May 11, 2017
To mark our country’s sesquicentennial, more than 300,000
are showing their patriotic colours across the Capital Region’s flower beds, and hundreds of thousands more are blooming in community gardens from coast to coast to coast. The
elegant white bloom with red flames bears a striking resemblance to our maple leaf flag. The National Capital Commission (NCC) has partnered with the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Home Hardware, exclusive retailer of this special tulip bulb, and Communities in Bloom for the selection and distribution of the
.
The Canada 150tulip was unveiled last spring. More than 300,000 of them fill NCC flower beds across the Capital Region.
As the official gardener of Canada’s Capital, the NCC is responsible for designing the displays and planting close to one million tulips of 100 varieties, in 100 flower beds, which brighten the region in springtime.
The most spectacular display of tulips is in Commissioners Park by Dows Lake, where 250,000 tulips of 60 different varieties bloom in the park’s 30 flower beds.
The first tulip beds in the Capital were planted in 1945, when the Netherlands sent 100,000 tulip bulbs as a postwar gift of gratitude for the role that Canadian soldiers had played in the liberation of the Netherlands.
“What better way to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary than with beautiful tulips blooming throughout the Capital and across the land, a symbol of our long-lasting friendship with the Netherlands. I encourage Canadians and visitors alike to take the opportunity to admire these displays and celebrate the natural beauty of our country.” —The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage “The tulips of the Capital are a powerful symbol of the friendship born out of liberating The Netherlands—just as they are a welcome sign each spring of renewal and rebirth. I am pleased to see this symbol of friendship blooming in the colours of the maple leaf flag in gardens across the country as we celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary.” —His Excellency Henk van der Zwan, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands “The Canada 150 tulip is a unifying emblem of our country’s flag for Canada’s sesquicentennial and a profound symbol of Canada’s enduring friendship with the Netherlands. I invite all Canadians to enjoy the resplendent beauty of the millions of tulips in NCC gardens in the Capital and in communities across Canada.” —Dr. Mark Kristmanson, Chief Executive Officer, National Capital Commission “We are thrilled that the
are in full bloom across the country! It’s been an honour to partner with the NCC, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Communities in Bloom, as the exclusive retailer of this special tulip, allowing Canadians to admire them in their gardens for the 2017 celebrations.”
—Terry Davis, Chief Executive Officer, Home Hardware Stores Limited
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