March 27, 2020

Location: Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area, Fellsmere

It is amazing the things you find in nature
That sometimes you just don't see
Although this is exotic Common Water Hyacinth
It looked like an eyeball to me.

Note: I just about had a heart attack when I was scrolling through my pictures and came across this one. I could have SWORN that was a human eyeball. After closer examination, David determined it was a weird piece of the water hyacinth. 

Sources: Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences - Eichhornia crassipes

Photo and text © 2020 Dee Fairbanks Simpson

November 30, 2019

 Location: Lake Okeechobee Park, Okeechobee

Pictured here on the top is Common Water Hyacinth,
Surrounded by Water Lettuce
They are both invasive exotic plants
That kill native aquatic plants, which upsets us.

Sources: Click the above links for more information on how these aquatic weeds are damaging to the ecosystem.

Photo and text © 2018 Dee Fairbanks Simpson