Hi Everyone! My name is Jayce Bjelland. I am originally from San Diego, CA but moved up to Fairbanks with my 3-year-old German shepherd Arlo in 2022 after transferring to UAF from my previous college. I am currently majoring in Wildlife Biology. I have a huge passion for waterfowl and am currently fostering that passion in my current job at Creamers Field working for Alaska Fish & Game.
I’ll admit I have never had much particular interest in plants but have enjoyed the plant-focused courses I have taken at UAF so far and would love to continue building that foundation of knowledge, especially as I have become more interested in foraging and gardening since moving to Alaska. I don’t know that I have a specific favorite plant but I tend to most enjoy plants that are “odd” or have unusual, unique features either in the way they look or function. Lately, I’ve been particularly captivated by the tall bluebells I’ve been finding around town, I really love the way the flowers hang so delicately!
Welcome Jayce,
glad you are able to continue absorbing some more plant-related info. This should just be a little refresher after Systematic Botany :). Enjoy some cooler weather these days in the Interior, I am sure Arlo is loving it. Apart from being related to the forget-me-nots, bluebells are also in the Boraginaceae, and there are culinary uses of borage (Borago officinalis L.), just like many countries have a green sauce, like salsa verde in Mexico, in Germany borage is used as a green sauce, Frankfurter Grüne Soße based on seven different herbs including borage, sour cream, oil, vinegar, mustard, salt and added hard boiled eggs. The sauce is poured over boiled potatoes especially around Frankfurt. Image from https://mydinner.co.uk/frankfurt-sauce/