This place runs on rain.

We live surrounded by a thousand shades of green, and also covered for long stretches of time by heavy overcast. This morning dawned soft and gray with gentle misting rain. Mist pulls itself out of the mountainside trees, lifting into the clouds, only to drizzle down and again replenish this temperate rainforest.

The weather is back to what we in Southeast Alaska call “normal” after weeks of amazing sunshine. We need the rain, though. Moss in the muskeg had become crispy. Fish tried to find deep pools in dwindling streams. Reservoirs for hydroelectric power plants had become low enough to require supplemental diesel power generation. Everybody needs the water.

With an annual average of only ninety sunny days, we have a shortage-enhanced appreciation of sunshine. Wildflowers do too, and they pushed hard in the recent good weather to beautify our world...and to make more wildflowers of course.

So, for all of you Southeast Alaskans, here are some in-your-face flowers to brighten up your day. For all of you around the world who check in on this website, enjoy seeing some of our springtime wildflowers!