Nestled within the Tongass National Forest, the Mendenhall Valley boasts a unique attraction crafted by Steve and Cindy Bowhay, the proprietors of an extraordinary botanical garden, despite the global fame of Alaska’s glaciers.

Spread throughout the garden are what the Bowhays call “Flower Towers” – trees with their roots inverted upwards, forming a basket-like structure that cradles colorful trailing flowers. Begonias, fuchsias, and petunias flourish within the netting and mosses lining the central bed of the root ball, delicately cascading from the tops of the overturned trees.

The Mendenhall Glacier is a notable feature, not only for its beauty but also for its accessibility by car, a rarity among glaciers worldwide. Located at the foot of Thunder Mountain, the Bowhays acquired a significant piece of land in 1985 after a landslide reshaped the mountain’s face, altering the course of a primary stream.

Steve, whose profession is landscaping, took on the task of restoring the stream and harnessing its water for a hydroelectric plant to power their new greenhouses. To combat water erosion, settling ponds were carefully designed, creating a series of cascades within the garden.

Legend has it that during the stream restoration, Steve inadvertently damaged his equipment. In a moment of frustration, he used it to upend a large fallen tree stump into the soft mud. Seeing the roots hanging like vines, he was inspired to replicate the action, eventually inverting over 20 other trees to create more flower-filled root bowls each year.

Besides the Flower Towers, a diverse array of flora thrives in this botanical haven, including rhododendrons, azaleas, Japanese maples, devil’s club, elderberry shrubs, Sitka spruce, and western hemlock. Visitors can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of Juneau from the cliff atop Thunder Mountain.

Photos courtesy of Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure in Juneau, Alaska.