I’m on the road and missing the Tulip Festival. Again. So I’m flashing back today to the last time I was at the festival in 2017.

A photo essay today, just to give you a sampling of what you missed at the 2017 Canadian Tulip Festival. Even though essentially I see the same thing every year (I mean, a tulip is a tulip after alll), somehow it does seem fresh and new each time.

I think that may have something to do with the timing. Ottawa has long, sometimes harsh, winters. When the tulips come out they herald the start of Spring and the return of some warm weather. Everyone gets excited, and the burst of blooms captures that excitement, even if you have seen it countless Springs before.