Thursday, May 8, 2008

Our Amazing Wetlands

May is American Wetland Month, a time set aside to celebrate and especially focus on our wetlands. Why wetlands? Wetlands are important links between bodies of water and land, where the flow of water mixes with earth’s rich nutrients and the sun’s energy, producing highly productive ecosystems that support a wide diversity of plant and animal life.
In addition to the recreational benefits that we all enjoy, wetlands work to filter out pollutants, help control flooding and support the multi-billion dollar fishing industry. Marsh boardwalk, Hunting Island State Park, South Carolina, USActivities people enjoy may vary, but most people love being near the water. Wetlands, such as marshes, ponds, flood plains and bogs, have often been viewed as wastelands and are too often drained for agricultural use and development. Wetlands are also stressed by invasive species and pollutants. For all these reasons and many more, they need our help and support.
Peeps and sea oats, Hunting Island State Park, SC, US.
And of course, you don’t have to live in America to participate. Wetlands are vital to all of us all over the world. Visit a wetland near you and do what you can to support conservation of wetlands.
Wood stork or Wood Ibis, Hunting Island State Park, SC. "On 10-17-01, I counted 23 wood storks roosting in live oak, palmettos and pine at the edge of an inland pond. " Travel sketchbook, 2001, Vickie Henderson.

2 comments:

  1. Beautiful post! There is a wetlands park that my husband and I walk at every night after dinner. The city is pouring tons of money in it making the park a staging center for trails that go from the park up to the mountain for hiking, equestrian and atv's. There will also be a scenic drive that will go along the wash out to the lake. It is exciting to see it progress.
    While walking we see lots of rabbits, and birds. Mostly Gambling Quail,Ducks and Geese. You would never know that you are just outside of Vegas while in the park, it is so peaceful and beautiful with redirected streams of water, ponds and trails.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks. Your park sounds wonderful. Wetlands are such peaceful and busy places. One of my notes in the Hunting Island sketch book read: "A tri-colored heron disturbed a rail under water. It came up from the grasses and struck out, then skulked back down, disappearing in the water."
    Fun. I know you enjoy your walks.

    ReplyDelete

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For the Love of It...

...the sage sees heaven reflected in Nature as in a mirror, and he pursues this Art, not for the sake of gold or silver, but for the love of the knowledge which it reveals.
Sendivogius (1750)

Your Uncapped Creativity...

Your Uncapped Creativity...
"There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action; and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. If you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. You must keep that channel open. It is not for you to determine how good it is, nor how valuable. Nor how it compares with other expressions. It is for you to keep it yours, clearly and directly." ----the great dancer, Martha Graham