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!

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