GREEN

Green, green, green, forget snow, how many words must our natives have for the shades of green?   This was my thought on a recent (rare) sunny day while looking across the waters.  Southeast Alaska is home to the Majestic Red and Yellow Cedars, Sitka Spruce Trees, Fir, and Hemlock each with their own distinctive hue of green.  The under canopy consists of primarily Alder, blueberry bushes, or Crabapple and the infamous Devil’s Club.   Each plant has its own unique shade of green.

Alder growing along the mountain road,
 Tongass National Forest.

 

Witches' Hair

 The South may have their Spanish Moss but we have Witches’ Hair as they call the yellowish green moss that hangs in the trees.  There is also a silvery green lichen that grows on branches and a black green moss on the ground.  Along the shoreline the bronzy and golden green shades of the kelp and popweed are visible.  One would think that it would get monotonous but it just all harmonizes and constantly turns your eye as you see something else.

Popweed on shoreline, thick forest with deadfalls  to climb over, crawl under and walk on.

My favorite greens are the ones growing in the green house.  We have had peas, spinach, lettuce, and  the squash and tomatoes are starting.  It is our best year ever.  We even have a visiting gnome, the Uncle Ed from Charlotte’s Gnomeburt living in my bonsai.  Say what you will about living in a rainforest but it lets impatient gardeners like me bonsai.

Uncle Ed watching over young to be bonsai tree.

We have been out in the forest picking blue berries recently.  They make healthy crepe fillings, pancakes, cobblers, or as Zach says, “You can just eat them fresh!”  There is nothing as reassuring as keeping the bear dog close when one can’t find any berries in the bushes but sees plenty of fresh, berry -filled  bear scat around.  As Larry says, makes you want to dip your undies in gravy.  Or does it?  Would that keep the dog close or the bears???

Did he trick me again?