A Full-time Life

EARTH DAY 2018 – CORKSCREW SANCTUARY

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All  pictures in this week's post are from our visit to the Audubon Corkscrew Sanctuary earlier this month.   

 

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 The dry season is just ending in Florida — it is a good thing that there is this much water in the swamps. 

 

The words in the two mosaics below this are cropped portions of an informational sign near the start of the boardwalk trail through Corkscrew.  The panel is titled 'History of the Swamp'.     These words are always appropriate, but especially for Earth Day (which should of course be every day).  

 

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As shown below the next mosaic, things got better after a while, but unfortunately we  have "leaders" at the national level right now that seem  determined to send our country back to somewhere between 1783 and 1953.

    

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 Wild iris are one of the very few typical Spring flowers that we see here in Florida.

 

 

FINALLY CAME UNDERSTANDING

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( I couldn't crop this picture to include the headline  for this panel, but the typed line above is what it says.)

 

We are grateful for the Audubon Society,  for Alt-National-Park,  for the Sierra Club, and for all of the other groups and individuals who are working hard for our natural world — in the face of opposition.   And we hope these efforts can keep  our planet alive and well.  

      

        

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  Immature Little Blue Heron

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 “Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children's children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.”  

Theodore Roosevelt

 

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Night Heron, Immature 

 

 

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Roseate Spoonbill 

 

"In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught." 

 Baba Dioum

 

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Grateful we are still able to enjoy these wonders.  Grateful also for nature bloggers who are doing their part to conserve and love our world, to teach others, and to share   ….  you lift my spirits.

 

 

 

 

Linking this week to:  NATURE NOTES;  MOSAIC MONDAY; OUR WORLD on Tuesday; FLORAL BLISS; ALL SEASONS;  THROUGH MY LENS; WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY; Wednesday AROUND THE WORLD;  SIGNS SIGNS; THANKFUL THURSDAY; SKYWATCH FRIDAY; SATURDAY CRITTERS; and RATHER B' BIRDING.

 

Thank you to all of the hosts!  

 

We appreciate all visitors and commenters! Thank you.

64 responses to “EARTH DAY 2018 – CORKSCREW SANCTUARY”

  1. Debbie

    this is such a beautiful memorial to earth day. nature, the animals, the earth is so important to me. i can’t imagine my life without the gifts given to me by mother nature!!
    your images are beautiful and this was a great post for today!! i LOVE the spoonbills!!

  2. NatureFootstep PhotoArt

    It is strange how people can distande themselves from nature and treat it like crap. Such a beautiful place.

  3. Colleen LOOSELEAFNOTES

    A pink bird that is not a flamingo. There is something so exotic about lily pads and flowers. Too bad the only thing Trump cares about is dollar signs and gold. This was such a nice Earth Day post.

  4. D

    Thank you.
    I’m perfectly ok and must be perfectly ok to enjoy every beautiful parts of the world, especially going through the virtual holidays with you.
    Only that, I find less motivation to write, to be visible nowadays.
    I spend most of my free time running.
    I have completed one marathon recently, I am going to have one 32km run in July, and to complete the year with another 42km in November.
    I enjoy all these running, though already 57 years old.
    Wanna join me?
    Rainfield

  5. MaryBeth Schwartz

    And happy but belated Earth Day to you although every day should be earth day. Lovely photos and great sayings.
    MB

  6. diane

    It is great that there are still places like this with so much natural beauty but it is true all over the world that natural environments are being destroyed in the name of development.

  7. Lowell

    Dear Sallie, once again I must comment on your delightful post, but also I want to thank you for your delightful comments on my Ocala blog. I got to thinking as I read through this post again how “swamps” get a bad name. The orange-headed monster won by claiming he was going to “drain the swamp,” meaning he’d get rid of the bad guys in Washington. Of course, as we knew, he brought in some of the world’s worst to enrich themselves at the taxpayer’s expense. And we know, being Floridians, that swamps are essential for Florida’s survival. Our criminal governor doesn’t seem to know that as he’d give the Everglades away to those who would eventually destroy it. So keep showing the world our swamps and their beauty and maybe we can rid Washington of the chief scumbag and send Scott back to Texas where he belongs – not to the Senate!

  8. Linda in Virginia

    Excellent post. I don’t know why humans like to mess with nature; we are so egotistical.

  9. Jim, Sydney, Australia

    Great

  10. Kelleyn Rothaermel

    The spoonbill is really pretty1

  11. Betty Crow

    Enjoyed seeing the herons and the spoonbills are beautiful. Good reading here.

  12. orchid(Japan)

    Dearest Sallie; What a GORGEOUS DAY at the sanctuary and SO wonderfully arranged♪ I should have thought about the Earth Day, as the blog led me realize the beauty of nature more. Thank you so much; LOVED your “quotes”, Sallie☆☆☆
    Herons are one of my favorite birds as I can see them frequently, but wish to see one like Roseate Spoonbill which I haven’seen once.
    Have a wonderful spring week.
    Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend, xoxo Miyako*

  13. riitta k

    What a great post, In Finland we have grounded many protected Natural Parks / Forests in spite of the fact that our paper manufacturing industry exploits fully our forests.

  14. ellen b

    A great post for Earth Day, Sallie. We need to understand our responsibility in being good stewards of this earth God created for us to enjoy. Lovely photos!

  15. Little Wandering Wren

    I have enjoyed your thoughtful post, I agree we should all cherish our Earth more … and vote for politicians across the world who support this view!
    Wren x

  16. Linda Brown

    I love your swamp photos.

  17. betty - NZ

    What great critters, so well worth your trek into the swamp! I love the photos you share as they are such different creatures than what I see here in NZ.

  18. David Gascoigne

    The Everglades has the potential of being one of the great natural wonders of the world. In all of my visits there I have never ceased to be in awe of the wonderful array of life in this unique system. I am sure that Trump views Florida only in terms of Mar-a-lago and never gives the Everglades a moment’s thought. In fact, given his level of ignorance about just about everything he probably couldn’t even describe it. It was a very sad day for America when they elected this buffoon to be their leader/would be dictator.

  19. weekend-windup

    Enjoyed seeing your photos:)

  20. sccollections

    Wow really great birdshots

  21. Lowell

    So much of what makes Florida such a great place to live depends upon the vitality of the Everglades. Unfortunately, Gov. Scott and his crooked friends in high places have worked hard to destroy the Everglades ever since they took office. We need to retire his sorry behind and get a governor and a senator who care enough about the state to do right by it!

  22. Angie

    Sallie – such an appropriate post for Earth Day. As a fellow nature lover, I need no encouragement, but we must persist in persuading the hearts and minds of those who don’t know nature.
    That’s why this quote of yours really resonated with me:
    “In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught.”

  23. Lorrie

    Beautiful photos, Sally. I love the colour on those spoonbills. We do need to preserve our natural lands and protect the environment as much as possible.

  24. Lady Fi

    Beautiful shots! I too am grateful for organisations and individuals who fight for the good of our planet.

  25. Marie-OR

    Glad the understanding came about! Our wetlands are so important. Beautiful photos!

  26. Gaelyn

    Saving nature is saving ourselves and thus why we pass along the knowledge and legacy. Thanks for doing your part.

  27. Molly

    Looks like a fabulous place

  28. Calendula

    Great series of photos! A part of nature worth to be preserved for posterity.

  29. Lavender Dreamer

    I felt so weird reading that first quote on the sign….every unclean and hateful bird! I thought WHAT!!!! And then I went on to read more. I know a lot of our readers think that swamps are nasty and dirty places. I wish they could see the tiny plants and huge Cypress trees that grow in them. And it’s a chance to see such a variety of nature…and you only see a tiny part of it. I want to copy some of these quotes in my journal tonight. I need to do a post like this soon too! Thank you SO much for these words of wisdom. We are surrounded by beauty! Hugs, Diane

  30. Pat

    I agree wholeheartedly, Dallie! We have to protect our natural resources as the earth–both nature and wildlife– is a delicate balance and needs protection.Thank goodness for organizations that workd= towards increasing understanding and preservation. They are worthy of our dollars and support!

  31. Sylvia D.

    Sallie, You always have great bird photos. Thanks for sharing and have a great week. Sylvia D.

  32. Hazel

    A fascinating sanctuary-perhaps the best I have seen. I thoroughly enjoyed your photos and script!

  33. Maggie

    Wonderful story telling assisted by the signage and your wonderful photographs of herons and spoonbills, this was a tour I really enjoyed. The Roosevelt quote is as valid today as it ever was. Keep up the good fight, dear Sallie.

  34. nancy chan

    I hope more people in power will appreciate nature more and preserved them instead of destroying them.

  35. Penelope Puddlisms

    “Hateful” … what an amazing word used to describe birds. I’m so grateful to all who toil to keep the natural world from disappearing completely, especially during this time of little support in key places. Indeed, currently the environment is in the hands of a throwback who lacks in that “understanding”. Hopefully, it’s a temporary step back. With a sanctuary named Corkscrew, it’s hard not to have hope and a smile.

  36. Su-sieee! Mac

    How did so many of us forget that we are the stewards of the Earth? When did it start? There’s nothing difficult at all to use our natural resources, kindly and sensibly. Environmental regs being repealed doesn’t mean we have to go back to being stupid and greedy. Let’s see how that goes. Oh-oh, I better leave before a soap box appears beneath my feet. See ya, Sallie 🙂

  37. Al

    Your photos show the unique beauty of the wetlands. The understanding of their importance is such a recent development

  38. Jeanna

    Well the director of the EPA has said he wanted to destroy the EPA and the secretary of the interior is another Trump toady more interested in fossil fuel than the health of the planet, so.
    Beautiful shots, you know how I love a good heron photo, will be trying to get some again in a few weeks.
    Love those spoonbills, it’s like they’re wearing tied dyed t-shirts

  39. Yogi

    Totally agree, I think we are heading backwards in so many ways including conserving out wildlands including swamps.

  40. Bob Bushell

    Nice story, and the nature, they are fantastic, thanks Sallie.

  41. A ShutterBug Explores

    Yes, it is a beautiful place and your photos have captured it well ~
    Happy Week ahead to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

  42. Hootin' anni

    Sallie…what a beautiful area! And, of course, GREAT BIRDS.

  43. Sondra

    So very true.
    . I have been taking a break from my soap box so happy there are good people like you to keep the fire burning. Lovely post.

  44. DeniseinVA

    Loved this post Sallie. Your photos brought back a lot of good memories from our own trip to Corkscrew Swamp a few years ago. I hope we get back there one day, it is gorgeous! Let’s hope it will be there for our children and our children’s children.

  45. mick

    Great photos and a beautiful part of the world. I hope there continues to be enough people who value it as it is now!

  46. Carol

    Lovely shots, Florida has always had those who abuse the environment. We have to keep fighting.

  47. phil

    There are some vary valid and contemporary words there Sallie. Like you and many others I hope our message of conservation is making headway because once we destroy the natural world through greed, money for the few at the expense of the many, there is no turning back. 1685 to 1783 and still we fight the same battles!
    If there is a hell the destroyers will surely end up there.

  48. William Kendall

    Beautiful shots!
    If Teddy Roosevelt would see what his current successor and gang of kleptocrats are doing, he’d be livid.

  49. Villroses hage

    Beautiful flowers and birds!
    Finally mankind have learned?

  50. Margy

    I hate to hear that many of the public lands are being opened to development rather than continuing to receive protection. – Margy

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