Driving around Alaska, it is hard not to notice the fireweed. It is everywhere. But until I had spent enough time in Alaska to notice its many faces, I did not appreciate its beauty.
When we first arrived, fireweed was in full bloom. Its pink flowers proliferated on the highways, the hillsides, and in forests. Anywhere we went we saw fireweed. Against the green background of grasses and trees, its bright pink blooms created a beautiful painting.
When we were in Homer, the rain appeared and poured on much of the state. We noticed that the blooms were nearly gone by the time the rain left, leaving bright red stems, green leaves, and seeds that looked like cotton. The seeds showed up within the green leaves, so the plant was a medley of green, red, and white.
Then in Denali, we saw some vibrant red leaves. When I looked at them, I had no idea what they were. Chris put two and two together, however, realizing that the bright red flower stems had fallen off, and the green leaves below them were now turning red. As we drove toward Haines, we found more and more beautiful fireweed.
The fireweed plant is not a "one and done" plant. It gives color and beauty to Alaska from bloom to seed to autumn.
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