Post by Gregory Rothman / Redsky

Gregory Rothman • Feed

A moment of #Zen and a hidden treasure (currently under restoration). The #CaldwellLillyPool Garden. #photography #Photohour #IRphoto #Landscape #photographerofbluesky #PhotographersUnited #Eastcoastkin #BWFri #ColorOfTheDay #Chicago #LincolnPark #NaturePhotography #UrbanOasis #HiddenGem

Imagine stepping into a secluded pocket of nature where time moves slowly. You’re standing on a ledge of cool, flat stone, the kind that feels solid and slightly rough beneath your fingertips. Ahead, a pond lies so perfectly still that its surface could be mistaken for glass. The water reflects the world above it — every branch, every leaf — so sharply that it’s like peering into an upside-down forest. The air is calm, perhaps carrying the faint earthy scent of damp stone and fresh vegetation. Around you, the trees wear a luminous cloak — not the deep green you expect, but a pale, silvery white that makes them seem touched by frost or moonlight. This surreal glow comes from the way the photograph was taken, using infrared light, which turns familiar foliage into something otherworldly. Somewhere near the pond’s center, lily pads float gently, breaking up the mirrored surface with soft, rounded shapes. Above, fine twigs and sprawling branches reach across the sky — and their reflections double them below, forming an intricate lattice of lines and shapes. It’s a scene that feels both peaceful and slightly enchanted, as though you’ve wandered into a place where nature is quietly holding its breath. History 1889 Original Victorian heated lily pool constructed 1936–1938 Alfred Caldwell’s redesign in Prairie School style 1940s–1980s Degradation as the “Rookery” with zoo birds and invasive features 1997 Community-led restoration initiative begins 2000–2002 Major restoration of landscape, stonework, plants 2002–2006 Landmark designations and official renaming 2024- Currently Under Restoration Due to reopen soon or in 2026.

aug 15, 2025, 2:07 pm • 15 3

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