Friday, August 21, 2009

Alaskan Fireweed

Close-up of an Alaskan Fireweed plant. Named for the striking blooms on tall stalks, Fireweed is probably the best known wildflower in Alaska. Patches of fireweed can be seen growing throughout Alaska's more temperate regions.
In mid to late summer fireweed begins blooming in the middle of the stalk, with each successive flower blooming just above the one before it. As the last flowers are blooming at the top of the stalk, the earliest blooms seed and turn to cotton, as seen below. When the fireweed turns to cotton, Alaskans say there are about six weeks until winter begins.
Here's a little history of the fireweed in my yard!

8 comments:

He & Me + 3 said...

Very cool. They are really neat looking plants and how cool to read the weather by them:)

shabby girl said...

The plants always know, don't they? Just like the Mesquite trees "know" when the chance of frost is over in the spring.
Must be beautiful all summer with the fireweed!!!

More Than Words said...

I wish the weeds in our backyard looked like that!! LOL!

Rachel Cotterill said...

They're so pretty - how can it be a weed?

Laurencita said...

oh! it looks like an orchid here in our place.

Laurencita said...

oh! it looks like an orchid here in our place.

Laurencita said...

oh! it looks like an orchid here in our place.

Alexis AKA MOM said...

Wow I've never heard of it, but I'm loving it! I love learning new things, thanks for sharing girlie :).

Hope you're having a wonderful day!