Sloughs, rhymes with blues! Daily painting by Everglades artist JoAnn Sanborn

I'm continuing another week or so with my Everglades story: 

As seasonal rainfall accumulates in the lake region, water overflows onto the prairies and begins a long slow journey to the gulf.  Over time, sloughs have formed.  Sloughs (rhymes with blue) are marshy channels, dotted with tree islands.  Some are quite deep and will hold life-sustaining water throughout the year.

Because of the water flowing around them, the tree islands have developed into teardrop or lozenge shape, formed by the water flow.  Usually smaller than the hardwood hammock forests, they provide nesting sites for birds and shade and protection to species that feed on the open prairie.

Recent excavations show that the tree islands may have developed on discarded refuse from ancient human habitation, and the others have formed from an uprise in the limestone.  

FYI:
I've got a few of the daily paintings left over from 2008 &9.  They'll be on special for $50, no frame or free shipping, in the studio till the end of the month.  If you're away and see one you like, you can email me.