Fireweed

One mans trash is another mans treasure and so it is it seems with flowers. This one being Alaskas state flower but in another part of the world it... more

by Jim Cook

Title

Fireweed

Artist

Jim Cook

Medium

Photograph - Photo Color

Description

One mans trash is another mans treasure and so it is it seems with flowers. This one being Alaskas state flower but in another part of the world it is nothing more than a lowly weed.Fireweed is a tall perennial herb with numerous dense, narrow lance-shaped leaves. Bright reddish-purple flowers grow in long terminal clusters and are very showy.
Fireweed is the common name for the perennial plant Epilobium angustoifolium. You will find the plant growing in open meadows, in areas recently cleared of vegetation by wild fires and along river¬beds and roadsides. Alaskans say that summer has started when the blossoms low¬est on the stem bloom and that summer’s end is in sight when the blossoms reach the top of the stalk.
I took this picture on a mountain road just outside of Homer Alaska. In the background are mountains that are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. Alaska is known for its seismic and volcanic activity, holding the record for the second largest earthquake in the world, the Good Friday Earthquake, and having more than 50 volcanoes which have erupted since about 1760. Volcanoes can be found not only in the mainland but also in the Aleutian Islands.

Uploaded

October 25th, 2012