Gardening in Alaska presents big challenges, whether it's the extra effort in finding plants tough enough to survive our Zone 2-4 climate, communicating with like-minded Alaska gardeners, or keeping up with the latest trends, issues and solutions. We'll try to help with that. We'll also tour gardens from Homer to Anchorage to Wasilla to Willow whenever we get the chance, and post the best garden photos around. Presenting a forum about cold-weather gardening and for cold-weather gardeners is what we are all about. We hope you'll join us on the Talk Dirt garden blog.
Photographer and gardener Fran Durner (fdurner@adn.com) writes the blog.
A member of the Garden Writers Hall of Fame, Jeff writes a weekly column on gardening in Alaska.
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Posted: June 17, 2009 - 1:39 pm
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The wild Iris setosa at Eklutna Flats are in full bloom. Fran Durner/ADNI took a drive to Eklutna Flats yesterday just to view the football-sized fields of wild Iris setosa in bloom along the highway. June is the best month to view wildflowers along the highways north and south of Anchorage. The Eklutna iris range in color from a deep royal purple to the palest of lavender. At one time, a white iris could be found among them but they have all but disappeared.
Although wild Iris setosa are the main flowers seen at Eklutna Flats in June, there are others to be seen as well, including, shooting stars, chocolate lilies, wild rose, yarrow and potentilla. Fran Durner/ADNAlthough the iris are dominant almost as far as you can see between the highway and Knik Arm, splotches of bright pink lead your eyes to the dainty but bold shooting stars, now part of the primula family, claiming their due admiration.
Fields of wild Iris setosa are in view from the Glenn Highway along Eklutna Flats. Although wild iris are the main flowers seen in June, there are others to be seen as well, including, shooting stars, chocolate lilies, wild rose, yarrow and potentilla. Just remember to apply bug dope before venturing out! Fran Durner/ADNFilling in around them, yellow potentilla and a native marsh pea compete for space. Dandelions are beginning their unwelcome march in from the highway.
Chocolate lily and shooting stars at Eklutna Flats.Tucked in the vegetation here and there you can also spot chocolate lilies but not in very great quantities. You may have better luck viewing them in Turnagain Pass.
The wild Iris setosa at Eklutna Flats range in shades of purple from royal to pale lavender. Fran Durner/ADNPotholes where people have dug plants make a walk in the fields a potential ankle bender. Remember that Eklutna is privaly owned and digging plants is illegal. Actually, digging wild plants is illegal just about everywhere.
South of Anchorage, lupines are blooming in quantity along the Seward Highway and although I haven't made it to Turnagain Pass yet this season, the flowers should be making a show up there as well. In past summers yellow paintbrush, violet wild geraniums, false hellebore, potentilla and chocolate lillies were within easy view a short distance off the highway.
Be warned! Bloodthirsty mosquitoes are still in great quantity, so bring your bug spray!
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