Early Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium) Bloom

Observation: Fireweed has already started blooming everywhere.

LEO says: USDA Forest Service - Fireweed is a tall showy wildflower that grows from sea level to the subalpine zone. A colorful sight in many parts of the country, fireweed thrives in open meadows, along streams, roadsides, and forest edges. In some places, this species is so abundant that it can carpet entire meadows with brilliant pink flowers. Fireweed was important to native people around the world. Choice patches of fireweed were even owned by high-ranking families in British Columbia. Tea was made from the leaves. High in vitamins A and C, fireweed shoots provided a tasty spring vegetable. Flowers yield copious nectar that yield a rich, spicy honey. Today, fireweed honey, jelly, and syrup are popular in Alaska where this species grows in abundance. By Edna Vizgirdas (M. Tcheripanoff)

Resource:

• Vegetation Map and Classification: Northern, Western, and Interior Alaska (Second Edition - 2016) - This guide describes the component landcover classes of the Vegetation Map for Northern, Western, and Interior Alaska developed by the Alaska Center for Conservation Science (ACCS). The landcover map represents the best-available data derived from 18 regional landcover maps that have been developed within the last 31 years... (Alaska Natural Heritage Program Alaska Center for conservation Science, University of Alaska Anchorage)