[singlepic id=1868 w=320 h=250 float=left]Exploring the Dark and Light of Everglades National Park.
My wife and I visited the rugged park which is a vast area of protected marshland and coastal mangroves in southern Florida, USA. Upon arrival at the Flamingo campground we found out that a man had gone missing. Unfortunately the man is still yet to be found. For much of the trip my thoughts were torn between hoping to find the man and the unthinkable. Despite the worrisome situation, we found several peaceful days to learn about the ecosystem and hit a number of inspirational trails.
A marsh is an area of low-lying land that is flooded in wet seasons or at high tide, which typically remains waterlogged at all times. The Everglades salt marsh is an attracting equal balance of beauty and grotesque. This layering seems to be created by sun, salt water and decomposing organics such as leaf and coastal grass. The dryer top layer of the marsh reminded me of how paper and parchment is created. The cracked and surreal slashing textures combined with the multi-layered impressionist sea parchment beckoned me.
[singlepic id=1860 w=285 h=215 float=right]Inland from the coastal tract is the mostly treeless prairie where grass grows and soil layers appear as a mixture of clay and dirt. Seeing the grass grow through dehydrated and lifeless looking soil was amazing. The patterns in the soil appear petroglyphic and many of the trees in the prairie die with a beauty unlike anything I’ve witnessed. The lifeless trees offer a surprisingly spiritual yet chilling feeling which gravitates towards something which is very much alive.
So much of our trip was a great mixture of dark and light, a small portion of our lives reflecting the endless parts of nature.
Hi-Res Gallery
[nggallery id=122]
