Our first excursion was in Juneau. If you follow my blog you know I have a passion for gardening and this excursion appealed to me on so many levels. I’ve excerpted the highlighted information from their website for accuracy.
Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventures in Juneau, Alaska, opened in 1998 by local entrepreneurs Steve and Cindy Bowhay, and have greeted guests from around the world who have come to admire the unique and awe inspiring environment at Glacier Gardens. Located in the heart of the Tongass National Forest, Glacier Gardens is a vibrant Alaskan botanical garden paradise nestled in the grasp of the lush Southeast Alaskan temperate rainforest habitat. Guests will board covered rainforest adventure vehicles and embark on a guided tour through beautifully manicured gardens and into the old growth rainforest on Thunder Mountain. Panoramic views of Juneau await 580 ft above sea level on Thunder Mountain and offer one of the best views found in the Capital City.
The trip up to Thunder Mountain on an uneven dirt one-lane road was…..bumpy. Our driver gave us a wealth of information about the history of the glaciers and how it impacted this area. He was knowledgable about plants, trees – even the moss that grows like a lush carpet on the forest floor. My favorite part was the “upside down trees”. To see them was truly thrilling as I never knew they existed and their beauty took my breath away. It was like being in a magical forest. I took a ton of photos because it’s what I do when I’m surrounded by nature.
Dotted throughout the garden are upside-down trees, known as “Flower Towers,” that have their tops buried in the ground and their roots thrust up in the air, forming a basket that cradles colorful trailing flowers. Netting and mosses form a bed in the center of the root ball, where begonias, fuchsias, and petunias bloom brilliantly bright and delicately hang down from the overturned tree.
I found it fascinating that as the end of the season, all of these plants are dug up, moved into the greenhouse and are replanted the following year, blooming even more robustly than the year prior. The greenhouse also had a charming gift shop and even more lovely photo ops.
Should you find yourself in Juneau, take this tour!
