Hatcher Pass, Fishhook: multiple blueberry types in full flower along with other berry plants flowering (nagoonberry, highbush and lowbush cranberry).
Jun 29
Kenai Lake, Primrose: Gathered many of the super irresistible spruce tips and rose petals everywhere. Trailing raspberry flowering. Blueberries and red currants small and green.
June 28
Swamp land, Big Lake: Picked ripe red currants. Enough are red now to be worth it! Many are still green or just about ripe.
October 18
Swamp land, Big Lake: Picked quite a few lowbush cranberries in dry meadow areas. People are picking crabapples in Anchorage and other areas.
October 4
Swamp land, Big Lake: Probably the last time I’m going to pick a bunch of red currants this year. I still can’t resist the perfectly good racemes, but some clusters are getting brown or slimy so they’re all about done.
September 30
Little Susitna River, Houston: Picked lots of lowbush cranberries.
September 22
Swamp land, Big Lake: Did some more late currant hunting. Picked lots of red currants. Many or most of the plant leaves have dropped off but there are still great bunches of tasty squishy berries hanging everywhere, good for using immediately in recipes.
September 3
Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge, Wasilla: Did some late currant hunting. Got lots of nice northern black currants and red currants. Things are getting squishy but there’s still plenty to be picked. Also picked nice rosehips.
August 19
Little Susitna River, Houston: Lowbush cranberries are quite red with some white unripe blotches remaining on undersides; most berries crunchy. A few plants are still flowering. Everything is looking good for picking later. Very impressive bunchberries this year, good snacks. Also snacked on nice timberberries and found a few trailing currants for snacks, too soft to keep.
August 17
Swamp land, Big Lake: Picked lots of perfect early blueberries in select spots.