Fireweed is a tall beautifully-colored wildflower that is blooming prolifically in fields and along roadsides wherever we've been in Alaska so far.
It is lovely to see masses of these magenta flowers as you walk or drive along.
Fireweed is known as Alaska's Summer Clock. Local wisdom says that once the fireweed blooms to the top of the stalk, summer is over and it is only a few more weeks until the long winter sets in.
Believe me, we are keeping a close eye on it!
Here are a few more beautiful Alaska wildflowers. We've enjoyed these lovely color spots as we travel in the state and, for year-round Alaskans, I would imagine they are even more welcome after a long cold winter.
I'm planning to link this post* to TODAY'S FLOWERS AND NF BLO-MA. Thank you to Denise and the TF team and to Monica for hosting Blo-Ma.
(*if travel and internet connections cooperate)
Very pretty flowers and photos of them. After a long winter, people must be so happy to see sights like this.
Posted by: Pat | July 19, 2014 at 08:50 PM
Beautiful to behold, Sallie/.
Posted by: Penny | July 15, 2014 at 12:39 PM
jolies
Posted by: l'angevine | July 13, 2014 at 04:32 AM
Such beautiful flowers! Wonderful flowers!
Posted by: Mary | July 13, 2014 at 03:24 AM
Lots of fireweed around here in the Similkameen. A great number of years ago when we were connected with the sheep industry provincially for a few summers we gathered sheep from all over the province and pastured them out in the mountains, on fireweed, which they loved and which is very nutritious for sheep.
Posted by: Hildred Finch | July 12, 2014 at 08:35 PM
Beautiful color
Posted by: Ramblingwoods | July 12, 2014 at 05:41 PM
I love that flower. We naemd them after the man that buildt the railroads. :)
Something got wrong I think. You link to Blo-Ma but the link goes to last weeks edition that is closed. And you are not linked to any of the linkups. :( Just ato let you know
Posted by: NatureFootstep Memes | July 12, 2014 at 02:45 PM
Wonderful collection of the flowers !
Posted by: Ela | July 12, 2014 at 10:03 AM
The flowers are all gorgeous, but I do love the fireweed best.
Posted by: Gaelyn | July 12, 2014 at 09:20 AM
beautiful images.
Posted by: Felicia | July 12, 2014 at 08:19 AM
So that is what fireweed looks like!!! I have read the name in so many books... And. being a native plant, it is so much more beautiful than our invasive purple loosestrife...
Posted by: Judy | July 12, 2014 at 07:06 AM
Gorgeous array of color!
Posted by: Pat | July 12, 2014 at 06:45 AM
The fireweed is lovely and I also like the montage with other Alaska wildflowers.
Posted by: Carver | July 12, 2014 at 05:47 AM
Gorgeous wild flowers Sallie. Fireweed is new to me.
Posted by: DeniseinVA | July 12, 2014 at 05:19 AM
Oh, I've never seen Fireweed before; so pretty,aren't they♡♡♡ It is funny to hear (under this hot weather here,haha)that they are the sign of coming cold winter. And sweet other beautiful flowers are still blooming♬♬♬ Your friend's comment that moose love it made me amazed. Thank you very much for the word "prolifically" p;)
ps. I've heard about debris reached to even America! A disaster sure doesn't mean for the particular coutry. Hope we all won't be the subject of another big one, Dear Sallie.
Posted by: orchid | July 11, 2014 at 10:36 PM
Beautiful flowers !
Posted by: Gattina | July 11, 2014 at 09:39 PM
Sallie, I'll have to remember this about Fireweed. I know the moose love it! Unfortunately, it's trying to take over my garden. I love seeing it in the forest though. You're seeing a variety of wildflowers.
Posted by: Barb | July 11, 2014 at 05:44 PM
The fireweed blooming fully signals the end of summer.
A beautiful signal to start winter?
Posted by: rainfield | July 11, 2014 at 05:23 PM
Such beautiful flowers that we don't see 'down here' :) It is fun to view them through your eyes :)
Posted by: Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow | July 11, 2014 at 05:12 PM
Beautiful flowers!
Posted by: Mama Zen | July 11, 2014 at 11:51 AM
I had no idea Alaska had so much summer vegetation during its short summer! Your Blog is a great diary of your tour and a continuing delight to follow.
Posted by: Hazel | July 11, 2014 at 10:05 AM
What a neat indicator of when to expect colder temps. Sure wish we could expect winter soon...sigh. Love all those beautiful blooms, Sallie!
Posted by: Gail | July 11, 2014 at 09:10 AM
Thank you for sharing these lovely photos! I am a fan of wild flowers and I know Alaska has many varieties not found in the lower 48 states.
Posted by: Dianne | July 11, 2014 at 09:07 AM
How lovely! Nice mosaic!
Posted by: Karen, Pixel Posts | July 11, 2014 at 08:10 AM
I think weeds get bad press sometimes because they are so prolific but many of them are quite lovely and add color to beige and gray landscapes.
Posted by: Penelope Puddlisms | July 11, 2014 at 06:52 AM
really beautiful!
Posted by: TexWisGirl | July 11, 2014 at 06:32 AM
I love the looks of the fireweed and love the story about how the full flowering signals the end of summer.
Posted by: Yogi | July 11, 2014 at 06:09 AM
I'm pretty sure we have fireweed here too. The finches like the seeds come autumn time. You found some lovely flowers and of course the typical images of Alaska are snow and ice, not the wonderful but short lived summer.
Posted by: phil | July 11, 2014 at 05:24 AM
I wonder if fireweeds are not the most common flowers in the northern world. I see them here, all around my parents' house, in Germany, in Swisterland, in Norway, in USA, in Canada... They are good, faithful and beautiful friends !
Posted by: Annie | July 11, 2014 at 05:07 AM
That must be awesome to see...love the fireweed! Its Mid july already...can hardly believe it! Safe travels to y'all.
Posted by: Sondra | July 11, 2014 at 05:00 AM
Gorgeous flowers! Thank you for your comments on mine. Sorry I haven't been by to comment back until now. I'm working double hours these days. Will catch up soon. You asked about when the link opens for Rubbish Tuesday. I open it at
6 a.m. on Monday Morning and leave it open until Wednesday night.
Posted by: Roan | July 11, 2014 at 04:22 AM
Gorgeous colors and beautiful flowers. I just can not think about winter now, it is way too soon.. Happy weekend!
Posted by: Eileen | July 11, 2014 at 02:23 AM
it's a lovely flower, we get it here in Scotand and we call it (usually) rosebay willow herb.
Posted by: craftygreenpoet | July 11, 2014 at 12:56 AM