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The red flowers of the native columbine are caused by anthocyanins. (Courtesy Photo / Deana Barajas)

On the Trails: The many roads to red

Red and reddish colors can be produced in many ways, by a variety of pigment molecules.

The red flowers of the native columbine are caused by anthocyanins. (Courtesy Photo / Deana Barajas)
Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File 
A porcupine dines in mid-August near the Mendnehall Glacier.

On the Trails: Putting a finer point on porcupines

Plants such as roses and devil’s club aren’t the only prickly ones…

Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File 
A porcupine dines in mid-August near the Mendnehall Glacier.
A Compton tortoiseshell butterfly pauses between flights in Two Rivers resident Rod Boyce’s garage in January 2023. Photo by Rod Boyce.

Alaska Science Forum: Butterflies in the middle of winter

Waiting in the wings for spring.

A Compton tortoiseshell butterfly pauses between flights in Two Rivers resident Rod Boyce’s garage in January 2023. Photo by Rod Boyce.
Alpine meals are great, but it's tough to beat the satisfaction of a hot meal on the shore after fishing through a run for steelhead. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: Either or, probably not both

It’s really difficult to double-major both in college and in life.

Alpine meals are great, but it's tough to beat the satisfaction of a hot meal on the shore after fishing through a run for steelhead. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
This photo shows frozen salmonberries for use all winter. (Courtesy Photo / Vivian Faith Prescott)

Planet Alaska: Salmonberries in winter

Sometimes in the winter, I dream of salmonberries…

This photo shows frozen salmonberries for use all winter. (Courtesy Photo / Vivian Faith Prescott)
Dorolyn Alper collage art, seen here, is part of her newest series, “Juneau with a twist” and will be available for viewing on First Friday. Alper is Juneau Artists Gallery’s featured artist for the month of February. (Courtesy Photo / Juneau Artists Gallery)

Here’s what’s happening for First Friday

Dorolyn Alper is Juneau Artists Gallery’s featured artist for February.

Dorolyn Alper collage art, seen here, is part of her newest series, “Juneau with a twist” and will be available for viewing on First Friday. Alper is Juneau Artists Gallery’s featured artist for the month of February. (Courtesy Photo / Juneau Artists Gallery)
Bog laurel plants are toxic to mammals; pollinating bees that feed on the pollen make toxic honey. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: A green world

Five decades ago, some well-known ecologists looked around and noted that their terrestrial world was very green. Why didn’t herbivores demolish the greenery? The observers… Continue reading

Bog laurel plants are toxic to mammals; pollinating bees that feed on the pollen make toxic honey. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
An Alaska blackfish that once lived in a tank at the Fairbanks office of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
An Alaska blackfish that once lived in a tank at the Fairbanks office of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. (Courtesy Photo / Ned Rozell)
Juneau-based actor Xáalnook Erin Tripp was recently named one of the 2023 Artists in Business Leadership Fellows for First Peoples Fund program. Tripp said she intends to use to program’s grant funding to set up a professional recording studio in Juneau for her voice acting career and to share with other artists in the community. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Juneau-based actor Xáalnook Erin Tripp was recently named one of the 2023 Artists in Business Leadership Fellows for First Peoples Fund program. Tripp said she intends to use to program’s grant funding to set up a professional recording studio in Juneau for her voice acting career and to share with other artists in the community. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Arnold Vosloo as Colonel Bach addresses US soldiers in latest film, “Condor’s Nest” in theaters and digital release on Friday. (Courtesy Photo / PMKBNC)
Arnold Vosloo as Colonel Bach addresses US soldiers in latest film, “Condor’s Nest” in theaters and digital release on Friday. (Courtesy Photo / PMKBNC)
A deer eats alder leaves (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)

On the Trails: Nitrogen — an essential element

It’s involved with almost all aspects of life.

A deer eats alder leaves (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
Courtesy Photos / Dan Joling
Dan Joling of Anchorage captured these images of the full moon over Alaska’s largest city on Jan. 6, 2023.

Alaska Science Forum: Magnetic declination and finding the moon

Dan Joling of Anchorage was set to photograph the full moon rising over the Port of Anchorage on Jan. 6, 2023. His research told him… Continue reading

Courtesy Photos / Dan Joling
Dan Joling of Anchorage captured these images of the full moon over Alaska’s largest city on Jan. 6, 2023.
Growth is good but the strain on resources makes for tough decisions going forward. The author peers through the brush at anglers on the Russian River and sees the byproduct of economic growth. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: Growth mindset

Growth is good but within certain context.

Growth is good but the strain on resources makes for tough decisions going forward. The author peers through the brush at anglers on the Russian River and sees the byproduct of economic growth. (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)
A dipper searches for insects in a log jam, underwater. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
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On the Trails: The afterlife of trees

Dead wood is an important basis for many new uses.

A dipper searches for insects in a log jam, underwater. (Courtesy Photo / Bob Armstrong)
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This screenshot shows the MusicAlaska Spotify page. The nonprofit's Alaska Playlist project includes an array of playlists dedicated to Alaska bands and artists across a wide array of genres. However, it's just one of the ways MusicAlaska, a partner of Alaska Independent Music Initiative, intends to catalog and promote the state's music scene. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
This screenshot shows the MusicAlaska Spotify page. The nonprofit's Alaska Playlist project includes an array of playlists dedicated to Alaska bands and artists across a wide array of genres. However, it's just one of the ways MusicAlaska, a partner of Alaska Independent Music Initiative, intends to catalog and promote the state's music scene. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Kat Moore of The Forest That Never Sleeps plays for a live audience. She’ll be joined by Seattle-based musician Ollella for new concert series Underground Connection’s first show on Friday and Saturday. (Courtesy Photo / Taylor Vidic)
Kat Moore of The Forest That Never Sleeps plays for a live audience. She’ll be joined by Seattle-based musician Ollella for new concert series Underground Connection’s first show on Friday and Saturday. (Courtesy Photo / Taylor Vidic)
A trail cam photo shows a beaver emerging from its snowy lodge and went foraging for branches in December (Courtesy Photo / Jos Bakker)
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Mild temperatures and busy beavers

I noticed two uncommon things that this beaver did…

A trail cam photo shows a beaver emerging from its snowy lodge and went foraging for branches in December (Courtesy Photo / Jos Bakker)
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Takin’ Care of Bluegrass, seen here at Sandbar, consists of Jeremy Kane on banjo, Josh Fortenbery on guitar, Lindsay Clark on violin, James Cheng on bass and Andrew Heist on mandolin. They’re just one of five acts appearing on this month’s line up for the return of Gold Street Music concerts. (Courtesy photo / Annie Bartholomew)

Gold Street Music returns home

“We’re really excited to be back where it all started.”

Takin’ Care of Bluegrass, seen here at Sandbar, consists of Jeremy Kane on banjo, Josh Fortenbery on guitar, Lindsay Clark on violin, James Cheng on bass and Andrew Heist on mandolin. They’re just one of five acts appearing on this month’s line up for the return of Gold Street Music concerts. (Courtesy photo / Annie Bartholomew)
Raven Woman mask by Kristina Cranston is seen in front of a vibrant Wrangell sunset. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)

Planet Alaska: 10 Southeast Alaskan lessons from 2022

Living and thriving in Southeast Alaska is both easy and hard.

  • Jan 4, 2023
  • By Yéilk’ Vivian Mork and Vivian Faith Prescott For the Capital City Weekly
  • Capital City Weekly
Raven Woman mask by Kristina Cranston is seen in front of a vibrant Wrangell sunset. (Vivian Faith Prescott / For the Capital City Weekly)
The new year holds promise like new stretches of the same river.  (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)

I Went to the Woods: New year, new water

Attacking the new water with a solid program allows better transitions to the next phase.

The new year holds promise like new stretches of the same river.  (Jeff Lund / For the Juneau Empire)