August is abundance time in Palmer

This is the month of great bounty. Zucchini, fish, berries, fireweed, dahlias, sunflowers, weeds, rainclouds, and sun rays. This is the Alaska epitome of verdant vegatation everywhere. This 8th month of the year is a precious one, before the shift in weather and daylight. This is the time to dance in the remaining summer.

Odd August—This year our Palmer August will be significantly different, than any other year before. Without the Alaska State Fair, there feels like there is no monthly compass. The Alaska State Fair typically owns the month of August—with it’s busy preparations, exhibit entries, parade plans, and celebratory nature. Because we aren’t doing an Alaska State Fair this year, many of us will have huge gaps in our routines and expectations. This is a hard adjustment for many so this column offers alternatives and possibilities which do not involve our well-loved state fair.

Berry Brain—Berry brain has consumed many. Once a picker, always a picker and Palmer berry pickers can’t stop. It’s nearly an obsession. But there still is that remarkable “berry code.” Leave the lowest ones for the children. Always share your bounty. Never pick all the berries. Let the elders get the easiest ones.

Favorite spots are recognizable but are often referred to as “secret spots.” Hatcher Pass and Sheep Mountain are the top destinations.

The list of berries is long. Cloud berries, Golden Raspberries, Salmonberries, teeny tiny moss-berries, unripe sour bog cranberries, lingonberries, big blueberries, red currants, watermelon berries, and black currants. The berries are made into jellies and jams and scones and pie. Some are just frozen in wait for the cold times. Watermelon berries. Raspberries. Strawberries. It’s important to know what you’re picking. Consider buying a berry book as the most informative guide; Berry books are available at Fireside Book Store on Main Street. There are also three good apps—plantsnap, inaturalist and picturethis. Never, never eat berries you don’t know. And be grateful that real food is a generous part of our landscape.

Moving into Sweater Weather—You can feel it in the early morning and in the evenings. It’s that quiet little ripple of cool air, filtering through. It’s okay and we don’t need to despair. We have a good 75 days left until a possible first snow. Recognizing the shift in weather is dealing with reality.

Scenes, Drives and Summits—Hatcher Pass is looking gorgeous right now and of course the Pass road will be open for six few more weeks. Reflection Lake and the Palmer Hay Flats is a serene spot to go. The Matanuska Experimental Farm has vistas and activities. The Knik River Valley and the Matanuska Glacier are wondrous destinations. “Mountain Peak running” is a practice for some and it is a glorious event; fortunately for many of us non-runners, we can see and enjoy the photos and videos of these strong and solid climbers and runners.

Get Outside Now—It’s time to be soaking up as much sunlight seratonin as possible. Visit the muskox, the reindeer, the glaciers and the gardens. Hike the trails and sidewalks and celebrate the Grow Palmer vegatable project. All of these activities can be done safely with physical distancing. The night sky is also pretty interesting now that we have a few stars again. Keep look out for the annual August Perseid Meteor Shower later in the month, along with an inkling of the early Northern lights towards the end of the month.

Time to Enjoy—Watermelon, sweet corn, tomatoes, and cheap school and office supplies. All of these items are at their high season and at their best right now. For the most part all of these are imported into Alaska but someday we’ll have corn fields in huge hoop houses and local juicy tomatoes growing in every planter. Stay Safe!

Barbara Hunt is both Palmer writer and artist. She works hard to keep the robust pulse of Palmer, Alaska. She shares the good stuff in the weekly Palmer Alaska Buzz Column in the Mat Su Valley Frontiersman and daily on the Palmer Alaska Buzz Facebook Group. Her “Palmer Buzz Community Calendar” is available at Palmer shops and the Palmer museum. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net or text 907.315.3222