Our most recent heavy snow was just two weeks ago, and we’ve had a few flurries since then. But out in the countryside near Ulaanbaatar, wildflowers have begun to grow in profusion.
Snow drops (above) are among the very first flowers to show.
Notice the small red ant on the right side of the photo. The centers of these particular flowers reveal a tell-tale indication of their age, with the youngest flowers having yellow centers. Most of the early wildflowers are small. But they’re everywhere, and close examination they often reveals intricate beauty…
…making us wish we knew more about these splashes of color.
And happy to come across something as familiar as Alaska’s state flower, forget-me-nots.
There’s wild rhubarb, too, and wild mint and caraway are abundant.
But it’s the flowers that capture our attention.
And leave us vowing to take a botany course when we return to Alaska.
The scene in Ulaanbaatar just over two weeks ago on May 11.
CutterLight 
The photos are gorgeous! Looks like spring has indeed arrived!
Thanks! So nice to see the color after this especially cold winter here in Mongolia.
Lovely photos!
Thanks, Jen! See you soon!
Yes…looking forward to seeing you guys!!
P
bjdavis8320@gmail.com I moved and didn’t have internet for a while. Would love to resubscribe to your blog
We’d love to have you back aboard, James.
Evidently you all left Mongolia and returned to Alaska. Can you update me on this move ?
Sure, James. We were in Mongolia on two-year contracts with the International School of Ulaanbaatar. Those contracts expired in May, 2016. Although we enjoyed our time in Mongolia, rather than renew our contracts we were eager to return to Alaska – fresh air, fresh fish, village life. At this point I (Jack) opted to transition out of teaching into full-time photography and writing. Meanwhile, Barbra accepted a position with Lake and Peninsula School District in Southwest Alaska. After spending the summer of 2016 making a leisurely, winding 7,100 mile drive in our truck camper from Sacramento, California to Anchorage, we boarded a small bush plane for Chignik Lake where we now live. Barbra teaches the village’s five elementary school students. I’ve been working on a project to document the area’s wild birds. We both continue to cook, bake, fish, write and read. This summer we’re planning to do a bicycle camping tour of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. Be sure to see the article “Imagine a Place” to get a sense of life here on The Lake.