The
Hyacinth personifies the fragility and the strength of
life on the river. The blossom is beautiful to see,
and so delicate that the petals will be destroyed by
a touch. Yet, this floating plant can quickly overrun
the river, lakes, and canals if not strictly controlled.
Acres and acres of these beauties in bloom is a fabulous
sight, and they benefit the river by screening excess
nutrients and toxins from the water, but when they take
over the river they can make navigation impossible.
I have
seen the river so clogged with hyacinth that even the airboaters
got stuck trying to go over them. The plants were so tightly
compacted the boaters were able to stand on top of them
to push their boats free of the clog!
