Seasons, What's in the Water, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

What's in the Water, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 7"x5"

Mindful of the movement of the sun creating the familiar seasons of winter, spring, summer, and fall, life in the Everglades revolves around just two seasons, the wet and the dry.

From June until November heavy afternoon rains soak the marshes, flood the prairies, and fill the aquifers. Humidity of over 90% and temperatures in the 90s are common. These hot, wet conditions bring significant changes to the Everglades landscape. Animals, dependent on water holes in the dry season begin to disperse. Plants begin a cycle of re-growth. Mosquitoes and other insects increase in great numbers, and fish spawn and flourish.

Everglade skies grow quiet as the wet season gives way to the dry.There's less threat of rain, the water retreats, and the lush greens of summer turn to gold and then into grays as the grasses dry. Migrating birds return and fish, frogs, and other creatures of the Everglades seek out the holes that alligators have enhance to find enough moisture to keep them alive.Fire danger increases.

Human, following a path centuries olds and looking for relief from frigid northern winters,  migrate south to enjoy the climate.  Native Everglade plants and animals go into survival mode until the life-giving rains begin again,.