We spent only a day in Fairbanks last summer, less time than ideal but enough to see some of the city’s highlights.
One of our stops was a visit to the Georgeson Botanical Garden, which is located on the edge of the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. It has the distinction of being the northern-most botanical garden in the North America. The Botanical Garden is affiliated with the University and conducts research and educational programs.
The Garden was named after Charles Georgeson who arrived in the state during the Alaska Gold Rush in the late 19th century. Georgeson investigated the application of agriculture to the state, especially with respect to its climate. He started several experimental farms around Alaska, including this one in Fairbanks. Their purpose was to see which plants and crops could be useful to the state.
The garden covers five acres and focuses on plants that grow in the subartic conditions of interior Alaska. Generally speaking the annual plants (trees and shrubs) endure long cold winters, yet thrive in the nearly 24 hour sunlight of summer. There are around 3000 different species of plants that grow in the Garden, including an assortment of seasonal flowers, fruits, herbs, vegetables and berries, some of which you’ll find in the photos below. The garden is nicely organized, and pleasant to explore.
We visited the garden late in the afternoon, and really enjoyed its pleasant palate of colors and assortment of flora.
Everyone’s heard of Alaska’s giant vegetables, which thrive in the warmer 24 hour a day summer sun. The garden features a nice display of some of the monster cabbages grown in Alaska, which can exceed 100 pounds each….
There were also a few interesting weathervanes in the garden, with which i’lll end this post.
Beautiful photography!!