In Ottawa, each spring we have a Tulip festival, founded by the late Malak Karsh, a world renowned photographer.

The 2002, 50th Anniversary of the Canadian Tulip Festival was a resounding success thanks, first and foremost, to all those residents and visitors who came out to celebrate Tulipmania with us.

Plans have already begun for next year's event when the Canadian Tulip Festival will celebrate "G'day Australia – Tulips Down Under" from May 2 to 19, 2003.

An expanded Canadian Tulip Festival and 18 days of tulips in full bloom have the organizers of the 50th Anniversary celebrations calling the 2002 Festival a great success, attracting more tourists and visitors than ever before in spite of unseasonably cool weather as well as rain that washed out one day. I feel however, that the cool weather was ideal for tulips. I've never seen such a gorgeous profusion in my 60 years here.

Plans have already begun for next year's event when the Canadian Tulip Festival will celebrate "G'day Australia – Tulips Down Under" from May 2 to 19, 2003.

An expanded Canadian Tulip Festival and 18 days of tulips in full bloom have the organizers of the 50th Anniversary celebrations calling the 2002 Festival a great success, attracting more tourists and visitors than ever before in spite of unseasonably cool weather as well as rain that washed out one day.

However, I think the weather was the reason this year's display of tulips (all over the city, public AND private) was the best I remember in 60 years living here. I also like to think it's the tulips' final tribute to Malak, who died last November. For more information see this