8/23/09
Weekends are a popular time to decorate around the house, so when you're shopping for the perfect accessories or furnishings, look for a material called water hyacinth. This wicker-like material is lightweight, durable and inexpensive. Water hyacinth was introduced as a decorative aquatic plant in Asia by colonists; because it's not a native species, it has reproduced dramatically, often at the expense of native plants and wildlife. To control the population, water hyacinth is collected by hand, dried and woven into furniture, baskets and other functional accessories. The more you buy, the more you help.