Alaska Gardening Trivia

Frequently-asked questions about the Garden

Why are the flowers so much larger and more brilliantly-colored than flowers grown in the "Lower 48"?

Cool summer temperatures and the long daylength are optimum conditions for flower development and color formation. The pigments called anthocyanins that account for the red, blue and purple colors in flowers, fruits and vegetables require prolonged light at moderately-high intensities for optimum development. Our long daylengths, especially in June are ideal conditions for intense color formation.

Do the soils in the botanical garden have permafrost (permanently frozen soil)?

Interior Alaska has discontinuous permafrost. The soils on the south-facing hillside in the garden do not have permafrost, but it does occur in the lowlands just south of the railroad tracks. In the forested areas where the soils are well-insulated by plants and organic matter, the permafrost is 6-36 inches (15-91 centimeters) below the surface. In the cleared agricultural fields the permafrost has receded to at least 25 feet (7.5 meters).

What happens with all the vegetables and fruits harvested from the botanical garden?

Some of the produce is given to our volunteers in appreciation for their many hours of work in the garden. However, most of the produce is donated to the Fairbanks Food Bank.

Where are the forget-me-nots (Alaska's state flower) planted?

Several plant species have the name forget-me-not, and one of them is located in the Wooding flower garden. The true native forget-me-not (Myosotis alpestris) is difficult to grow in a cultivated garden. Its habitat is mountain meadows and tundra. The closest accessible locations for viewing forget-me-nots are Denali National Park and Eagle Summit (Steese Highway).

What is the sculpture in the middle of the flower garden?

The bronze sculpture is called Inflorescence and was designed by UAF art professor, Dr. Wendy Ernst and student artists, Carol Desnoyers, Rachelle Dowdy and Heather Wells. The sculpture commemorates the 75th anniversary of the University of Alaska Fairbanks celebrated in 1992.

Spring

April - May

Average temperature:
April: 21°F (-6°C)
May: 48°F (9°C)

Average precipitation: 0.79 inches (2.00 cm)

Normal planting times:
Agronomic crops — May 1-15
Cool season horticultural crops —May 25-30
Warm season horticultural crops —after May 29

Summer

June - July - August

Daylength
June 21 Sunrise: 12:57 a.m; Sunset: 10:45 p.m.; 21 hours and 52 minutes of possible sunshine

Average Precipitation: 6.49 inches (16.48 cm)
Average frost free period: 93 days

Average temperature
June: 59°F (15°C)
July: 61°F (16°C)
August: 56°F (13°C)

Record high temperature 99°F (37°C)
Growing Degree Days (40°F base) 2112

Autumn

September - October

Average temperature
September: 45 °F (7°C)
October: 12°F (-4°C)

Average Precipitation: 0.22 inches (0.55cm)
First fall frost: Aug 27 - Sept 18
Permanent snowfall normally 1st or 2nd week in October

Winter

November through March

Daylength:
December 21: Sunrise 9:58 a.m; Sunset 1:40 p.m. 3 hours and 42 minutes of possible sunshine

Average Temperature:
November: 2°F (-16°C)
December: 1°F (-17°C)
January: 5°F (-20°C)
February: -2°F (-18°C)
March: 15°F (-9°C)

Record low temperature: -65°F (-54°C)
Average seasonal snowfall: 53.4 inches (135.6 cm)

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This page was last modified on October 1, 2007 by GBG web editor