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New Zealand: Hamilton Gardens – New Zealand’s Famous Writer

Katherine Mansfield may not be a name you know, but everyone in New Zealand knows her. Her famous short story, “The Garden Party” is depicted in a garden in Hamilton Gardens. She is by the way, often considered one of the founders of modern literature.

New Zealand: Gordonton – Dancing with Captain James Cook in Zealong Sculpture Garden

Captain James Cook (1778-1729) was a British adventurer who explored New Zealand. The indigenous Maori introduced him to the manuka plant as a medicinal tea. It reminded him of home.

New Zealand: Gordonton – One Dragon Teapot in Gordonton, NZ

In Asia dragons and teapots are very popular for centuries. At the Zealong Tea Estate sculpture garden you learn about oolong teas and teas around the world.

New Zealand: Gordonton – Tea Pots Dragon at Zealong Tea Estate, New Zealand

A favorite sculpture in the Zealong Tea Estate sculpture garden was this long tea pot dragon with the estate building in the rear.

New Zealand: Gordonton – Sculpture of Famous Tea sage in Gordonton, NZ

It was a surprise to us to learn that there were tea sages. Here’s a sculpture of Lu Yu who performed this work way back in 733-804. Since he lived to 71, unusual back in those days, perhaps the tea is anti-aging?

Canada: Sault Ste Marie, Ontario – Photo of Three of the Group of Seven

Here are three of the famous Canadian Group of Seven painters who started painting the Algoma scenery starting in 1918 with J.E.H. Macdonald. The others in the group are: Lawren Harris, Franklin Carmichael, A.Y. Jackson, Franz Johnson, Arhur Lismer, and Frederick Varley. They hitched a boxcar onto the Agawa Canyon train going up to the mines in Northern Ontario.

Canada: Sault Ste Marie, Ontario – Inside Group of Seven Boxcar

The Group of Seven were Canadian painters who, in the early 20th century, especially enjoyed painting Canadian scenery. A few at a time, the men would live in this spartan boxcar which would get hitched to a train. They would be let off on a rail siding for a few days to paint scenery to their hearts content. 

Canada: Sault Ste Marie, Ontario – Group of Seven Boxcar

If you would like to see a reproduction of the Boxcar that the Canadian Group of Seven slept, ate and painted in on the side railings of the 114-mile Agawa Canyon Train, head to Sault Ste. Marie. You can even take a ride on that train to glimpse the scenery they drew. At the end you can get off and enjoy the waterfalls and views and then return the same day.

Canada: Agawa Canyon, Sault Ste Marie, Ontario – Painting in Agawa Canyon Park

Canadian famous Group of Seven painters started painting the Algoma scenery starting in 1918 with J.E.H. Macdonald. the others in the group are: Lawren Harris, Franklin Carmichael, A.Y. Jackson, Franz Johnson, Arthur Lismer, and Frederick Varley. They hitched a boxcar onto the train going up to the mines in Northern Ontario.

Canada: Toronto, Ontario – Casa Loma, Toronto

The famous Oak Room of the splendid Edwardian era home of Sir Henry Pellatt. The finished panels fruit, flowers, ribbons and birds took 3 years to carve and were so exquisite that in 1913 when they arrived they were first exhibited in Montreal’s Musee des Beaux Arts before being installed in Casa Loma.