Edge of Chugiak: Coastal Alaska Southcentral

Beautiful picture with the cloud just touching the hills and the pretty pink flowers in the foreground!

Thanks. The clouds from the coast are caught here in the chugiak keeping this side greener, wetter. This is end of July because the fireweeds, the pink flowers, are towards the tops of their blooms. They're everywhere and a good clock for summer, since they bloom for a long bit of the season.

I wasnt sure what the flowers were, but I recognise them now they grow here on waste land and railway embankments, I remember picking them as a little girl to take home to my Mum, but sadly they very quickly flopped over and died ;0)

Looks lovely

Ohh, what a beauty!

I love the green clothed mountain there Gt....its beautiful! I think your Fireweed is our Rosebay Willowherb......I'm always pulling little plantlets out of my garden...Lol

Thank you all. :-) This was such a rich area when I lived down there, thick and green. I couldn't remember the name there for it Janey. I does fade quick as a cut flower and seeds very readily. I do enjoy the tender shoots sauteed in a bit of butter though, a nice softness like asparagus. I ate them all summer long at one cabin. I kept a patch just for them. Tender enough you can also just throw them in a salad or such. High minerals.

If you raise a few, cut just as the seed fluff shows, mash into the area ( I stomp it) you want it to stay and water in. Next year you'll have a patch of shoots. :-)

Lovely hillsides :o)

Thank you TT. :-) The coastal summer is so beautiful.

We have a lot of fire weed in the woodlands here..I had never realized it would be good to eat..sounds lovely..and I like the name Rosebay Willow Herb Janey, that is delightful! :)

That's really interesting Gt.....we will try them sauteed like you say in the summer......:o)
It is a romantic name isn't it Cat.......such a pretty herb too........

Collect the shoot with a smooth pull at the stem (like pulling a blade of grass) when the brush has just started to open to be leaves. Usually 6-8 inches long. I took a liking to them and collect every year, though too much you get that overly mineraled feeling.....lol. I like the Rosebay Willow Herb name too. Much more dignity than fireweed. I did see plenty in Washington but no sight like our fields we get here some places in summer.

Such beautiful scenerary you have its gorgeous.

Thank you. I live a good 200 or more miles form this kind of thing. I loved it living there. Maybe I'll get down there this summer to get some good pics. Devil's Club is just amazing to see, and only down on the coast.

A cosy looking valley

I agree. Thanks. (Though inside I know better, that is surely swamp down in there.)