Hello Fireweed Season

Peak summer blooms pink in Alaska! Recipes for your petals.

The fireweed have bloomed in all their glory in Homer this year, a sign that we have hit peak summer season. Their gorgeous magenta color is spreading across the hillsides and down roadsides, and there’s nothing more lovely than finding yourself out on a trail with the pink blossoms growing overhead, swaying in the day breeze.

The petals of fireweed are edible and present such a fun, bright color to use in your drinks and to add whimsey to dishes. We’d love to share a few ideas from “The Salmon Sisters: Harvest & Heritage” on how you might use them while they’re in season.

It cleared up yesterday after a few stormy days on Kachemak Bay and we went outside and picked blossoms to make a batch of Fireweed Simple Syrup, using the recipe from our cookbook above. It’s so fun to have a big pot of flowers bubbling on the stovetop – and after boiling the color out of the flowers, the resulting syrup is a magnificent color and softly fragrant. A small jar of pink syrup is the perfect gift to bring for a fall potluck or dinner party, to add to cocktails or mocktails.

More ideas for your fireweed harvest:

• Dry petals to use in your own home-made tea blends (see page 167 of “The Salmon Sisters: Harvest & Heritage”).

• Make Fireweed Jelly - an Alaskan favorite, here’s a recipe.

• Infuse vinegar with fireweed petals to use in salad dressings.

• Top frosted cupcakes or cake with petals for an August birthday party.

Enjoy this beautiful time of year in Alaska! We hope you get to eat some fireweed flowers. 🌸🌸🌸