This little Harebell was blooming in a crack in a rock at 3400' on Mt. Healy in Denali National Park. The flower is quite large in comparison to the whole plant. I'm often amazed at the tenacity of plants to live in such seemingly impossible situations!
This was the only ripe blueberry we saw on our 2-week visit. Berries of all kinds are very prevalent in Alaska. Berry picking is a popular activity in the late summer and fall. We enjoyed eating preserves at the Big Bear Bed and Breakfast where we stayed in Anchorage. Our hostess served us the "fruits of her labor" with her delicious breakfasts!
This little orchid is tricky to find because of its yellowish green color. It grows in low, damp areas. I found this one growing along the Savage River trail in Denali National Park, it is the farthest point that personal autos can be driven without a special park permit. It may seem strange to think of orchids growing in Alaska, but they grow in all types of ecosystems on every continent except Antarctica!
