Sawgrass marsh turns gold at sunrise in Taylor Slough on April morn in Everglades National Park Florida

Snowy egret perches in a tree above creek that drains sawgrass marsh; Everglades National Park. Florida

Lily pads and sawgrass punctuate clear blue waters of flooded Everglades marsh in April. Florida

Man on tractor sprays bean crop on rock-farmed land that was once non-arable near Everglades N.P. Florida

Melaleuca trees grow along hiways in thick groves, the advancing line of invasion; Ft Lauderdale. Florida

Ominous row of Melaleuca trees towers along hiway at dusk like invading army; Fort Lauderdale. Florida

Interior of a Melaleuca forest reveals vestiges of a dried-up sawgrass marsh; Fort Lauderdale. Florida

Paper-like bark hanging in shreds, Melaleuca trees infest banks of many southern Florida canals. Florida

Thriving opposite sawn-off stumps of parents, Melaleuca seedlings mock man's attempts to kill it. Florida

Cradled in woman's hands, Melaleuca twig is lined by seed pods, each holding hundreds of seeds. Florida

Cradled in man's fingers, Melaleuca seed pod reveals hundreds of seeds inside. Florida

Aerial view of state-owned Everglades shows how Melaleuca and other plants clog drainage canal Florida

Melaleuca seedlings thrive downwind from herbicide-poisoned trees that released seeds when stressd Florida

Melaleuca seedlings thrive downwind from herbicide-poisoned trees that released seeds when stressd Florida

South Florida Water Mangmt Dstrct men weed Melaleuca seedlings in the state-owned Everglades (h). Florida

In sawgrass of Everglades marsh, a SFWMD worker weeds Melaleuca seedlings for erradication prgrm Florida

SFWMD men in two airboats sit with morning's bounty of Melaleuca seedlings weeded in Everglades. Florida

Common gallinule wades by cattails, perfectly reflected in Eco Pond at sunrise; Everglades N.P. Florida

Common gallinule swims in the still waters and reflections of Eco Pond; Everglades Natl Park. Florida

Common gallinule glides across the green, still waters of Eco Pond in Everglades Natl Park. Florida

Purple gallinule's bright colors resemble a watercolor painting in close-up portrait; Everglades Florida

Zebra swallowtail drinks nectar of purple blossoms along edge of marsh in Everglades Natl Park Florida

Great blue heron walks by the clear blue waters and lily pads of a marsh in Everglades Natl Park. Florida

Great blue heron is framed by the clear blue waters and lily pads of marsh in Everglades Natl Park Florida

Great blue heron fishes amid clear waters and stony shallows of marsh in Everglades Natl Park Florida

Close-up portrait of great blue heron highlights bright yellow eye & flexible neck; Everglades Florida

Great blue heron takes off with legs and neck awkwardly extended; Mrazek Pond, Everglades Natl Prk Florida

Snowy egret perches on small tree stump in dark waters of Mrazek Pond; Everglades Natl Prk Florida

Snowy egret opens backlit wings while perching on submerged tree in Mrazek Pond; Everglades N.P. Florida

Green-backed heron perches on stump in dark waters of Mrazek Pond in Everglades National Park. Florida

Double-crested cormorant swims amid lily pads before submerging to fish in pond; Everglades N.P. Florida

Double-crested cormorant stretches wings out to dry in the sun in Everglades National Park. Florida