Gail Niebrugge's Blog
A yard in Achorage, Alaska, where the very rare wildflower, white fireweed, is nurtured. As a matter of fact, whenever a pink fireweed begins to bloom, the blossom is quickly extinguished to thwart cross pollination. These fireweed have a very short bloom period of about two weeks. I’m fortunate that the owner called to tip me off, or I would have missed seeing them. I’m thinking that a painting of white fireweed is in order soon.
More tomorrow,
Gail Niebrugge, Alaska wildflower painter
Gail Niebrugge (Knee-brew-ghe) born and raised in California has pursued art since childhood, winning a poster contest on the Johnny Jet television show at the age of twelve. Gail began her career as an illustrator for the US Navy and Marines in San Diego, and later established the Instructional Media Center for the Grossmont High School District in La Mesa, California. The Niebrugge family fell in love with Alaska while on vacation in 1976 and never returned home, instead they established a residence and studio in the remote interior settlement of Copper Center where the artist painted … [Read More...]
Wikipedia defines pointillism as; "a style of painting in which small distinct points of primary colors create the impression of a wide selection of secondary and intermediate colors." It goes on to say that the mind and the eye mix the color spots into a full range of tones and that it is closely related to Divisionism. Divisionism was practiced by Georges Seurat during the Neo-Impressionism period. He broke his color into basic elements and painted very small and regular dots. His dots are carefully placed as to not touch each other, so the white under painted canvas shows around all of the dots. I call my painting technique pointillism, but technically it is incorrect according to Wikipedia. The difference between my technique and true pointillism is that I use … [Read More...]
Amazing! I’ve never seen this anywhere before, wild or cultivated. I wonder how they obtained or cultured this.
Hello DHT;
I don’t know the story behind these rare fireweed, but I do know they have been in that yard for many, many years. The yard was owned by the Stewart’s who also owned Stewart’s Photo downtown Anchorage, who are now deceased.
I ran across a white fireweed growing in the wild along the bottom of the Matanuska River, a few years ago, but it had red sepals. It was gorgeous, and I did a painting of it. These are the first all white blossoms I’ve seen.
Gail
My dad, in Kalskag, found fireweed that had white pedals with pink trim. Do you know why these fireweed are like that?
Roberta;
I think they are unusual, but are natural rare occurrence. I really don’t know the botanical explanation. Perhaps some of my readers know?
Gail
My wife who is a pretty good artist found the first white fireweed that I’d seen in about 25 years.
Driving around here in the Interior she has found many sites where it grows, I’ve found a few but nothing in comparison with what she finds them.
Hi Roger;
We found some this summer along the road in the subdivision where we used to live in Copper Center! Amazing. All those years we lived there and never saw any. Gail
just lovely ,white fireweed I have found it in a few places on the Kenai Penninsula.There are many pink variations ,It has been my experience that rhe odd pink forms are either sterile or recessive.They dont bloom from seed this color .The white ones are more stable .(usually).I have many photos ,Will send a link if you would like ? Gail B
Thanks Gail!
Sounds like you know quite a bit about the white fireweed. I’ve found it from time to time in the wild, but not often. Send the link.
Gail