We were delighted and amazed to see this mountain goat carefully picking his way along the edge of the cliffside above the Holgate Fjord. He is certainly safe from any predators here! This picture was taken from a boat with the maximum telephoto capability on my Nikon Coolpix 5700, so it is a bit blurry!
This plant is a pint-sized relative of our southern Dogwood tree. These pretty white flowers bloom on small herbaceous (non-woody) plants, not trees. The other name alludes to the cluster of red berries that ripen in the fall. The white "petals" are actually bracts, the true flowers are found in the center.
The downtown part of the city of Anchorage is bursting with colorful flowers. Hanging baskets with gold Marigolds and blue Lobelias reflect the colors of the state flag, gold stars in the shape of the Big Dipper and the North Star on a dark blue field.
