The Everglades Coalition Conference 2010

I had a great time this year and have feeling that I will continue to return like so many other activists, scientists, and naturalists alike. The energy that stirred in the sessions and speakers was a great reprieve from the usual hum drum of conferences. Everyone there was energized and filled with information.
2010 is indeed the Year of the Everglades. Since there was so much information I would like to share, I am going to have short profiles throughout the next few postings profiling people and organizations that really WOWed me.

I'll start off with Rob Clift, with the National Parks Conservation Ass. and  Eco-Mariner: www.ecomariner.org
Rob showed me how quick and easy (literally 2 minutes to register) it was to sign up on the site for a FREE online course to make boating more environmentally friendly. His project is specific to Florida Bay, but really can be applied to almost any boating environment. I enjoyed the information about Florida Bay too. The course is an hour long and can be broken up in segments. Check it out!!!

The other WOWer is the Paper Folding art that is a permanent collection at the Morikami Museum in Delray Beach. The display at the conference comprised a collection of birds, reptiles, and other Florida animals. The hand made paper and sculptures are beautiful.
Their Link: www.morikami.org

Everglades Coalition Conference 2010

I am packing up and getting ready for the Conference as I type. I will be one of 300 exhibitors all coming together for positive solutions to sustaining Florida's future (water issues, right?) and the Everglades.


Here's the link:     www.evergladescoalition.org

And I will be reporting back to you all on what I see, hear, and anticipate.

Riverbend and the Loxahachee River

Inquires about my summer weather field work inevitably circles to,

"How can you stand the heat?"

South Florida is a subtropical climate after all. Today, the weather is humid, hot, and steamy. One of those days I am hibernating in my studio writing and arranging a still-life escaping from that oppressive sauna like heat. Although just a few days ago, I canoed the Loxahachee River with Chris Devenport, a fellow naturalist. The morning was much like today, but once I found myself engrossed by the towering Oaks, telling of early residents, Cypress, towering like skyscrapers, and Pond Apple trees, ancient beings. I am always amazed how early Floridians survived without ant spray (or any other bug repellant) or air conditioning. Sometimes my mental displacement is reassuring to my cognitive conscious side that asks if my pursuit as a professional photographer is prudent. That fleeting thought abandons me the further we canoed into the hammock. I felt like a pioneer exploring the unknown, until the stripped tail of a baby alligator caught my eye.

I found myself remembering that artistry takes a lifetime of mastery. In times of not so great creativity, I must be as the little alligator: still, purposeful, and intuitive. When my mind and spirit fuse in this creative zone, the heat and humidity are just gravy.

What we can do to help restore and preserve the Everglades

So, what can we do as everyday folks, visiting or residing? I am a firm believer in the power of cumulative efforts producing positive outcomes. Even if we chose just one thing in our daily lives, we can make a large contribution to preservation of our natural landscape.

Check out this link on common things that we can easily assimilate as part of our daily routines.

https://my.sfwmd.gov/portal/page?_pageid=2814,19613828&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

Keep posted as I travel into the Wilds of Lake Okeechobee...

New Project on Lake Okeechobee

I am fascinated by the ecosystem and water ways of the Everglades. A major piece of the Everglades and water comes from Lake Okeechobee, the second largest body of water in North America. In the 1980's I did a science fair project that confirmed my middle school theory that phosphorus was present in the Lake and effecting its ecology. How many years later now, I am learning of both new issues with Lake O and her history. As I learn more, I will certainly share not only historical points, but the significant steps taken to preserve the area, revitalize communities, and restore the Everglades.

Many Thanks to Boots and Chris for my first day on Lake O in a long, long time.

Gallery Show with the Center for Fine Art Photography

I am pleased to announce that one of my favorite images is part of a Gallery Exhibition at the Center for Fine Art Photography. Out of over 2000 images, Ghost of the Woodstork (from the series Avian Wilds) was chosen.

You can click the link to view all 50 winners: https://c4fap.safesecureweb.com/exhibitors/2009BW/exhibitorsannounce.asp

I am especially excited as controversy continues to surround the Wood stork's current status as endangered versus threatened. One of the few remaining birds that have lived here for centuries, I express my disappointment in developers for pursuing the Wood stork as an obstacle to more development in the Everglades. As Florida's economy is stretched beyond thin, I'm watching the choices regarding the recent purchase of US Sugar's land made by South Florida Water Management with my breathe held. We can not afford any further development; Preserve and Restore.

Thinking more about meditation

I am always pausing to breathe. This is an absolute must as I conquer the day like a storm. Usually, I am up and going by 6:30am: breakfast, coffee, school clothes, dishes from last night, more coffee, clean up some accidental mess made to remind me to stop and breathe. I have to microwave my coffee. Out the door by 8am and at my computer by 8:30 ready to microwave my coffee, again. 

The pause is my solace. During an interview for the wetland bird project, I had one of those great Epiphanies. The natural ebb and flow of Florida's water cycles, the sever drought, severe rains bring continual variations that make predictions sometimes more dependable on patterns than singular events. History seems a vital piece of this equation. The other piece is how we as individuals and as a community choose to understand the variations in Florida's weather and in our own lives. We control the action and records in history; we can not control the events.