Ottawa goes tulip mad

Throughout Ottawa and across the river in Hull, Quebec, colourful tulip beds bloom along the 15km tulip route during the annual tulip festival next month.

The festival has its origins in the Second World War. Princess Juliana (later to become Queen of the Netherlands) spent the war in Ottawa. After the war, she returned home but each year has sent a gift of more than 20,000 tulip bulbs to Ottawa City.

Well over one million bulbs have been planted for for this year's 49th festival.

For more information see the website of the Tulip Festival