Sure, Alaska is known worldwide for being able to grow massive vegetables, but the state's agriculture industry may be getting a boost from flowers. According to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, the University of Alaska-Fairbanks held a four-day conference of peony growers, researchers, and marketers last week to discuss ways to boost the young but promising industry. Apparently, Alaska's peonies bloom when those in the rest of the world have gone dormant, so from late June to September, it's basically the only place in the world to find the classic, showy blossoms. Read much, much more, here.