A Sure Sign of Spring

Spring is in the air and, in Ottawa, that means the annual tulip festival is just around the corner. Originating from the 100,000 tulip bulbs given to Canada by the Netherlands as a gesture of thanks for our country’s willingness to shelter the Dutch Royal family during World War II, the variety and sheer volume of tulips on display in our nation’s capital every year is a sight to behold; no wonder so many of us strive to capture the festival’s beauty with our cameras. If you’re interested in some helpful tips on how to photograph tulips (and other flowers) with added creative flair, check out “Floral Inspiration” by Clive Branson on page 8 — by the way, that’s one of Clive’s festival photos on the cover.

And with the season of renewal upon us, we thought it fitting to shine a spotlight on a gentleman who has seen 92 springs thus far. Not only does George R. Roberts (a.k.a. The Limerick Man) seem to have this longevity thing down pat, he has a contagious zest for life, a great sense of humour and a fine way with words. Turn to Showcase on page 38 and you’ll see what I mean.

Spring also brings with it a sense of ritual and tradition, in large part because of Easter, which affords families and communities an opportunity to come together in a spirit of celebration. We have two uplifting examples of this coming up for you: It’s Tradition on page 42, where Janet Hanna tells us about an annual “Bunny Hunt” that’s grown by leaps and bounds, and Cause for Applause on page 58 by Candy Alexander, who explains how the town of Prescott, Ont., pulls out all the stops at Eastertime, especially for the kids. Welcome to spring, everyone!