Whiff of Fall

August 18, 2008 Arcticulates ® Focusing on Alaska's Beauty Author: K. Fields Whiff of Fall It is starting to feel and smell like fall in the interior of Alaska. It happens so quickly. Summer one day, Fall the next and a couple days later it is Winter. Very fast! Very beautiful! So I will be devoting the next few posts on some of the interesting things about the Fall Season or what some call the Hunting Season. Early Morning Temperatures Dropping! Photo by K. Fields First sign of Fall...Chilly mornings. It has actually been really damp and cold all summer. It has been a while since we have had a summer this wet. I think we beat the record high in precipitation this year... But I digress... Usually you can tell the weather is going to change here, by the ultra cool mornings. Frost is on the ground in a lot of places. I have included a photo of a exterior thermometer so I could show my readers the temps the past few mornings. Low Bush Cranberries (Orange Color-Dogwood Berries) Photo by K. Fields We have to wait for the first frost before we can pick the Low-bush Cranberries, because the frost helps them to ripen. We have already had a couple of light frosts, and the berries are ripening. We use the Low-bush cranberries as just eating right from the plant, or for making relishes, and they taste awesome in muffins and pancakes. I mentioned the smell of fall, when you walk into the wooded areas where I live, you can actually smell the ripened cranberries. A heavy pungent order! High Bush Cranberries Photo by K. Fields The High-bush cranberries are ripe and ready to pick, they started ripening up last week. They are bright red in color, transluent, juicy, and have small seeds. They are edible and can be very sour, when eaten raw. We can use the high-bush cranberries to make juice, syrups, and jellies. Rose Hip Berries Photo by K. Fields The Rosehip berries are ready to pick also, they are loaded with natural vitamin C, And they grow wild all over the place in the interior. They are edible, slightly sweet, not very juicy unless overripe. Great dried and crushed, and used in teas, and as topping in salads, soups, and some also make rosehip jelly. Tho I prefer them mixed with other wild berries in jelly making. Lone Yellow Leafed Branch Photo by K. Fields The leaves are subtly changing, they are still pretty green for the most part, but a lot of the trees are in varies shades of light green and greenish-yellows, so the wooded areas are varying in shades of greens with some bright yellow twigs of leaves scattered here and there. Lone Yellow Leafed Tree Photo by K. Fields Now and then we come across a small tree that has completely changed over to yellow leaves. The colors can be breathtaking against the naturally dark black spruce trees. Plus the Fireweed and High-bush Cranberry bushes have bright red leaves now. Uh oh! Blossom Topped Fireweed Photo by K. Fields Another sure sign that Fall is here is the Fireweed which grows all over Alaska. It is tall stalks of pinkish purple flowers that blossom from about halfway up the stalk and then gradually reach the top. It has been said that when the Fireweed blossoms are at the top, then we should have our first snow dusting in 2 weeks. The interesting thing is...that sign...is usually right. Hay Fields Ready Photo by K. Fields The last sign for this post is a really common Fall sign, and that is the rolls of hay on the farms in the area. If you look closely at the picture, they are a little hard to see, but you can make out a herd of caribou grazing in the field too. Not your typical farm field photo! Except in Alaska! Later... K Fields See also: A Glimpse of Autumn! Digg Please Hey! Please Stumble It! Add to Technorati Favorites Please Rate at Blogged! Mixx it Please! Engage my post Kudo Me! Reddit You are welcome to comment in the box below. Please keep in mind that this is a child friendly site. Thank You! I look forward to meeting you and reading your thoughts.

Return to: Arcticulates' Home Archives Author: K. Fields Alaska, USA I live in Northern Alaska! Hence the unique spelling of my blog title. I love Alaska! It can be a challenging place to live, but... the beauty that surrounds me makes it all worth while. This blog/website is my opinion or views on what I hear, or see, on just about anything! Mixed with some genuine facts! Did you know that you can have all the new Arcticulates' posts sent directly to your email or favorite RSS feeder? All you have to do is click on Arcticulates' Feed for this free service. Thank-you! Arcticulates' Feed Recent Posts! Snowshoe Hare Bunnies Majestic Eagles Ice Sculpture Winners 2009 Polar Bear Conundrum Oil.. Alaska's Liquid Gold Whooo Loves Owls? Triumphant Harvest Garden Raiders Most Popular Posts! Magnificent Eagles Grizzly Situation! Glimpse of Autumn! High One or Not! Other Areas! Cooking in Alaska Reviews Links / Blogroll Alaska Jokes Archives Interior of Alaska Arcticulates' Disclosure Policy

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