Actually, that’s not completely true. Despite days of eradication work, the dreaded Water Hyacinth probably still lurks in the depth of our little man-made pond, Lake Charles. Before I tell you how that project is going, let me just beg you that if anyone, at any time, tries to talk you into Water Hyacinth RUN SCREAMING from the nursery, greenhouse, plant sale or whatever. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES PLANT WATER HYACINTH. Anywhere. At any time. In any place. Unless you happen to be in South America, where it is a native. You may think you are not in danger from Water Hyacinth, but it’s beloved by garden shops catering to water features and if you aren’t careful, someone will try to talk you into it. Don’t do it. Remember the Day of the Triffids? Remember the Invasion of the Body Snatchers? Remember Audrey from Little Shop of Horrors? Now connect those monsterous, carniverous, soul eating plant-like aliens in your mind with Water Hyacinth. So that you will always fear the Hyacinth.
Here is some slimey Water Hyacinth. Too bad this blog doesn’t have Smell-O-Vision. You don’t want to know.
Because Water Hyacinth is to be feared. It’s one of the most invasive species around and it’s been choking out waterways from Florida to China to India. It nearly killed Lake Victoria in Kenya. And once it has a podhold, it’s a nightmare to eradicate. Napa County is spending millions to get it out of the Napa River. I’ve seen stories about whole villages in China that have been mobilized to wade into waterways and yank it out. Because if it gets that podhold, it will choke out everything native, cut off oxygen to frogs and turtles, provide prime breeding ground for mosquitos and turn a sparkling flowing waterway into a slimy, sludge-filled swamp seemingly overnight. See that picture at the head of the post. Lucy is looking out over Lake Charles a year ago. See that little tendril of Water Hyacinth snaking toward her leg. Well, it didn’t get her that time, but it did spread alarmingly, created a horrible, smelly anaerobic environment of black sludge.
This is Louis. He drew the short straw and got the fun job of wading in and yanking up Water Hyacinth.
This is Louis covered in Water Hyacinth slime. Louis is not happy.
If you even think about planting Water Hyacinth, Louis will find your town, come to your house and hurt you.
Yet, garden shops and landscape gardeners will keep pushing it. Don’t succumb. Even if you think you can contain it in a tiny little ornamental pond, it can still spread. We were just lucky to get it before it travelled over the spillway into our Redwood Creek. Again: STEP AWAY FROM THE WATER HYACINTH.
Jesus has the heavy equipment ready. Just in case the Water Hyacinth fights back.
Since we needed to redo the water filtration system with something much more powerful, we tacked Water Hyacinth Eradication onto the job. So today was the day the last of the Water Hyacinth came out. Or came as far out as it could be gotten. This slimey little plant bastard reproduces by putting out shoots that can regenerate themselves as plants even if you yank half of it out. So we know there are still some remnants lurking deep in the mud of Lake Charles. We’ll just have to keep dragging it out as it rears its ugly head.
So folks, trust me on the Water Hyacinth. Don’t do it.
The waterfall (built by John the Baptist) in happier days with native Monkey Flowers.
NOTE: In fairness to the Water Hyacinth, it does seem to be able to take heavy metals out of the water. But unless you live near a toxic waste dump, and you are going to be very careful to control it, forget Water Hyacinth.
Exotics. They used to have a different ring to them. Good luck with the campaign against the water hyacinths.
In this area we primarily deal with viney things like kudzu and whatever that low growing chapparal stuff is that shades out hardwood saplings around here. Roadside views full of it.
Honeysuckle abounds as does Gabriel’s trumpets. Of course the uber heartyand hardy indigenous unfriendlies have a way of setting up great defenses. Poke weed growing up in the middle of a blackberry bush — priceless and aggravating.
Bless you for your public service announcement regarding this devil of a plant.
I did actually try to grow it in my plastic pond. The raccoons ate it. Its all gone now so please don’t yell at me. LOL Poke weed is coming up EVERYWHERE though. That is a constant battle. Its only redeeming quality being that the constitution was signed in Poke weed ink.
Wow! If I could train the wild raccoons around here to eat it…
And is Poke Weed what they call Po’k Salad in the South? If the Constitution was signed in Poke Weed ink can we assume it’s a native?
Hey Lisa,
Sher tells me that, poke weed (Phytolaccaceae), is the same plant that was made famous (infamous) by the 60’s song. Po’k salad Annie she’ll get your grannie. Also it is native to south eastern U.S. but it is becoming a problem in the Sac. valley and delta.
JtB
According to my darling wife whose Mom was an ‘Oakie’.
Poke weed & Po’k Salad is the same thing but!!!!
Unless you know how to treat it & cook it, you will most likely die from eating it as it’s poisonous. If you do not know how to prepare, do NOT…
Find out from someone who does know, so that sudden death syndrome does not affect you.
Guess that’s why Po’k Salad Annie was so tough. According to the song, she always “picked her a mess of it.”
Do you know of Tania Leon’s opera, The Scourge of Hyacinths?