Instead of a brewery, how about a winery. This one is atop a hill just a few miles from my house.

Fireweed...grows wild all over Alaska. So called because it's one of the early plants to appear after a wild fire. The flowers can be harvested for use in nectars and jams and such. The locals watch it as a sign for impending winter when it finishes blooming.

Smudge went for a check-up today, and as soon as we put the carrier up on a chair, Bud went in it. None of the cats are afraid of the carrier, in fact, it's out all the time in the corner beside the couch. Smudge or Roxie spend a lot of the time in it sleeping. We put it on the floor after taking Bud out, and Smudge walked right into it, and off to the vet. He's doing really good for his age (16) bone mass is good, pulse is steady (they just love him, he's so good and calm, and doesn't flinch when they take blood out of his neck). They did blood work and a urine sample. His thyroid is noticeable though, and I'm expecting to have to increase his thyroid meds. He does need to have his molars pulled, so that's scheduled for next week. He's a good candidate for having anesthesia. Major bucks though ($1200). Maybe I'll start a go-fund me page!

When I bought this bletilla orchid from the vender 17 months ago, it was in a tiny 2" pot and the vender said to not expect flowers for at least a year because these orchids take time to get established. Six months later it flowered, and it has flowered an additional three times since then. Every time I see it blooming again, I laugh about the little over-achiever.