I'm ecstatic and exhausted, after having given birth to a new "baby" 2 weeks ago. She's a Water nymph, named Britt(le), and has kept me up at night, and sapped all my energy. But I'm loving being her caretaker, and am devoting my time to her willingly and lovingly. I'll sacrifice anything to stay involved, and be a part of her life. I'm fiercely protective and proud of her, as with any baby.
In reality, I'm the new Mom to the discovery of an invasive aquatic species (the Brittle Naiad or Water nymph, Najas minor) on my lake. Not a great thing, really, but just as babies turn out to be not quite what you anticipated, so it is with this one.
I'm pleased and proud to have detected it, and yet I'm unhappy because it means that we have yet another aggressive invader on our lake. Like a newborn, you have to get used to it, accept and work with what you have. But there is also a lot of worry, unknowns, and fear for the future.
Fighting this invader and doing battle with it has given me a new purpose! I'm not just a Mom anymore, I'm a Citizen Scientist, a certified Invasive Plant Patroller, with the successful detection of an invasive under my belt! That means I'm notorious, right?
4 comments:
Indeed! Formidable, I would say.
Is it me that's formidable, or my "baby"?
I saw the posts set up near your cove when we were out kayaking. This is not a great thing, BUT, your new status as a citizen scientist seems well-suited...you are gaining a solid rep already. I hope they can eradicate the invader. So much milfoil out there still. But the water lilies and pickerel weed flowers make up for it.
Yes, I've started off with a bang, alright! More surveying still needs to be done, and we're at the end of the season for removal, so we'll have to wait and see.
The milfoil ... is here to stay. I'm afraid.
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