Everglades Maples change color

People say that the Everglades have no seasons, but if you are watching, you will notice the changes. We have the wet and the dry.  If you are a snowbird, you may not experience the wet.  In addition, the plants here respond to the changes in light making subtle differences between winter, spring, summer and fall. 

The maples (Acer rubum), have turned and are red against the green backdrop of much of the Everglades landscape.  The change in color must be triggered by the light rather than cold, because it's still quite warm here.  It may be nothing like the glamorous glory of a sparkling day in New England, but it's still rather nice. 

 

 

Clearing, daily painting by Everglades artist Jo-Ann Sanborn

Everglades Clearing, 2012, Jo-Ann Sanborn

acrylic on board, 5"x7"

The morning clouds are clearing from this sky in today's daily painting.  Many clouds in the winter months don't contain much rain. 

There's very little water on the Everglades prairies during this time of year.  Alligators who aren't near deeper water have excavated a hole to fill with water and help them survive the dry season.  Fish, turtles, and other prairie denizens will use the alligator holes for water, too.  Once the rains come, the wildlife will disperse until the dry season comes again.