The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1903-02-19
WILD FLOWERS OF ALASKA.
A. Many as 1870 Varieties Have Been
Found In the District Of Nome.


Mrs. volney T. Hoggatt, q native Of
Kentucky. is with her husband. Judge
v. +. Hoggatt, at the Riggs. Mrs. Hog
gait Is now an enthusiastic Alaskan,
and talking Of the country and the 130
varieties Of beautiful Wild ho1N
said:
People who have never visite
territory of Alaska and are not ID -
lar with Its resources and conditjJhs
generally. naturally. are a little in.
credulous when we speak OF the soil.
the botanical experiments anaSrSydi
tions that exist and have existed per.
haps centuries before this great EN-.
pire came under our government.
From time immem )rable, since the
FIRST sowing OF the seed In this north
land by the hand Of the All-Divine
Planter, the wild flower has borne life
from Its soil and lifted its graceful
head and beautiful face upturned to
the sun and blue sky, with as much
vigor and substance as any hothouse
plant or outdoor flower In California.
As many as 100 varieties Of wild fiow.
ers have been found In the district Of
Nome, between the 66th and cath de-
grees north latitude. along the coast
of Bering sea. ] have spent hours and
days among the hills and lowlands
gathering the little waxen petal How
ers-of every tint and color-so beau
tiful and dainty In texture and color
that they seemed as you studied them
that the sweet breath Of heaven had
but merely touched them and left the
bushes Of love messages upon their
petals. found myself acquiring
,l.aA x.E lat ant 70 IN
searching for these feather-tinted
flowers. that I might find one to out
rival the other in color. have walk
ed miles upon the driftwood, along tho
overflow OF Snake river Ia name very
appropriate to this river from its tor
tuous windings), in search Of the cow
slip OF the deep yellow hue, with long
rubbery stems; also small white lily
with shell like tinted center. with
these same long rubbery stems, which
grew along the waters edge. They
seemed conscious that was In search
for them, for they were In hiding here
and there under the driftwood.
I "Thc foot hills and lowlands that
slope down to the sea, through the
months Of June, July and August, are
Variable gardens of Wild flowers.
mosses, ferns, etc. The reindeer moss
Is the moss upon which the reindeer
subsists; II takes the place Of grass
and grows everywhere In abundance,
, II ia of silvery gray and various
shades of green; turns gray after,
frost, but remains nutritious. ThiS
moss forms beds everywhere for the
wild flowers and ferns. AS you wander
through the lowlands following tho
small streams toward the majestic
Sawtooth range. with its snow-white
caps, forming background to tho soft
old green of the foot hills below. COW
cred with wild flowers. you see pic
ture of grandeur and beauty.
among these foot hills flowers are
to be found in extraordinary growth,
and strength; the white and blue,
violet, sweet williams. bluebells. lilies
OF the valley. buttercups, marguerites
as large and beautiful as the culti-
waited ones. The tall forget-me-not In,
tne rich, delicate blue, and the whitel
can be found by the acre, spreading
its fragrance. These, to my mind, areI
the most bewilderingly beautiful od
all. -
There are a number of varieties Of
ferns also-the species Of the maiden
hair fern, the broad leaf. the old woods
fern, etc. Then, too. there Is the little
delicate flower that pops its head up
In the spring as soon as the birds be-
. gin their song-only not so early In
Alaska as In more moderate climates
where they have early springs-but II
barely waits until the snow disap-
, pears. You will find one here and
there, wherever the full sun rays
: touch the earth you will find one Of
/. these frail blossoms. The indoor
, plants and cultivated plants thrive
, well; they can be seen In many OF the
homes of those who were thoughtful
enough to take with them into this
country a few sprouts or seed; the
experiment OF cultivation Of flowers
has proven successful and interest
, ing Star.