The 21st Century Magazine,
at South Florida's www.miami-dade-online.com.
Flood by Irene, Wilderyard under water.
by Nancy Hopkins, copyright 1999, November 2, 1999
We call the acre of land that surrounds our small house the
Wilderyard. Once in a while, this low-lying area becomes the
Wilderswamp, as it has for thousands of years, when the
Everglades overflow. This was the view from the back door
after Hurricane Irene came a visiting.
Irene turned directly toward us, dumping well over 20 inches
in many places. It was to be the worst flood I had experienced
since moving into the Wilderyard in 1983. We evacuated to
our Friend's guest house a block away. Luckily it was just high
enough. But from the back of that house we could canoe all
the way to the front of our yard. They say we could have gone
another two blocks in any direction.
It was in this very area that the Great Blue Heron landed, right
in front of the
canoe. I was alone at that time, and without
the camera. I am sorry I could not share that sight with you. It
was breath-taking to see that huge bird, delicately land in the
water, turn, see me, and fly off. A moment that will live
forever in my memory of Irene.
Many of the plants love the floods. To the left is the Ficus Tree which never complains about too much water.
We hum
ans complain about a lot of things during a flood,
but not the beauty. For a few days, Nature took hold again,
and the land became as it was, wild and wonderful and
beautiful.
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