Alaska: Part Four "Fireweed"

My favorite plant in the world is Fireweed. It's a beautiful weed that grows profusely in Alaska. I am mildly obsessed it! This "grove" stood as tall as me. (I cut myself out of the picture, though. I didn't want to overshadow the flowers, with my beauty.)

When I was in Alaska last summer, for my 3 day job as a cotton candy seller at the Moose Dropping Festival of Talkeetna, I took more pictures of fireweed than anything else.

This shot does have beautiful Mt. McKinley in the background.

And this composition is entitled, "Fireweed with a Bee." Trust me, he's there!

Here is my friend Emily's adorable daughter, with Fireweed.

Fireweed is the first plant that pops up after wildfires. It can be pink, or purple, depending on where it's grown. Notice the seed pods that grow at the base of the plant in August. Some kids "smoked" candy cigarettes, we Alaskan kids "smoked" fireweed pods. They were free, pretty and split open to look like this:

This stuff is great to throw in people's hair. Ahh, fun times with Fireweed.

Note: I am not particularly proud that I had a fireweed "smoking" habit at 6 years old. I never lit, I just pretend puffed, and looked like a movie star, with a pink "cigarette." I'm really grateful that smoking isn't cool/socially acceptable anymore and that my kids won't be tempted to pretend, I hope!