Harbingers of spring

Finally, on a warm south facing slope, I saw the first flowers of the season this afternoon. The tide has been low enough to allow for some beautiful beach hikes, and Jenni spotted these Alaska Violets growing on the rocks today. Their bright blue flowers pop out in sharp contrast to the orange lichens and grey chert that define the colors of the cliffs around the lodge. In addition to the violets, we found Lyre-Leaf Rock Cress, pictured below, and red currents with bright green leaves.

The Alaskan summer is short and intense. For the next few months, new blossoms will appear in the meadows and the forest and on the steep rocky slopes every week. New leaves and green grass will soon fill the landscape.

The flowers mark both the beginning and end of the growing season in Kachemak Bay. With these first blooms, it has begun. When the Fireweed blossoms go to seed in September, it will have reached its end. 

Searching for Saxifrage

 

Earthquake Point is high above China Poot Bay just a couple miles from the Kachemak Bay Wilderness Lodge. From there, you can see the front and back of the bay and the many channels formed when the tide is out. It’s a beautiful place to watch the water move. 

I hiked there recently to see if the first flowers had bloomed on the slope above the cliffs. To get to the point itself, you have to step over a deep fissure in the bedrock that cracked open in 1964 during a 9.2 earthquake and gave the point its name. Although there were no flowers yet, the south facing slope receives abundant sun during our already long days and will soon be full of Saxifrage. 

Kachemak Bay is a place filled with soft pastels throughout the year, but the flowers of summer interject brilliant colors not seen in any other season. From wild Alaskan iris to sweet smelling roses and a surprising variety of orchids, there are flowers of every shape, size and hue. I’ll go back to Earthquake Point soon to search for the small flowers that make the mountain views even more magnificent. 

 

Taking time

The weather has been wonderful the last couple weeks. The sun combined with the recent low tide series has led me to do some exploring. A few days ago, I decided to hike as far back into China Poot Bay as I could along the beach. Although I’ve passed the cliffs on the shore many times in a kayak, this was the first time I explored them on foot. 

I took the time to walk into every cave and enjoy the view looking back out toward the bay. The last cave I came to was stunning from the outside, but as I walked to the back of the cave the walls began to glow. I was there at just the right moment, when the setting sun hit the last remaining icicles and turned them bright orange. As I took the picture below, golden droplets falling from the ice reflected the light and the plink pluck of dripping water echoed off the cave walls.

This experience reminded me of how much the bay truly has to offer. It’s so easy to pass by places of mystery and beauty when you’re moving quickly. It’s so rewarding to take the time to explore the hidden places we so often pass by.