These opening words from Marjory Stoneman Douglas' immortal book,
"Everglades: River of Grass" vividly portray the uniqueness of the Everglades. Published in 1947, the book has become the definitive description of this natural wonder she fought so hard to protect. After several reprints, a revised edition was published in 1987 (when she was
97 years old) to bring attention to continuing threats and encroachment on this region.
When she died at age 108, she was still strongly campaigning to preserve this vital eco-system on the southernmost point of the U.S. It is hoped that The Friends of the Everglades, a conservation organization she spearheaded in 1969, will publish her unfinished book which will conclude a list of hundreds of books and articles she wrote during her lifetime.
The Everglades in South Florida has been described as the most magnificent parcels of land and water in the United States. Thousands of species of reptiles, birds, mammals, fish, flowers, and insects make this semi-tropical environment their home. Like others who come from all over the world to see, first hand, what this place is really like, we delight in hearing talks by park rangers, visiting the book stores, and photographing and seeing "close up and personal" just a few of the egrets, herons, white-tailed deer, alligators and other creatures we chance to meet. No less fascinating are the exotic plants and trees that transform our stay into a tropical adventure
Today, the Everglades is but half its original size, due to over-construction and extensive drainage. Fortunately, a comprehensive restoration plan began in 1998 . But if Marjorie Stoneman Douglas had not fallen in love with this "river of grass" in the early part of last century, and awakened our nation to its importance, it might not be in existence at all.
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