute walk to the park, you might consider hopping aboard OC Transpo's Line 2 instead. It practically deposits you right at the park. Dow's Lake station is the second stop after departing Line 2's northern terminus at Bayview. Dow's Lake station is located just north of Carling Avenue, a straight diagonal line to the park. Just ascend the steps at Dow's Lake station, cross Carling and then Preston Street, and you're in tulip heaven — two minutes faster than if you'd walked from Carleton, according to Google Maps. You can always go downtown This tip might sound counter-intuitive. After all, Commissioners Park is where it's at, right? But if the park is too crowded, you could do worse than hopping back on the LRT. Transfer to Line 1 Bayview, head east to Lyon station and explore the many other tulip patches along Wellington Street. The bright flowers abound between Library and Archives Canada and the Supreme Court, to name but one spot. You could walk the pathway behind Parliament and picnic at Major's Hill Park, which boasts its own healthy helping of tulips (and is a good people- and dog-watching spot to boot). Sure, there's no interactive walking tour like at Commissioners Park. But your step-counting app will thank you. Escape to the country Feeling adventurous? Hit the road. An Ottawa couple whose "u-pick" tulip crop was badly damaged by a fungal growth has relocated this year to their nephew's farm. Manja Bastian and Allan Groen of Green Corners Farm have planted 300,000 tulips at 640 North Russell Rd. in Russell, Ont., about 35 kilometres southeast of downtown Ottawa. Losing half a million flowers last year was "emotionally wrenching," Groen recently told In Town and Out host Giacomo Panico. Seeing people stream back this year has hit a different note. "It's something that makes it all worthwhile for us," he said.
CBC
16-05-2025
- CBC
3 tips to achieve tulip bliss — without the stress — this long weekend
Social Sharing Tulip admirers, assemble! But maybe not all at the same time, OK? This long weekend caps off the annual Canadian Tulip Festival at Commissioners Park in Ottawa. It's a beautiful space, resplendent in the bloom of variously coloured tulips — and a symbol of the enduring friendship between Canada and the Netherlands. The 2025 edition has some cool new features like the Big Bug Boardwalk along Dows Lake. Over 2,000 tulips are lit up with UV lights and surrounded by giant bugs. "You feel like you're shrunk down and you can see the pollen glow the way bees and butterflies see them," said the festival's executive director Jo Riding. But the festival area can get crowded, and this weekend is a holiday. To make the most of the occasion, without the stress, go to the park early if you can. If that's not possible, consider the following three tips. Take the O-Train Parking near Commissioners Park is "very limited," according to the festival's website. While Carleton University's P7 lot offers spots at a daily flat rate of $12 and is only an eight-minute walk to the park, you might consider hopping aboard OC Transpo's Line 2 instead. It practically deposits you right at the park. Dow's Lake station is the second stop after departing Line 2's northern terminus at Bayview. Dow's Lake station is located just north of Carling Avenue, a straight diagonal line to the park. Just ascend the steps at Dow's Lake station, cross Carling and then Preston Street, and you're in tulip heaven — two minutes faster than if you'd walked from Carleton, according to Google Maps. You can always go downtown This tip might sound counter-intuitive. After all, Commissioners Park is where it's at, right? But if the park is too crowded, you could do worse than hopping back on the LRT. Transfer to Line 1 Bayview, head east to Lyon station and explore the many other tulip patches along Wellington Street. The bright flowers abound between Library and Archives Canada and the Supreme Court, to name but one spot. You could walk the pathway behind Parliament and picnic at Major's Hill Park, which boasts its own healthy helping of tulips (and is a good people- and dog-watching spot to boot). Sure, there's no interactive walking tour like at Commissioners Park. But your step-counting app will thank you. Escape to the country Feeling adventurous? Hit the road. An Ottawa couple whose "u-pick" tulip crop was badly damaged by a fungal growth has relocated this year to their nephew's farm. U-pick-it tulip farm east of Ottawa finds new fields after devastating fungus 2 days ago Duration 2:03 Last year, Green Corners farm lost its crop to a fungus called tulip fire. Now they've rebuilt in a new location and are excited to welcome customers. Manja Bastian and Allan Groen of Green Corners Farm have planted 300,000 tulips at 640 North Russell Rd. in Russell, Ont., about 35 kilometres southeast of downtown Ottawa. Losing half a million flowers last year was "emotionally wrenching," Groen recently told In Town and Out host Giacomo Panico. Seeing people stream back this year has hit a different note. "It's something that makes it all worthwhile for us," he said.
CBC
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Tulips in the capital are in full bloom
Ottawa's Tulip Festival is in its final weekend. CBC's Natalia Goodwin spoke to the festival's Jo Riding and got a colourful glimpse of the flowers.
Vancouver Sun
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
Here's what to expect at the Canadian Tulip Festival this spring
Editor's note: Princess Margriet of the Netherlands cancelled her Canadian visit due to medical reasons on April 30 and this article was updated accordingly. Article content Article content Ottawa's Canadian Tulip Festival, which is returning for 11 days beginning May 9, will coincide this year with the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Article content Marking eight decades of liberation, the 73rd festival will have added poignancy this year, with the Canadian Army acting as host. Article content Article content The event 'honours Canada's heroic role in freeing the Netherlands during the Second World War — and the enduring bond that bloomed from it,' organizers said. Article content Article content The public is invited to the official opening ceremony on Saturday, May 10, at 10:30 a.m. at the Great Lawn, Commissioners Park. Guests can welcome veterans in a powerful tribute that includes the CAF Central Band, Canadian Remembrance Torch, army cadets and a convoy of vintage military vehicles. A moment of silence and a cannon salute will officially launch the festival. Article content Princess Margriet of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, who was born in Ottawa during the war, was set to co-host the celebration but had to cancel due to medical reasons, said Jo Riding, executive director of the Canadian Tulip Festival. Article content Article content 'We wish her highness a speedy recovery and hope she and her husband, Prof. Pieter van Vollenhoven, will both be able to join us next year instead,' Riding added. Article content There remains a robust representation from the embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, featuring the new ambassador to Canada, Margriet Vonno, who will carry a message from Princess Margriet. Further, Dutch Days, planned at the embassy's pavilion in the heart of Commissioners Park, will include almost daily games and concerts. Article content Article content
Calgary Herald
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Here's what to expect at the Canadian Tulip Festival this spring
Editor's note: Princess Margriet of the Netherlands cancelled her Canadian visit due to medical reasons on April 30 and this article was updated accordingly. Article content Article content Ottawa's Canadian Tulip Festival, which is returning for 11 days beginning May 9, will coincide this year with the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Article content Marking eight decades of liberation, the 73rd festival will have added poignancy this year, with the Canadian Army acting as host. Article content Article content The event 'honours Canada's heroic role in freeing the Netherlands during the Second World War — and the enduring bond that bloomed from it,' organizers said. Article content Article content The public is invited to the official opening ceremony on Saturday, May 10, at 10:30 a.m. at the Great Lawn, Commissioners Park. Guests can welcome veterans in a powerful tribute that includes the CAF Central Band, Canadian Remembrance Torch, army cadets and a convoy of vintage military vehicles. A moment of silence and a cannon salute will officially launch the festival. Article content Princess Margriet of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, who was born in Ottawa during the war, was set to co-host the celebration but had to cancel due to medical reasons, said Jo Riding, executive director of the Canadian Tulip Festival. Article content Article content 'We wish her highness a speedy recovery and hope she and her husband, Prof. Pieter van Vollenhoven, will both be able to join us next year instead,' Riding added. Article content There remains a robust representation from the embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, featuring the new ambassador to Canada, Margriet Vonno, who will carry a message from Princess Margriet. Further, Dutch Days, planned at the embassy's pavilion in the heart of Commissioners Park, will include almost daily games and concerts. Article content Article content
