The end of the fall foliage season marks the end of Ottawa’s main tourist season. When I visited Rideau Hall earlier in this autumn, I dodged tourists taking each others’ photos in front of each colorful tree and every notable object. Yesterday, I had the grounds entirely to myself and had my choice of seating!

An unusually early snowstorm left us with 10 cm. of snow overnight. “Osmosis”, a brass and steel sculpture by Susan Stromberg is on the grounds of Rideau Hall in Ottawa.

Detail of a totem pole presented by Kwakiutl carver Mungo Martin to Lord Alexander, Governor General of Canada from 1946 to 1952. Located on the grounds of Rideau Hall.

Rideau Hall (c. 1838) is the residence of Canada’s Governor General, the British monarch’s representative in Canada. We’re lucky that a large portion of the grounds of this historic property are open to the public and right now the mix of deciduous trees is presenting a fabulous display of fall colors. Many of the architectural features of the gardens and grounds are of recent vintage and little seems to remain from the early days of the estate, at least in the public areas. This lovely stone bench being the only exception I could find when I visited this week. Seeing it made me wonder who might have paused to rest there while touring the grounds, since Rideau Hall and the Governor General have entertained many visiting dignitaries in the last century. King George VI? President Eisenhower? Winston Churchill? John Kennedy? One never knows…