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Introduction: Melissa Bell-Hettel
I am originally from Philadelphia, Pa (Go Birds!) and it will be two years since I moved to Fairbanks in October. I am the complete opposite of a green thumb and have managed to kill a cactus. This year I am attempting to keep a geranium and some petunias alive. [Fingers crossed]. If I am successful with them, I will move on to a greenhouse to grow vegetables (peppers, chilis, corn, potatoes, green beans).
I already posses a BA in Anthropology with a minor in Biology from Penn State. I am taking this course to learn more about the flora of Alaska. When I moved to Fairbanks, I bought a house on 5 acres. I have not ventured out fully on the property yet [the mosquitoes love biting me even with bug spray] and I am curious to see what flora there is. Coming from a more urbanized area, hunting/foraging was not something I have ever done, thought I would love to forage for some berries. If anyone in Fairbanks forages for berries and would not mind me tagging along, let me know.
My favorite flower is the Cattleya orchids. They come in a variety of colors [blue, pink, yellow, white, purple]. For this class, I will be using both my iPhone and Nikon DSLR camera for my observations.
Introduction
Hello everyone! My name is Andrew and I was born here in Fairbanks and reside in the North Pole area. As a kid, I was always running off into the woods and exploring everything it had to offer (I spent a lot of time poking mushrooms with cool sticks I found). Growing up my family took part in beekeeping for a few years, and rows of fireweed would grow along side the hives which would always make delicious honey. Today I still enjoy exploring and other outdoor activities like hiking, camping, kayaking, and fishing, and I try to get out in the sun a couple times every week. I am excited to learn more about the local vegetation since I enjoy blueberry picking around places that are outside of town and full of life. So far I have brewed blueberry mead with the blueberries I picked, which turned out to be pretty good. The image I chose is one I took when we were keeping bees and one happened to land on a wild flower next to me.
Introduction
Hi! My name is AJ. I was born and raised in Alaska where I continue to reside, indefinitely. I honestly don’t think I will ever move out of this beautiful state (even though I am not a fan of the snow). I am enrolled in the UAF Elementary Education program and am expecting to graduate this coming spring after completing my internship during the 2022-23 school year. I currently live in the Meadow Lakes area, but I enjoy venturing out further in order to see new scenery that Alaska has to offer. I am taking this class for several reasons, but one of them is that I have always found Alaska flora to be very interesting as it has so many uses. For example, I enjoy making fireweed jelly and tea from the fireweed plant ( Chamerion Angustifolium). Even dandelions have their uses that I was not aware of until I became an adult. I hope to gain knowledge from this class that I will be able to pass along to my children that I homeschool as well as any students that I may have in the future as well.
The image I have selected is of a Pumpkin Berry also called Timberberry, Dogberry, and Northern Commandra. The scientific name for it is Geocaulon Lividum. These actually grow in the wooded area around my yard. When these berries are fully developed they are a bright pumpkin orange and even look to have lined sections like pumpkins. The fruits will not be fully developed until august. These berries honestly are not used all that much even though they are edible, this is due to them not being very tasteful. I have also found that they can cause disease in surrounding plants and to be mindful of yellow veined leaves that carry this disease.
Hudson Bolduc
Hello Class! My name is Hudson Bolduc and I am a junior at UAF currently pursuing an interdisciplinary degree in horticulture management. I am very excited to take this course and hope to be able to take the foundational knowledge taught toward my future career in cultivation. I am currently the Garden and Greenhouse supervisor over at the princess hotel and lodge. We are growing several strains of lettuce, spicy mix, bokchoi, salanova, arugula, thyme, dill, parsley, garlic, tarragon, zucchini, basil, tomatoes, raspberries, strawberries, yellow gold potatoes, sunflowers, marigolds, peonies, and much more! All of the produce grown on the property is also taken to the kitchen and prepared for meals in the Edgewater Restaraunt. I am stoked to learn more of the proper terminology and language about how to describe and discuss plants and their root systems. Very excited to dive deeper into this course and start dissection as well!