Sharry Miller

Alaska Botanical Garden

Nestled between Benny Benson School and Campbell Creek, Alaska Botanical Garden volunteers have carved out cultivated oases in the midst of a boreal birch forest. Despite the herb beds, perennial planters, and native offerings, I thought the gardens would have been more aptly named Alaska Amanita Gardens this fall. Amanita muscaria specimens were growing everywhere. I finally had to put my camera in my pocket and force myself to stop taking pictures of them. I... Read more →

A Little More Summer

I am unwillingly acknowledging that Alaska's summer will be soon waning (I just can't bring myself to say ending), and I find myself wanting to share as much color as I can before the blue-white sets in. Enjoy. Read more →

Hello There

Happy faces wishing you a wonderful day. Read more →

Flowers for You

It's a rainy day in Valdez. I thought we all needed something pretty. Read more →

Loving Wild Plants

View of the Copper River from the road to Chitina. As I pedaled, I peered at the brush along the bike path, hoping to spot some lamb’s quarters. Unfortunately, 14-mph botany isn’t much easier than 55-mph botany. All I could see was alders, fireweed, alders, yarrow, alders, and, oh, did I mention alders? Alder saplings are quite prolific along Dayville Road. What, you may ask, is lamb’s quarters, and why was I looking for it?... Read more →

Nature Inspires

One of my favorite things to do is go for a walk with my little camera stuck in my pocket. Even if I'm not looking for anything in particular, I'm more likely to spot the spectacular around me. Today, as I walked to the Pioneer Cemetery and then up the Valdez Glacier Stream dike back to my house, I took over 20 pictures. Many didn't work out the way I wanted; that's the nature of... Read more →