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You might think of Alaska as a land of glaciers. But, when the ice and snow melt, Alaska is a wealth of flowers. While many flowers blossom in May, some will not bloom until June. Although their growing season is short, it is
important. Without their growth, many animals would not have food. Flowers include bearberries and cranberries, fireweed, pasque flowers, forget-me-nots, and artic poppies.
Bearberries and Cranberries
Bearberries and cranberries look like blueberry and cranberry plants - except they are nestles close to the ground. Bearberries cover the ground like carpet, with but have very little flavor in the berry. The fruit at low elevations is bright red, but even then, the flavor is not good. Eskimos might pick them and mix them with another berry, but will not eat it alone.
The cranberry is similar. The dark red berries light up the mountain sides, and are noticeable throughout much of the winter.
Fireweed
Fireweed blooms from the bottom of the stem to the top. When it reaches its height of five feet, Alaskans say summer is almost over. It usually takes most of the summer for the whole plant to bloom. The bright pink flower will
cover hillsides, really making the sight beautiful.
Pasque flowers
This purple flower is usually the first to emerge after the winter months. The purple sticking up from the snow signifies that Easter is near, since "Pasch" means Easter in Latin and Greek.
Forget-me-nots
This is the Alaska state flower. The perennials leave the grounds sprinkled with blue. The small plant is known for love and remembrance.
Artic Poppies
These delicate flowers cover fields of Alaska. The yellow flower blooms along roadsides and hills from June to July.
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