Burnt Forest

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BURNT FOREST

The following series is a glimpse into the beginning regrowth of the ecology of an Idaho forest several years after a forest fire. One of the first plants to reestablish itself is a lily type plant called Beargrass. Its seeds can usually survive the heat from a forest fire. Beargrass is a critical plant for providing erosion control, especially after a fire has destroyed all plant life. The stalk of the Beargrass can grow from 4 to 6 feet tall. The flower stalk begins to grow in the early spring while snow is still on the ground. The height of the stalk is determined by the depth of the snow. The taller the flower stalk, the deeper the snow was for the stalk to penetrate. Bears do actually eat a part of this plant.

This series was photographed in late July of 2022. It is unusual to have fog in the hot summer up here, but I did encounter a very thick bank of fog on the top of the mountain. It was so surreal and made the burnt trees look even more desolate and ghostly.

Best viewed in full screen mode.