The atmosphere at The Elephant House is warm and welcoming.
mid-19th century, so missed his master, a night watchman named John Grey, he guarded his grave for 14 years. Te Ele- phant House, a humble coffee shop with a warm feeling, was the place where J.K. Rowling wrote most of the first book of the Harry Potter series. Its backroom windows overlook the legendary Edinburgh Castle, parts of which date back to the 12th century. A visit to the “loo” reveals the heartfelt love of Rowling’s thousands of fans, who have inscribed messages to her on every surface, including the ceiling. Tere is no denying the beauty of the gardens in Britain, but what is most memorable is the way they and the outdoor life informs the culture of these fabled isles. London is a per- fect example: there are parks everywhere and green spaces make this monster city of more than 8.5 million people, the largest in Europe, more than livable. “It is,” declared our American tour guide, “my favourite city in the world.” Subconsciously, she is hearing the British voice through
her eyes. Tat voice is tough as seen through the calculated bending of woody trees and shrubs to the gardener’s will. It is practical and innovative as seen in the way gardeners conquer the wild in nature, while respecting it, too. It is tenacious as seen in the preservation of the built infrastructure from Hadrian’s Wall to the magnificent buildings that character- ize its towns and cities. And it is masterful and visionary as seen through the planning and sculpting of vast landscapes for nothing more than the pleasure of being in them.
Ceanosus plant in downtown London.
Love letters to J.K. Rowling on the walls of The Elephant House.
The three Lions of Tower of London representing the three lions on the emblem of Richard I, Richard the Lionheart.
thehubwinnipeg.com
The famous and magnificent planer trees of London are very tough and adaptable.
Summer 2016 • 57
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80