Douglas Nature of the Everglades

For this blog entry I will be reflecting on some quotes from Marjory Stoneman Douglass: The Nature of the Everglades. These are my thoughts, beliefs, questions, and/or concerns.

"There are no other Everglades in the world" -  Marjory Stoneman Douglass (Douglas 104)


In this quote the author claims there's no their place like the everglades and I have to agree with her. It’s literally a river of grass that you can walk in, and there's nowhere else you can really experience that. Living in Florida you can take places like the everglades for granted and it’s easy to chalk them up at dirty and gross. But after those wet walks in class I've come to find a new respect for them there unique, with all the different habitats, species, ect. The everglades has had human habitation since 15,000 years ago, and you have to think if people from 15,000 years ago chose to live in these everglades there has to be things in there that are necessary for life like food and water. It’s hard to relate now because we get food and water so easy but wildlife can’t just walk into store and get what they need. The everglades has long been a mystery, but that just makes the more interesting.

 

 

http://townsofusa.com/travels/2013/04/the-everglades-national-park-in-florida/

"Here, actually, there are only two seasons, the wet and the dry, as there are in the tropics." -  Marjory Stoneman Douglass

(Douglas 112)

This quote here can be related to all of Florida not just the everglades and its crazy how wet or how dry these locations can get. I remember going to CREW with one of my classes in the spring semester and I don't remember getting touched by water one bit, we walked the same trail and it was dry. Then when our class went this semester the water was above my knees, this showed me firsthand the kind of changes the everglades can go through. I find it amazing how all the plants can survive in these super wet conditions as well as the super dry conditions.

 

http://www.gdfcf.org/dry-forest

"Dozens of other birds are there in their seasons in the live oaks, among the red splashes of air plants and the patches of lichens."  -  Marjory Stoneman Douglass (Douglas 139)

I personally love this quote because it gives me a vivid picture of all the diversity in the everglades. I mean where else can you see dozens of birds, red splashes of air plants, and patches of lichens? If I see a red bird around my house its a big deal because were so used to seeing the brown ones. In this quote alone that's about 14 species living off the everglades, just goes to show you how important they are and why we have to preserve the to the best of out ability. We might not enjoy the everglades but the animals, bugs, ect need this place and we should respect that.

 

http://fl.audubon.org/everglades-birds-are-talking-are-we-listening 

SOURCES:

http://everglades.fiu.edu/reclaim/timeline/timeline2.htm