​“Jill Alexander is an insightful and dedicated artist. When having recently viewed her festival tulip, I was struck by the detailing and artistic licence that she took with this unusual shaped piece. She was able to interpret the past and present life on the Ottawa River. Jill was able to express her feelings and artistic abilities on this tulip, painting it as 2 separate paintings. ​Her work literally grabbed me, and forced me to take a closer look." W.B.
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​​"I was moved by the artistry and detailing, knowing right then and there that it must be bought in honour of a recent passed friend. Ron’s Tulip named after former councillor Ron Kolbus is now sitting in the building that was named in his honour. It was an honour to have found Jill Alexander and her work, clearly she was able to reach her audience with her attentive detailing and formative skills."
​Wendo Blondeau
#1. 2002 THE RON KOLBUS TULIP
The purchase of Ron’s Tulip was organized by community leader Wendo Blondeau who formed a group called the “Friend’s of Ron”, together they bought this tulip in honor of beloved former City of Ottawa Councillor friend Ron Kolbus who had passed away. This tulip depicts the Britannia Beach area at the turn of the century and the current view of Andrew Haydon Park. I gave a presentation with this tulip to Mrs. Kolbus at a standing room only ceremony at the Ron Kolbus Lakeside Gardens Centre, Ottawa where "Ron's Tulip" is on permanent display. 
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​#2. 2003 THE DIANE STUEMER TULIP
Painted as a tribute and in memory of Diane Stuemer, much loved Ottawa Citizen writer and author of “The Voyage of Northern magic”. My inspiration came from Diane’s “going after her dream” determination of a world wide sailing adventure spanning 4 years with her young family.
I presented "Diane's Tulip" to her family at a small private immediate family celebration of Diane.
As a result of several fundraising events, the sale of this tulip raised money for the Northern Magic Fund for International Development.​
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​#3. 2005 COLORS OF SPRING
Vibrant tulips (flowers with attitude) pop off a black background with my signature swirl design. Inspirational script of “Follow Your Dream - Passion - Faith - Believe” is my message for viewers.
This tulip was featured on Regional Contact CTV hosted by
​Kathie Donovan. 
​Colors of Spring was one of 3 tulips stolen from Ottawa City Hall from a display of 150 tulips. The theft of this tulip received major media coverage across Canada. Although seriously vandalized (cut in half at the stem), it was recovered quickly due to the vast amount of on-line, television, radio and newspaper attention. Good Samaritan, Eric Martin repaired the damage and along with a new coat of paint it received royal treatment and a place of honor upon it’s return.
​#4. 2009  PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA YES WE CAN TULIP
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​I was honored to be asked by Wendo Blondeau, Canadian Tulip Festival Sponsorship and Special Events Co-ordinator and Julian Armour the Festival Director to create a Presidential tulip in honor of President Barack Obama’s first state visit to Canada. "Yes we Can" received international news coverage!
This tulip focuses on the inspirational and spiritual messages from the Inaugural Speech. “God Given Promise – All are equal, all are free, all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.” “The world has changed and we must change with it” and “Hope, Freedom, Unity, Liberty, Peace”. On the base is a quote from Abraham Lincoln, “That this Nation under God, shall have a new birth of freedom”.
​Portions of Martin Luther King’s “I have a Dream” speech is in script on the leaves.
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​“Now is the Time. We cannot walk alone. All men are created equal, judged by the content of their character.”
The “Yes We Can” tulip experience was one concentrated week of painting versus the the 4-6 weeks spent creating each of the other tulips. The “Yes We Can” tulip was a gift from the Canadian Tulip Festival to the American people. I presented this tulip to US Ambassador David Jacobsen in a special ceremony. He invited me to the Embassy to give a talk about the tulip once it was delivered to the Embassy. I created three copies of a leather bound book about this tulip with extensive photos and explaining all aspects of the design. The Ambassador received one book along with a painting of red tulips and the quote “The world has changed and we must change with it”. He was happy to send a copy to President Obama and to Oprah!
#5. 2010 THE CANADIAN NAVY'S 100TH ANNIVERSARY TULIP
Presented to the Vice Admiral at a special ceremony. This tulip received media attention across Canada!
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#6. 2011 ONCE UPON A TIME -
THE ROYAL WEDDING
​The spectacular photos in this album are the work of fine art photographer, Glen Howard. www.ghphotography.ca.
​I was always fascinated by the beauty & grace of Princess Diana, I was married one month after her wedding, & I am also the proud mother of two son's of my own, Matthew & Taylor. My eldest son, Matthew, married his very own princess, Ashley, one month after the Royal Wedding. As the mother of a groom, I was inspired to portray a mother's special love for her little prince on the most important day of his life. This tulip illustrates the two very special women in Prince William's heart. A grown Prince with this beautiful Princess Kathryn, & the special love and connection between a little Prince and his mother, Princess Diana.
I created a "Once Upon a Time" photobook incorporating Glen's amazing photos as well as my own and those of my photographer son Matt. My intention was that this book would be delivered to the hands of the Royal Couple. I worked weeks on the script for the book as I wanted to convey to the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge my inspiration behind the design. On October 4 2012, I hand delivered this book to Joel Girouard, Director of State Ceremonial & Corporate Events for the Department of Canadian Heritage. He is the mastermind behind the planning of the Royal Tours to Canada, Joel travels with the Royals when they tour! My book was delivered directly to the Duke & Duchess! This tulip received world wide news coverage! 
Thank you to Judy Trofin Barr and Jinny Slyfield for assisting me with this tulip! ​


​#7. 2012 FREEDOM THE NEW BEGINNING
​This tulip is of the most sensitive and emotional nature, really inexplicable, but here goes. I received a phone call on a Tuesday from a man representing the Elgin Street BIA, he had worked at the Tulip Festival in the past and knew of my tulips. The Elgin BIA wanted a tulip created for Minto Park. A special tulip to be placed on sacred ground as this park has a memorial "To honour and to grieve all women abused and murdered by men." Fortunately I have never experienced abuse and therefore I didn't have a personal connection to the cause. I did however thoroughly acknowledge the importance of the cause.​
Unimaginably the following day, I was horrified to learn that I now had a connection to the cause. It was an unfathomable connection at the hand of my husband's boss, he and my husband worked closely. This was a man who I heard about daily during dinner. Prior to his arriving at husbands workplace he was known to be a fun loving family man, coach of his sons hockey team. He loved to joke, he was very personable. Then I heard how his personality changed due to his changing family situation. He sought mental health help more than once, also the company program to assist employees for personal reasons worked on their end to help. Until the time when the unimaginable inexplicable happened to everyone's horror.
My soul was shattered, I sobbed for the week as the wife of this man clung to life. I sobbed for the 2 young sons left behind. I was unable to pick up the brush. When she passed, it was then that I let the resulting design flow through my heart to my brush as my brain could not fathom the inexplicable actions. The focus became a plan of action for women and children in need, for anyone needing the freedom of abuse. 
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I had to focus on the positive action of change, reaching out and receiving the help necessary to break free. Every individual design element was thoughtfully and carefully chosen for their significant meanings - the dove, phoenix rising, the sun's rays, the hands, the swirls, the white ribbons, each specific flower...
When the images were all painted I had one area left to complete, the upper part of the leaves. All my tulips have messages written on their leaves. This time however, I was unable to  come up with the appropriate words. I had just made a new FB friend, and as I sat at my computer unable to verbalize, this FB friend posted a phrase of the utmost personal significance. "Celebrate the moment when the fear of staying replaces the desire to leave. Leaving is celebrating yourself" signed Angela Sutcliffe. I contacted Angela immediately and explained my project. Angela was pleased to have the message expressed from her heart and soul painted on the tulip and with that, this tulip was complete.
​All I can say for sure is that life is a mystery and I believe that I was divinely meant to create these tulips, especially THIS TULIP. To this day, I do not know the reason why, I may never know.....
#8. 2018 THE ROYAL WEDDING TULIP "ONCE UPON AN ENCHANTED DREAM"
#8 - 2018 - The Royal Wedding Tulip -                                                    "Once Upon An Enchanted Dream". This is #2 of the Royal Wedding Tulips.
​#1 of this duo was my 2011 "Once Upon A Time" painted for
​The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Why?
I was married 1 month after Diana, I have 2 sons as does Diana, my eldest son Matthew married his princess Ashley 1 month after William and my youngest son Taylor married his princess Robyn shortly after Harry's wedding.
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​As the Mother of the Groom(s) I am here to celebrate in the joy of my son's weddings. I am doing this for Diana, the Princess of the People. This tulip began at the end of the 2018 Tulip Festival and was completed in 2019 after the arrival of Prince Archie.
Thank you to Judy Trofin Barr and Diana Wakley for assisting me in the completion of the tulip and to my grand-daughter Artist Livi with the base-coating of the tulip at the very beginning!