No photos allowed at this year's Canadian Tulip Festival

The National Capital Commission (NCC) is telling Ottawa tulip admirers not to stop and take photos of flowers this year over fears it could cause crowds to form and put people at risk of spreadingCOVID-19.

No stopping and no photography signs have sprouted upat theNCC's flower beds, just in time for the start of the Canadian Tulip Festival Friday.

Corey Larocque, a spokesperson for the NCC which owns and maintains the tulips said it's neitherthe stopping nor the photography that poses a risk in terms of COVID-19,but the gathering of people.

"The small signs are part of our effort to limit crowding or gathering around the tulip beds and to ensure that people getting to the park on foot or by bike can do so safely, with enough space for physical distancing," Larocque said in an email to CBC.

The signs appeared asboth the City of Ottawa and the NCC announced they would resume allowing people to linger in greenspaces to play catch or have a picnic, for instance.

Park amenities are still off limits, like benches and basketball courts, and Ontario bars groups of more than five people but, aside from around tulip beds owned and maintained by the NCC,it's OK to stop and take photos. Health officials are still urging Canadians keep a two-metre distance between themselves and others they do not live with.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said he disagrees with the no-photo policy and hopes the NCC will reconsider.

"The whole purpose of going and seeing the tulips is not only to see the beauty in person but also to snap a quick picture," said Watson.

For its part, the Canadian Tulip Festival which celebrates a gift of tulips given by theDutchafter the Second World War, honouring Canada's role in the liberation of the Netherlandsis also trying to encourage people to stay away from the flowers.

"What we have done is come up with every possible way of bringing the tulips to you," Jo Riding, the festival's general manager,told Ottawa Morning's Robyn Bresnahan Thursday.

"We're asking folks to stay home and stay safe and help us save lives."

The Canadian Tulip Festival is offering a range of virtual experiences this year, including aerial photography, musical performances, virtual gardens and a behind-the-scenes look at the festival with NCC's landscape architectTina Liu.

Riding said people who live near thefestival grounds at Commissioners Park and other NCC tulip gardensare welcome to walk through, butNCC conservation officers will be on hand to encourage people keep moving and keep their distance.

"There is signage basically everywhere, saying please do not stop, don't take photos, keep walking and join us online to celebrate," she said.

In Japan, authorities mowed down tens of thousands of tulips near Tokyo to ensure crowds stayed away. That's something Riding said the officials here don't want to do.

That being said, Riding said people also need to exercise some discretion.

"If you're there bright and early and if it is your local park, and you want to take a photo, and you're all by yourself, you know, use common sense," she said.