Spring in Southeast Alaska

I've been in Juneau, Alaska for two weeks now, and am tracking the local flora for signs of spring. Shrubs and trees are sporting lots of miniature leaves and berry blossoms, but they are opening slowly. I've been learning about growing degree days (GDD) or heat units. GDD is a measure of the accumulated heat above a certain base temperature that a plant needs to reach a specific stage of development.

Salmon berry shrubs are starting to leaf out

The temperature has been hovering between the mid-forties and -fifties F., with lots of gray, drizzly days. We may not have met the requirements for temperature, day length, and sunlight to really kick off spring growth yet. There is growth, but it is quite slow.

Skunk cabbage

Skunk cabbage grows in bogs and along creeks 

The Skunk Cabbage (Lysichiton americanus) leaves have been growing taller over the last two weeks, and turning from yellow to green. As their name suggests, they smell like skunk but, it is not overpowering. Bear and deer feast on skunk cabbage in early spring. As kids we used the skunk cabbage leaves (2-4 feet high) as shields and stripped fern fronds (2-3 feet long) as swords to act out battle scenes. Peace was quickly restored over the afternoon snack or the next adventure on our childhood docket. 

Bear sign (yes, we photograph bear scat in Alaska)

Bear sign starts to show up in early spring, as the bears emerge from hibernation. It's good to be wary of bears at this time, since they wake up hungry! Here in Juneau, they are typically black bears (Ursus americanus). Their coloring may range from black to brown to white.

Elderberry leaves stand out against the spruce tree backdrop

Trees and shrubs are sporting a "hazy green" throughout their bare branches. The miniature leaves and berries are just waiting for the right conditions to unfurl completely. Once the right heat and light requirements are met, it doesn't take long before they are covered with dense green foliage. In the meantime, I'm just enjoying the process!