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STOP #6 – GARDEN #333
The Beginning of the Festival at the Festival Tulip Garden
1953
In 1953 the Canadian Tulip Festival was born. Spanning over seven decades, the Festival has hosted royalty, heads of state, and honoured veterans.
It is the mission of the Canadian Tulip Legacy, a nationally registered charity, to ensure this Festival, and the Royal Dutch Gift of Tulips remains free for everyone, forever.
‘We had all these tulips and I thought they belonged to all Canadians, so I thought we should create a tulip festival.’
— Canadian Tulip Festival Founder, Malak Karsh
Our Founder, Malak Karsh
Malak Karsh, the visionary behind the Canadian Tulip Festival, immigrated to Canada from Armenia (then Turkey) in 1937. As a renowned photographer, Karsh captured the essence of Canada from coast to coast to coast, showcasing the nation’s breathtaking landscapes and cultural heritage. His profound love for his adopted country earned him numerous awards, including the prestigious Officer of the Order of Canada in 1996.
Traversing the length and breadth of Canada, Karsh meticulously documented its natural wonders and iconic landmarks, immortalizing scenes such as the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, the legendary log drivers on the Gatineau and Ottawa Rivers, and the picturesque Patterson Inlet in the Glebe. From the rugged beauty of the Canadian Arctic to the serene coastlines of Atlantic Canada, Karsh’s lens captured the diverse beauty of the nation, leaving an indelible mark on Canadian photography.
With a deep affection for Ottawa, Karsh proudly inscribed each of his photographs with the word “Ottawa,” signifying his connection to the nation’s capital. Among his many photographic endeavors, Karsh’s images of tulips, gifted by the Dutch, resonated deeply across the country, sparking widespread interest in the floral symbol of friendship.
Driven by his passion for tulips and inspired by the Dutch gift, Karsh approached the Ottawa Board of Trade with the innovative idea of a tulip festival. His tireless advocacy and unwavering commitment bore fruit in 1953 when the inaugural Canadian Tulip Festival blossomed into reality, uniting communities and celebrating the enduring bond between Canada and the Netherlands.
Timeline of the Festival
Red Pride
When you think tulip, you think Red Pride. The Red Pride triumph tulip holds the iconic tulip silhouette we all know. Associated with love and passion, this tulip makes the perfect flower for blossoming couples.
Vogue
Introducing, Vogue. Vogue is what’s known as a double tulip, unlike traditional six petal tulips a double tulip blossoms into stunning multi layered petal arrangements. Curiously the Vogue is also known to lighten in colour as it ages.
Orange Pride
Energy, strength, and zest for life, this is what comes to mind when most see the Orange Pride. The Orange Pride carries a strong flower, big leaves, and a sturdy stem. This and its ability to grow up to 50 cm tall makes the Orange Pride a tulip of true strength.
Orange Queen
This tall beauty known as the Orange Queen is well regarded for its properties as a perennial tulip, meaning it can produce many more flowers over years when given attentive care.
Yellow Pride
A popular triumph tulip, the Yellow Pride is known around the world for its illuminating colour. Yellow Pride are also strong perennial tulips that create outstanding numbers of flowers for years after the first planting.
Yellow Pomponette
This large petaled yellow tulip is sure to catch your eye with its impressive double bloom and bright joyful colours. The Yellow Pomponette is a true marvel to the senses in both scent and beauty.
Green Power
Introducing the first ever all green tulip, it’s Green Power! Green Power, like other tulips, has edible petals that can be seen being used in salads, fitting for something so leafy green!
Super Parrot
Frilly and adventurous, it’s the Super Parrot. A notable feature of Parrot tulips are their frilly leaves resembling the feathers of a parrot. The Super Parrot with its white with green highlights colouring it stands out like the white cockatoo we compare their petals to.
Muscari Big Smile
This funny shaped friend will have you marveling at its bell shaped flowers and shrunken top. Muscari produce foliage towards the end of their bloom to create a healthy environment for future blooms.
Muscari Mount Hood
Almost an inverse of the “Big Smile”, the Muscari Mount Hood blooms large bulbous tops which thin out further down the flower.
Hyacinthus Rembrandt
The Hyacinthus Rembrandt grows up to twelve inches in its bloom and creates nearly a sphere of spindly flowers around the plant. A colouration of white edges and a purple center is perfect for attracting pollinators as purple stands out in most pollinators vision.
Purple Pride
This giant tulip known as the Purple Pride is famous for its raw strength as a flower. The Purple Pride is the first ever purple petaled Darwin tulip. Darwin tulips are a type of tulip known for strong stems and large blooms. The perfect size to show off all that colour.
Secret Parrot
Frills, deep purples, and a gentle figure, it’s the Secret Parrot! This tulip stands out among its other frilly cousins by being a parrot-double hybrid, having both the frills of a parrot, and the impressive number of petals found on a double tulip.