Among the first wildflowers to appear, the Pasque often blooms before all the snow patches have disappeared. Photo Credit: Kay Lynn Odle-Moore/USFWS |
This wildflower, Iris Setosa, is often found in moist areas. Photo Credit: Kay Lynn Odle-Moore/USFWS |
Many visitors who travel the Alaska Highway are amazed at the number of wild flowers that can be observed along the highway, especially in June and July. Even an amateur botanist will be rewarded if s/he hikes one of the Refuge trails or visits one of the campgrounds, where many species can be studied closely. This is by no means a complete list of the many species which can be observed by the traveler.
Wild flowers (pdf).
Invasive/Noxious Weeds
Noxious and invasive plants are not just weeds or undesirable plants. They are aggressive, introduced plants that compete with native plants for light, water, and nutrients. They reduce the biodiversity of plant communities and may endanger native plants. Unfortunately, wetlands and waterways are particularly sensitive to these invasives. To find out more about invasive species that you may see along the highway, check out the link to the Alaska Committee for Noxious and Invasive Plants Management web site.
