Tulips blooming early in Ottawa thanks to ideal weather
April showers have brought May flowers — tulips, and plenty of them, are popping up across the national capital region. Ideal weather and a warm winter seems to have some of the buds blossoming earlier than usual and more than a week ahead of one of the city's premiere events.
As tulips burst across Commissioners Park, residents like Hannah Willmann are immersed in the picturesque beauty of spring.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
"It's vibrant, lively, the colours are everywhere," she says, while strolling along the many flower beds facing Dow's Lake "I love coming in the early morning when there's fewer crowds and when the morning light kind of highlights the flowers a bit more but I think they're gorgeous anytime."
This year, many tulips around the region seem to have made an early appearance and it's because of the temperature. It's perfect for growing but maybe not so much for one of Ottawa's largest events, the Canadian Tulip Festival.
So might these tulips, a beautiful token of gratitude from the Dutch for Canada's role in liberating the Netherlands during World War II, be at risk of wilting away before Tulipfest's May 10 start?
"If our temperatures stay low, they could be here for three to five weeks but if the temperatures get warm, you might really want to get outside and see them," says Jason Vodden, professor and technician of horticulture programs with Algonquin College. "If the temperatures had gotten warm, we could've expected to see them for as little as one week. I suspect that they might be opening this week. I would get out and see them, but I also think that for Tulipfest they are going to be right on time."
Each year, the National Capital Commission plants more than one million tulips bulbs across the region and to ensure a colourful bouquet remains in its flower beds, gardeners use a variety of species which bloom early, mid-season and late.
"The only difference with the blooms this year is because we didn't get a really cold winter. The stems are going to be a little bit shorter," says Jo Riding, Tulip Festival executive director. "But of course, people are not coming to look at stems. They're coming to look at the flowers."
On the Tulipfest opening weekend, the ByWard Market will launch its outdoor public market season, along with a Mother's Day flower market.
There will be a plethora of events happening across the city including free movies, sound of light experiences and tributes to the Royal Canadian Air Force.
The 72nd edition of the Canadian Tulip Festival runs from May 10 to 20.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More Canadians only making minimum payment on credit cards: TransUnion
Some Canadians are seeing their credit card balances grow as the cost-of-living crisis and higher interest rates eat into household budgets, a new report shows.
Tornado touches down west of the Island of Montreal
Emergency services in the town of Rigaud, Que. are investigating after a tornado touched down shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Friday.
Teen was doing homework at family's Mississauga, Ont. restaurant when gunman opened fire: testimony
The 13-year-old sister of a young man killed in the attack on her family’s Mississauga restaurant in 2021 took the stand in a Brampton courthouse on Monday to describe the terrifying moments of coming under fire.
Tanks reach Rafah's centre as Israel presses assault despite global scrutiny
Israeli tanks reached the centre of Rafah for the first time on Tuesday, witnesses said, three weeks into a ground operation in the southern Gaza city that has sparked global condemnation.
What a CBSA strike could look like, according to an expert
Slowed or interrupted travel, the passing of goods and significantly restricted borders should be expected if Canadian border workers take upcoming strike action.
Arm of mummy came off after mishandling by museum staff: Mexican government
Mexico's federal archaeology agency on Monday accused the conservative-governed city of Guanajuato of mistreating one of the country’s famous mummified 19th century bodies.
Five of Ontario's top 10 worst roads are located in the Toronto area
A new pothole-riddled street in Hamilton has taken the top spot for the worst road in Ontario, according to a new list released by the Canadian Automotive Association (CAA) on Tuesday.
DEVELOPING In Trump's hush money trial, prosecutors and defence lawyers are poised to make final pitch to jury
Prosecutors and defence lawyers in Donald Trump's hush money trial are set to deliver closing arguments to the jury Tuesday, each side looking to score final points with the panel before it starts deliberating the fate of the first former American president to be charged with felony crimes.
Red Lobster in Ontario court to discuss U.S. bankruptcy case, Canadian assets: docs
A lawyer for Red Lobster Canada, Inc. says he will ask an Ontario court today to recognize and enforce the chain’s U.S. bankruptcy protection proceedings, a process which documents show could include selling Canadian assets.