Viewpoints
Pretty Flowers
By Jerry Cegelske
June 07, 2005
Tuesday
Ketchikan is blessed with an abundance of flowers that grow here.
In early spring we have crocus, daffodil, and tulips, followed
by rhododendrons, each blooming in it's own time.
Businesses and residences are decorated with nature's floral
bouquets for our enjoyment. They help soften the aggravations
of the day while people look at them or work in their flower
gardens.
Rhododendron blooms
On June 6, 2005 I was able to observe a new variety along North
Tongass. It wasn't that unusual but I thought you
would like to see it. I collected a giant of the species,
about 4 feet long and thought I could enter it in the SE fair
at Haines in August. I found two others, one by a group
of mail boxes and the second just sprouting along the road.
The only thing I can think is that some come lately Johnny Appleseed
wanna-be was planting them along the road for your enjoyment.
Actually a sharp-eyed motorist told me about the plantings.
I was of course heading into town when I got the call so I turned
around and headed North as the driver was by the carwash
and had been observing the planting sequence for the last
mile or so. A dump truck driver was seeding the road with
everything from the seedlings to the mature blooms. What
a guy! Giving back such beauty to the community!
Don't you just love it.
Exotic species by
mailbox
I stopped long enough to pick up the giant of the species and
observed a Trooper heading North. Turns out the driver
also called them as they didn't think I could respond in time.
I met the Trooper by their new offices where he had pulled over
to pick up another of the exotic species. I checked out
one location and ended up going further North where the driver
had observed one of the dump trucks pulling off. Both
of the observed dump trucks, including the offending one, were
there when we arrived.
The Troopers are going to handle this part of Ketchikan's beautification
program. In order to help them out, I gave them
the giant of the species even though it may have cost me a blue
ribbon in the exotic species catagory!
Jerry Cegelske
Code enforcement - Ketchikan Gateway Borough
E-mail: jerry.cegelske@borough.ketchikan.ak.us
228-6621
Ketchikan, AK - USA
Pansy
Columbine
Exotic sprout!
Note: Comments published
on Viewpoints are the opinions of the writer
and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Sitnews.
Write a Letter -------Read Letters
E-mail the Editor
Sitnews
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska
|