In 1875, The Atlanta Constitution published the dramatic headline: “We now announce to our readers, and the people of Georgia, that we are fitting up an expedition for a complete and thorough exploration of Okefinokee. The full details of the plan and expedition will be published soon – if they come out alive.” Over the next months, the Constitution and other papers published many exciting stories from the Okefenokee…
“A few hundred yard further brought us to a series of bonnet flats or lakes, as Uncle Ben called them, which were anything but enticing. They were open places, which were twenty to fifty feet across, with any quantity of flat bonnets [water lilies] – a growth common to the deep ponds of South Georgia. I do not know the botanical name for them. Notwithstanding our many resolutions, we could not help shrugging our shoulders as we plunged to our arm-pits in the first one, for we knew well that under these bonnets were the favorite lurking places for the monsters of the Okefenoke.”
– Savannah Morning News. Savannah, Georgia. May 25, 1875
Hi, I’m conservation photographer and nature writer William Wise. Nature journaling and wildlife photography has been a favorite pastime since the ‘90s. I graduated from University of Georgia Warnell Forestry School's wildlife program in 1996. I'm currently an animal shelter manager/photographer and reside in Athens, Georgia, USA with my wife and two teenage daughters. My website www.williamwisephoto.com is a wildlife and birding photo website documenting the beauty, design and wonder of creation. I have a deep love of the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia. I became a devoted Christian in 1993 under a campus ministry while studying wildlife biology. My love of the outdoors quickly turned into a love for the Creator and His works. Creation Speaks is my teaching ministry that glorifies our Creator and teaches the truth of creation. I am also a guest author at Lee's Birdwatching Adventures and The Creation Club. The theme of my blogging comes from The Message version of Psalms 104 -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, You made earth overflow with your wonderful creations."
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One thought on “Okefenokee Bonnet Lakes”
Gorgeous photo, William! And the excerpt was fascinating. Love this post! ❤ Take care, Cheryl
Gorgeous photo, William! And the excerpt was fascinating. Love this post! ❤ Take care, Cheryl
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