Fireweed in Bloom

Here in Alaska is a beautiful flower called fireweed. Though it is very pretty people around here have mix feelings about its blooming. Fireweed has many blossums running up the stem. It starts blooming from the bottom up. When the blossoms on the top open up summer is over here. So even though the flower is beautiful and plentiful around here it means that summer is about over. It is hard to believe summer is all most over as we haven't had a summer like I am use to. We have not got the record heat temperatures that the lower 48 is feeling. In fact this morning our furnace was running. I went for a walk earlier and was surprised how cold it felt outside. Of course, it was raining lightly and there was a breeze. The gift shop in town that opened June 15th is running end of the season sales all ready. The lodge at brooks camp closes September 17th. By the end of September the only places opened in King Salmon will be the bank, the grocery store, the small college, the post office and Eddies. The only day it felt hot here the temperature reached 63 degrees and only the humidity made it feel hot. I am told that fall here is beautiful so I guess I will find out soon enough. I do enjoy the fireweed though as it is a bright pink color that stand outs among the plants of the tundra.