Rainy-day visit to the Alaska Botanical Garden

Living in drought-ridden California, I had forgotten what rain is. But last Friday I got a reacquainted with the wet stuff that occasionally falls from the sky when I dragged my cousin Shannon to the Alaska Botanical Garden in Anchorage. Born and raised in Alaska, Shannon had never been there and was happy to finally get a chance to see it.

Where else do you have a moose fence?

Even though it wasn’t raining constantly—it was more of a fine drizzle—there were only two other visitors at the garden. That was completely fine by me since I didn’t have to wait for people to move out my picture.

As you can see below, most flowers were gone but many trees and shrubs were at their fall best. I hadn’t expected to find such brilliant colors and I was giddy with the photo ops that presented themselves all around me. I would love to go back to the Alaska Botanical Garden in June when the wildflowers are in bloom—and their surprisingly large collection of Himalayan poppies (Meconopsis sp.)—but now for I’m thrilled I was able to take so many beautiful fall pictures.

 

This is the first botanical garden I’ve visited where I was told be “bear aware”

The dying fern against the black rock made for a striking image

Possibly the most photogenic cabbage I’ve ever seen

I couldn’t get enough of views like this one

Currants

More currants

Leaf-covered path bordered by a hand-made willow fence

Birch leaves

Willow fence

Moss-covered glacial erratic

Variegated meadow sweet (Filipendula ulmaria ‘Variegata’)

What’s left of summer

Impossibly photogenic kale and cabbage

It isn’t much, but it’s the only succulent I saw

I was surprised to find fruit on this Evans sour cherry (Prunus cerasus ‘Evans’)

Rodgersia podophylla

Astilboides tabularis

More remnants of summer

I’ll admit, I couldn’t get enough of these fall tapestries

Lungwort (Pulmonaria sp.)

Rosehip

Foliage of one of the rare Himalayan poppies (Meconopsis × sheldonii)

Alpine Rock Garden

Alpine Rock Garden

Delicate plantings in a hypertufa trough

Forest views galore!

I might make myself a print of this photo and hang it on the wall

Entrance to the Herb Garden

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)

Tricolor sage (Salvia officinalis ‘Tricolor’)

Red-vein sorrel (Rumex sanguineus)

Entrance to Lile’s Garden

Lile’s Garden

Gabions, another unexpected fine

It’s rare seeing a bench in such a contemporary style

Crapapple (Malus sp.)

Highbush cranberry (Virburnum edule)

I have no idea what these striking blue-purple flowers are. Any guesses?

Ditto here

‘Elegance Salmon Rose’ sweetpeas

Blue curled Scotch kale

Anchorage Heritage Garden. The bed of this blue Chevy truck was filled with vegetables.

NOID mushroom. Looks dangerous to me!

Plant sale area

Hosta’ Empress Wu’, one of the largest hosta cultivars ever created. If I lived in the right climate, I’d have several of these!

The idea of a botanical garden in Anchorage was born in 1983 but it took another ten years before it opened its doors to the public on July 25, 1993. Today the Alaska Botanical Garden occupies 110 acres of land leased from the Municipality of Alaska. Most of the land is boreal forest in its natural state, with trails connecting a series of cultivated gardens that include two hardy perennial gardens (Lile’s Garden and the Lower Perennial Garden), an Herb Garden, an Alpine Rock Garden, an Entry Shade Garden, an Alaskan Kitchen Garden, and a new Anchorage Heritage Garden.

Unfortunately, most of the gardens weren’t at their best at this time of year. To see what they look like at the height of summer, check out this comprehensive three-part article on Peter Herpst’s blog Outlaw Gardener: 1 2 3. There even are photos of the Himalayan blue poppies I’ve recently become enamored with!

In closing, I’d like to thank the anonymous germ donor who so generously gave me their cold virus on one of the flights I took last week. I won’t forget you!