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U.S. Forest Service Alaska Region NEWS RELEASE Contact: Wendy Zirngibl | Public Affairs Specialist | 907.209.2094 | wmzirngibl@xxxxxxxxx Twitter: @AKForestService Celebrate Mother’s Day in Alaska with a wild bouquet and recreation on the forest ALASKA (May 9, 2014) -- This Sunday, give your mother an unforgettable gift by spending time with her on your national forest. Remind her of the unique place where she lives with a visit to the Tongass or Chugach. The forest provides a variety of spectacular Mother’s Day bouquets. Although it is early in the season for many flowering plant species, the green is on, as plants are responding to warm temperatures, sunny days and increasing day length. Cottonwoods and alders are flowering, with blueberries, salmonberries and gooseberries just entering the flowering stage. Skunk cabbage is in full flower and ferns are emerging from the fiddlehead stage. Siberian spring beauty, yellow and purple violets, purple mountain saxifrage, and Fernleaf goldthread may be flowering, while in areas around the Chugach, you can find Jacob’s-ladder, Sitka alder, kinnikinnick, and lyreleaved rockcress. Now is also a great time to see wildlife. Alaska’s forests teem with birds this time of year as they pass through, return from the south, or find mates and establish nests. Violet-green, tree, and other swallows have become populous in
many areas, while vigilant birders have begun scanning the shoreline for the swift and graceful Aleutian and Arctic terns. Strolling together with binoculars to observe the return of our warblers and shorebirds is a special way to spend time with Mom and the whole family. If you’re looking for somewhere in particular to celebrate the day, consider one of these light excursions on the Tongass or Chugach:
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Dozens of trails on the Tongass are family-friendly and accessible from the road. Trail of Time near Mendenhall Glacier has new information panels as well as photos and historic markers that tell the story of the glacier and its
surroundings.
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Take in the Chugach with a leisurely drive on the Kenai along the Seward Highway. Stop for a picnic on Moose Lake or stop by Begich, Boggs Visitor Center in the Portage Valley to enjoy a film or some interactive exhibits.
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Prince of Wales Island has one of the most extensive cave systems in Alaska. For an above-ground experience, follow the boardwalks of Beaver Falls Interpretive Trail and take in the view of the limestone caves below. Many more opportunities exist for a special Mother’s Day on the Chugach or Tongass. For more ideas, visit the Forest Service Alaska Region website at
http://1.usa.gov/RwVLvW. This Mother’s Day, spend time with your family in your national forest—it’s right in your back yard. -33- This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately. |
