Winter at the Chicago Botanical Garden

beauty isn’t found in just one season

“Why would you want to visit the botanical garden in winter?”

My answer was simple, “why wouldn’t you?”

I planned a visit with my youngest and two of his friends who had never been to the gardens. It was 35 degrees Fahrenheit. No wind. A perfect day to stroll and take in the vibe of the Japanese garden and then the indoor gardens.

It was quiet. We could hear the birds, the crunch of the ice on the waters, and see our breath as we gleefully pointed out beauty to one another.

After a few hours of walking, we went to the car and had a picnic of hot chocolate and tea with some cookies as the car warmed up. It was a simple moment. It was naturally quiet as we cupped our drinks to warm our hands—a shared experience from our unique perspectives.

We then went to this fantastic Jewish deli/restaurant to share a meal. We talked about being writers and poets (and one musician). In this beautiful moment we all had the same dreams. We have a shared humanity. Intellectually, I knew that, but in this moment I felt it. They felt it. The idea of the seasons drifted into my mind. The kids and I are in very different seasons of our lives, yet we are also in the same season.

In the quiet moments of this day, in its simplicity we experienced beauty, community, and love.