If you need a place to stay
near Juneau, Indian Cove B&B (Auke Bay) earned
our highest recommendation. (I don't know why the B&B photos are distorted.)
our highest recommendation. (I don't know why the B&B photos are distorted.)
Steve and Tammy Ignell are great hosts, and the rental
charges are
less than a Best Western! We saw porpoises, seals, eagles, herons, and
hummingbirds from our deck. The quiet and beauty were a wonderful tonic
for us Northern Virginia fugitives.
Bob and Dian taking a picture of Jody at Mendenhall Glacier.
Mendenhall Glacier.
a.
b.
c.
less than a Best Western! We saw porpoises, seals, eagles, herons, and
hummingbirds from our deck. The quiet and beauty were a wonderful tonic
for us Northern Virginia fugitives.
Bob and Dian taking a picture of Jody at Mendenhall Glacier.
Mendenhall Glacier.
Naturalists'
Corner -- What the heck are these?
b. c. a. Broomrape (Orobanche ramosa) parasitizes roots
of other plants and has
no chlorophyll. Its flower spikes are up to about 12" tall. Broomrape is a
Class A noxious weed in many states.
no chlorophyll. Its flower spikes are up to about 12" tall. Broomrape is a
Class A noxious weed in many states.
b.
Skunk Cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus)
leaves exude a skunk-like odor
when crushed, and ingested leaf juice calls forth a strong inflammatory
reaction in the mouth and esophagus.
c. Skunk Cabbage leaves are huge, about 2' in length. Lurking deep down at
the core is the flower head (spadix).
when crushed, and ingested leaf juice calls forth a strong inflammatory
reaction in the mouth and esophagus.
c. Skunk Cabbage leaves are huge, about 2' in length. Lurking deep down at
the core is the flower head (spadix).
d.
e.
f.
e.
f. d.
Dwarf Dogwood or Bunchberry (Cornus
canadensis) is
a forest-floor version
of the familiar dogwood tree, a mere 3-8" in height. It is native in North
America from Newfoundland to Alaska and, in high-elevation conifer forests,
south to Virginia and California.
e. Cow Parsnip (Heracleum lanatum) is a 3-10' high plant also found in Siberia.
Alaskans call it "puchki" (Russian for "bunches" or "clusters"), evidently for its
typical carrot-family flowers.
f. Goat's Beard (Aruncus dioicus), aka Bride's Feathers, is a 4-7' plant that
is native from Alaska to California and in Eurasia. It is popular in English-style
perennial gardens.
of the familiar dogwood tree, a mere 3-8" in height. It is native in North
America from Newfoundland to Alaska and, in high-elevation conifer forests,
south to Virginia and California.
e. Cow Parsnip (Heracleum lanatum) is a 3-10' high plant also found in Siberia.
Alaskans call it "puchki" (Russian for "bunches" or "clusters"), evidently for its
typical carrot-family flowers.
f. Goat's Beard (Aruncus dioicus), aka Bride's Feathers, is a 4-7' plant that
is native from Alaska to California and in Eurasia. It is popular in English-style
perennial gardens.
We visited
the
State Capitol, the Juneau-Douglas City Museum, and the
excellent
Alaska State Museum -- which does a superb job interpreting the Alaska Native
cultures and the state's Russian and American history. Thus primed, it was only
natural to go from there to Ketchikan, Alaska's Gateway on the Inside Passage,
to study totem poles and other Tlingit and Haida symbolic art.
Alaska State Museum -- which does a superb job interpreting the Alaska Native
cultures and the state's Russian and American history. Thus primed, it was only
natural to go from there to Ketchikan, Alaska's Gateway on the Inside Passage,
to study totem poles and other Tlingit and Haida symbolic art.
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