The First Everglades Day: April 7, 2013!
Everglades Poster Celebrating Marjory Stoneman Douglas
The first-ever EVERGLADES DAY is this Sunday, April 7…. Fantastic! Many thanks to all of those who worked so hard to make this a legislative priority, highlighting and escalating issues surrounding the Everglades, as well as renewing the area’s restoration efforts. What a perfect time to visit and explore the ‘glades — and love this beautifully vital, rare, but endangered and always-threatened ecosystem. Check out the link below for events from Miami to Naples to West Palm Beach!
From the Everglades Foundation:
The first official Everglades Day will be celebrated on April 7, 2013. In addition to recognizing what an important resource this ecosystem is, not only to the state of Florida, but to America, the day will also honor Everglades activist Marjory Stoneman Douglas, as it is designated to be held on her birthday.
The Florida Legislature voted in favor of an Everglades Day on March 7, 2012. From a National Parks Conservation Association press release: “The state’s support for an official Everglades Day will ensure that the Everglades ecosystem remains a top priority for elected officials and all Floridians while honoring Douglas’s legacy for protecting the River of Grass. . . Each time we turn dirt on an Everglades restoration project, we are protecting our drinking water supply, creating jobs and fulfilling a promise to protect our national parks, wildlife, and family memories….”
Some of the sights from one of the event locations, Grassy Waters:
Love and respect this place. Please.
Everglades Vista Along the Hog Hammock Trail
NENA Signage
FeyGirl
Serenity Spell 
Love it!
:)! So wonderful they were able to push this through…
The gator is the ticket taker for the event. Great expression.
Oh that’s FANTASTIC!! I love your perspective… He really does look just like that!
🙂
Wonderful! Congrats to all who managed to make this happen. Love the toothy grin on the croc
Isn’t this wonderful? There really are so many striving to speak up for this beautiful land…
I love this guy. He was a big one, too!
A fitting date for remembrance of the ardent activist and the importance of the natural resource the River of Grass really is!!
Most definitely!! It’s wonderful that they can now set aside a day for honoring this land — as well as for remembering such an amazing author/activist.
…. I KNOW that gator! He is such a pussy cat, too. He is one of the gate keepers to an essential breeding location for the endangered wood stork. I didn’t know the poor guy was quite so cross eyed, though! 🙂 … Yes, our population is interested in preserving the Everglades – but did you know there is a growing movement amongst the greedy to allow fracking in the ‘glades?
An artist with a wonderful perspective described him as the “ticket-taker,” and I love that.
Yep, I’ve been tracking the fracking issue a bit north of here…. Completely tragic. After all this, it’s unimaginable that they want to sell pristine lands for fracking.
Love the shots! That is one big gator.
Thanks so much! He really is a big boy, and a consistent presence in the area… Love him!
Happy Days for the Everglades!
Absolutely…. The more attention, the BETTER! 🙂
Congratulations. It is so important to see and share those kinds of successes.
I wholeheartedly agree… Especially since it was SUCH a tremendous struggle getting it passed through the legislation. It deserves to be honored, especially for all the good that it intends to do, with its attention to this ecosystem! Thank you. 🙂
Now that is an accomplishment for the Everglades! ❤
Isn’t it wonderful? Such a struggle for those trying to get it passed through the legislature, but thank goodness they did. Any and all attention given to this area is needed!! 🙂
Okay, so here’s the plan. We vote that ‘gator to be a special representative to the legislature to control big businesses’ lobbyists and to lend his special kind of support to environmentally-friendly bills. You know, to ensure the right laws have some “teeth”! 🙂
Hahahahah!!! I love, love, LOVE that! I vote you have the best comment / suggestion… 🙂
I don’t see the problem with this… They ARE the constituency, after all.
I love all of your gator portraits and informative blog posts!
Aw, thanks so VERY much! I adore our gators… They’re incredibly photogenic! 🙂
I shall celebrate my memories of wandering through the Everglades. Also, every time I see a gator like that, I think “serious overbite.” (grin)
Hoorah! I firmly believe that thoughts have great power – so THANK YOU! 🙂
I’ve seen some fantastic gator overbites; this was one of the best!
If we could only get everyone to respect the wild places and the creatures who live there!
I entirely agree… If they could just visit with an OPEN heart, and learn a bit about these places BEFORE they visit…. So much more could be done. But there is improvement. I have hope!
What a wonderful expression on that gator’s face!
Hee, isn’t he wonderful? A very clever blogger (an artist, of course) commented that he reminds her of the Everglades “ticket-taker.” I love that!
Never knew they had a day…. such an important place on our planet!!!!
It’s definitely long overdue, and those conservationists obviously worked hard to get it passed in the legislature! But thank goodness they did. Any and all attention this area can receive is well worth it!
Many thanks to all who worked for this special designation for the Everglades. It is such a rare, important place, and it’s wonderful to acknowledge Ms. Douglas for her work, too. A good day!
I thoroughly, wholeheartedly agree…. on every point! 🙂 It’s long overdue, and any and all attention that can be brought to this special place is well deserved.
Definitely the start of a good tradition.
I agree… LONG overdue!!
As always , lovely photos and interesting text ! I didn´t like gators before i start reading yours and Phil L.s photography blog … But you 2 have really get me interested in these prehistoric animals . Your photo of the gator is stunning ! // Maria
I’m so happy that you’ve been learning about our alligators!
They really are misunderstood animals — just want to be left alone, like most wildlife. I hike among them ALL the time, and believe me… they are NOT the aggressive, wild animals that people would like to make them out to be. Education is needed about them, for SURE — as with all wildlife. But they’re fascinating, ancient creatures.
CUTE!!
Hee, thanks! I love this guy.
Oh what a great fun day of celebration of a wonderful tropical eden. Love your gator shot.
Hee, thanks!! I love this guy. He’s a common sight and presence here; a gentle giant.
So wish we could have come to this, but my man had heart problems and it was not possible.
Ah, you too? Ironically, I missed it as well…. Because I flew up north the day previous! Hah! Ah well. I hike and love this land enough to make every day Everglades Day. 🙂