Rainforest Gardening

Rain, rain, rain. After drought in California, the rain of Southeast Alaska seems like paradise. Everything is green, everything drips with water.

Lush green landscape in Southeast Alaska (no irrigation required)

But gardening in the rainforest can be a challenge. A greenhouse helps – for starting plants and growing tender ones that would be eaten by slugs, or snails, or other critters.

Green house protects starter plants, and prolongs the growing season

Black visqueen helps prevent weeds, but does not provide much protection against the bear that strolls right through the vegetable garden periodically, with no thought to the damage his big paws cause.

Weed proofing

Rhubarb growing in a raised bed

Raised beds or planting areas for favorite plants and flowers are a necessity, to provide good drainage for all that water.

Drainage is key to gardening in the rainforest

Mossy raised bed

Some plants thrive with all that moisture, like the ferns, skunk cabbage, and horse tails. Salmon berries and blueberries abound in clearings where they get more light. 

Hanging lichen	Hemlock cones
 Horsetails	Skunk cabbage
New spruce shoots	Devil's Club
Salmon berry	Firewood for winter

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This is what I remember from my childhood – the drip, drip, drip of water, and the misty forest. And green, green, green!