Sansho-En, the Garden of Three Islands at the Chicago Botanic Garden, takes me to another realm. It's situated smack along an interstate highway yet once you cross the bridge you're drawn into a 17th century samurai's retreat.
It's at once calming and mysterious. The afternoon I took these pictures I could almost hear my favorite poet Basho shuffling through the fresh fallen snow.
Wild weather in the Midwest lately makes it difficult to predict long-range patterns. Last week's winter storm warning fizzles out, only to have a foot of accumulated snow dumped on us days later. Prematurely thawing rivers and springs flood towns along the way, only to turn to solid packed ice overnight, immobilizing everything on its
path.
I had to take these shots hurriedly during a work break. In a way it was symptomatic of today's climactic uncertainties. I feel I must squirrel away images for a time when we may no longer enjoy scenes like this that make time stand still.
[Featured on Inquirer.net/Global Nation]
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