Saturday, August 29, 2009

The End of Summer

The fireweed is almost all bloomed-out... ...and the elderberries have ripened in the August sun. A yellowish undertone has crept into the vegetation and autumn is not far from us now.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Yesterday in Alaska

Yesterday was a glorious summer day, so I kept my camera close at hand.

The flowers on the deck are a constant pleasure. I planted mixed seeds so I wasn't sure what I was going to get. I love the old-fashioned look of my flower pots. They look like a celebration...



I don't know whether it is the fine weather we've had this summer or the volcanic dust that fell this spring, but the fireweed have grown spectacularly this year. I have never seen them so tall.



These "weeds" can challenge the beauty of the cultivated blooms...

We needed to run an errand out to the Russian Old Believers' Village near Anchor Point. From the crest of the North Fork Road, lower Cook Inlet lay spread out beneath us. Mount Iliamna is the snow-capped peak on the far side of the Inlet.



The village is a bit of the Old World nestled in Alaskan wilderness...



The peaks on the far side of Kachemak Bay peek over the hills as we head home.



The deck is an inviting place to take one's ease on a pleasant summer day.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Tutka Bay



We went out to pull up our crab pots this afternoon. I snapped this picture as we left Tutka Bay for home.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Smoky Skies



The smoke from the massive fires in the interior has drifted down to our neighborhood. On our road trip to Kenai and back today, most of the scenery was veiled in smoke and low clouds. I took this from a high point south of Ninilchik heading toward Homer.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

The Side Yard



Compare with the same view a few weeks ago.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Monday, August 3, 2009

Bog Flower



I love these little flowers and have encouraged them to grow in our yard. Despite their rather inelegant name, their bright white star-shaped blossoms enliven the undergrowth with a touch of delicate beauty.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Naked Mountains



The fine weather combined with the dusting of volcanic ash we got this spring has denuded the peaks of their snow pack.