In 1928, Steichen purchased Umpawaug, his estate in Connecticut. He had a modern house built, as well as an artificial pond. On the edge of his pond, there was a shadblow tree that fascinated Steichen. According to traditional belief, when the shadblow is in bloom in spring, the land is not frozen anymore and can be cultivated. Steichen photographed the tree numerous times. The technique he used to produce the full colour photographs of the shadblow tree in the collection of the MNAHA is dye coupler print, also known as chromogenic print.