I picked another few gallons of raspberries – red and peach. There’s still a few berries ripening but with the cooling temps this is probably about the end of raspberry picking season.

As all Alaskans know, when the fireweed is done – so is summer. Fall is definately here and winter won’t be far off. It’s said that once the fireweed blooms out snow is 6 weeks away.

Fall is here. We’re getting wet weather and cooling temps. Storms are rolling in more often and it’s in the 40’s at night!

I planted cream colored sunflowers in the garden. Love them!

Seals are out in the river trying to catch fish. They can stay underwater for a long time. Caught a photo of this one when he came up for air.

Jeff used his bulldozer to knock down beetle killed trees on the property in Talkeetna. Matt, our neighbor chainsawed them up to fit on his trailer then Jeff loaded them up and Matt hauled them away. The last few years so many trees in the Mat Su and Susitna Valleys have been killed by spruce bark beetle. It’s sad. There’s still life left in these trees and it’s nice that Matt can still make good lumber out of them. If we didn’t take them down they would eventually rot and the wind would break them off. The trees can’t survive these beetles. They are devastating the spruce population.

Driving the rolling hills of Talkeetna looking towards the Talkeetna Mountains.

I’m growing Rhodiola, a plant native to Siberia, that did much better than I expected. It doesn’t look like it would be cold hardy but it came back this year after planting it last year. It’s also called golden root and it’s roots are said to have medicinal properties, reducing stress and giving mental and physical vitality. I haven’t tried it yet but in the health food store you can find rhodiola teas and supplements. Interesting and pretty plant.

Picking wild blueberries in Talkeetna.

In addition to enjoying all the wild flowers that grow around our properties I love to grow garden flowers. Here are a few of my new favorites that I have growing in Talkeetna – checkered lily and himalayan poppy.